Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Publications Section, Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications. The incumbent reports to the Deputy Director, Outreach Division. The United Nations Publications Section works to promote the United Nations' knowledge, communication, and outreach objectives by publishing, selling, distributing, and licensing print and electronic publications, periodicals and databases that disseminate the United Nations' knowledge, studies, and data. It publishes titles aimed at a broad public and other electronic products and services for individual readers and institutions including the United Nations iLibrary. The United Nations Publications Section has two business units: UN Publications and UN Bookshops. It is an income-generating operation.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Section will be responsible for the following: • Provides policy guidance to the Division Director, on conceptual strategy development and management of the sale of UN publications and, as a member of the UN Publications Board, contributes to publishing policies and procedures in the United Nations; • Plans and oversees the management of acquisition, product development, and sales of UN publications in digital and print formats, across the Section's platforms; coordinates with author departments across the UN Secretariat to identify and develop high quality products with a strong market potential; • Manages, supervises and carries out the work programme of the Section under their responsibility. Co-ordinates the work carried out by the Section; provides programmatic and substantive leadership in designing and developing the Section's operations across the two business units: UN Publications and UN Bookshops; • Provides substantive input in the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, as appropriate; • Promotes the wider dissemination of UN publications through marketing, licensing, and distribution arrangements, in line with the Department's Global Communication Strategy; • Contributes to the reporting to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance and income-generating activities related to the sale of publications; • Prepares inputs for the work programme of the Division, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery; • Carries out programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Section, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, evaluation of staff performance , supervision of the performance of external vendors, interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates; • Recruits staff for Unit/Section taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values; • Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision; • Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Section and across organizational boundaries; • Participates in international, regional or national book fairs and conferences to promote the sale of UN publications and develops high level strategic partnerships in the publishing industry; • Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. JUDGEMENT/DECISION MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, marketing, communications, publishing, or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in book publishing (electronic publishing, product development, international sales & marketing is required. Experience managing digital platforms is required. Experience in programme management (financial, administrative & human resources) and project implementation is required. Experience managing retail or commercial business operations (e.g., a bookshop or comparable retail enterprise) is desirable Experience managing diverse teams in an international environment is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level III

Desirable Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingFrenchUN Level IUN Level IUN Level IUN Level I

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice
• Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. • Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 May 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China (People's Republic of), Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.