Public Information Officer (Publishing Officer)
Organizational Context
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) aims to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa, aligning with the 2030 SDGs and Agenda 2063. The Administration and Conference Management Division (ACMD), specifically the Publications and Conference Management Section (PCMS) in Addis Ababa, supports ECA's strategic directions. This role is situated within PCMS, reporting to the Chief of Production Services Unit.
Job Purpose
The Publishing Officer is responsible for implementing publishing and information programs to support priority issues and major events. This includes developing publishing strategies, coordinating production, monitoring progress, and analyzing outcomes. The role involves staying current with publishing, design, and digital distribution trends, advising management, and promoting the dissemination of UN publications through outreach and distribution plans. The officer will manage the end-to-end production of UN publications, from planning and design to print and digital formats, ensuring quality and accessibility. They will also draft content for publications, build professional relationships with stakeholders, and act as a focal point for publishing matters, providing guidance and mentorship to junior staff.
Responsibilities
The Publishing Officer ensures the implementation of publishing and information programs, including strategy development, production coordination, progress monitoring, and outcome analysis. They monitor and analyze current trends in publishing, design, and digital distribution, advising management on appropriate responses. The role involves promoting UN publications through outreach and distribution plans, engaging with partners, and managing client consultations for design and production needs. The officer oversees the complete production cycle of UN publications, encompassing planning, graphic design, layout, typography, infographics, cover design, prepress, colour management, accessibility, print, and digital publishing. They prepare content drafts for publications based on official documentation, cultivate professional relationships with authors, editors, translators, designers, printers, and vendors, and serve as a point of contact for publishing inquiries. Additionally, the role includes selecting materials for publication, guiding and supervising junior staff, and analyzing publishing data to provide insights for decision-making and reporting.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressive experience in publication production, graphic design, desktop publishing, editorial production, print, or digital publishing is required. Proficiency with professional desktop publishing software (e.g., Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) is essential. Experience in producing reports, books, or other publications from manuscript to final format, including coordination with various stakeholders, is desirable. Experience with accessible digital publications and international organizations is also a plus.
Skills
Professionalism, analytical and problem-solving skills, creativity, client orientation, managing performance, knowledge of publishing workflows and digital production, graphic design, data analysis, and communication.