Head, Editorial and Publishing Unit (P-4)
Join to apply for the Head, Editorial and Publishing Unit (P-4) role at Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization – CTBTO.
VA ID: [[id]] Grade Level: [[jobGrade]] Division: [[businessUnit_obj]] Section: [[division_obj]] Unit: [[department_obj]] Type of Appointment: [[filter4]] Date of Issuance: 4 December 2025 Deadline for Applications: 5 January 2026 Vacancy Reference: VA285-2363-2025 Reporting Date: As soon as possible
Qualified female applicants and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. A roster of suitable candidates may be established for similar positions at the same level as a result of this selection process for a period of two (2) years.
Organizational Background
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, is the international organization setting up the global verification system foreseen under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans nuclear weapon tests and other nuclear explosions. The Treaty establishes a global verification regime, including a network of 337 stations worldwide, a communications system, an international data centre, and on-site inspections to monitor compliance.
Organizational Setting
This position is located in the Editorial and Publishing Unit, Policy Making Organ (PMO) Secretariat Support Section, Legal and External Relations Division.
Reporting Lines
Under the supervision of the Chief, Policy Making Organ Secretariat Support Section.
Duties and Responsibilities
* Plan, organize, and oversee the management of activities related to the editing, design, publishing, and document control of Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) official documents, publications, and other texts.
* Edit, review, and proofread official documents, including complex or politically sensitive material, to ensure accuracy, clarity, consistency, and conformity with established editorial standards and practices; provide recommendations on content, presentation, and editing required.
* Work collaboratively with colleagues in the Section to achieve organizational goals and deliver quality outputs in a timely, professional, and efficient manner, in full alignment with documentation processing policies.
* Advise submitting officers and senior management on editorial style, policy, and practice; monitor document submissions and liaise with submitting officers to clarify ambiguities and rectify substantive errors; ensure timely submission and issuance of documents in accordance with established procedures.
* Ensure proper quality control of documents and provide final editorial clearance for all edited texts prior to their release for printing and publication.
* Keep editorial guidelines for the PTS up to date to ensure consistency in editorial practices; provide advice to all PTS areas on editorial procedures; keep abreast of developments in the official documentation system and the Document Management System, including workflow, dissemination via the Experts Communication System (ECS), archiving, and search functions.
* Ensure that official documentation and reports prepared in the PTS for presentation at meetings, posting on the ECS, or other purposes conform with standard PTS editorial practices.
* Pursue opportunities for new digital and electronic publishing alternatives and, together with the Publications Assistants, keep abreast of relevant software that could make the publishing process more efficient; monitor and apply acceptable solutions implemented by other UN bodies.
* Manage the human resources of the Unit, providing guidance, supervision, performance management, and mentoring to support high performance and results, and ensure sound and timely service delivery.
* Train the editorial team in the editing of official documentation, ensuring continuous development of skills and capacities within the Unit.
* Perform other duties as assigned.
Education
* Advanced university degree in English or a related field; a first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
* With an advanced university degree, a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible and relevant working experience in the area of editing of documentation, including technical texts, is essential. With a first-level university degree, a minimum of nine (9) years of progressively responsible and relevant working experience in the area of editing of documentation, including technical texts, is required. Work experience in an international organization is an asset.
Work Experience and Qualifications
* Experience in planning and coordinating the production of documents and manuscripts is required.
* Strong writing and analytical skills, with sensitivity to nuance, are required.
* Ability to spot errors and inconsistencies in a text quickly is essential.
* Familiarity with software applications for editing procedures is required.
* Knowledge and experience of editorial policies, practices, and research techniques are highly desirable.
* Proven experience in managing teams in a complex and dynamic environment that requires multitasking among multiple concurrent projects is essential.
* Demonstrated ability to show initiative, political sensitivity, tact, and excellent judgment, including strong analytical skills and ability to interpret rules, policies, and procedures.
* Strong ability to communicate effectively in a multicultural environment is essential.
Languages
* Excellent written and oral communication skills in English at the level of mother tongue are essential.
* Knowledge of other official CTBTO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.
Competencies
* Professionalism – Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
* Communication – Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify; exhibits interest in two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
* Planning and organizing – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.
* Team work – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; builds consensus for task purpose and direction with team members; supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
* Accountability – Takes ownership of responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs within prescribed time, cost, and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight; takes personal responsibility for shortcomings.
* Creativity – Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new ideas; thinks outside the box; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
* Client orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided as “clients”; establishes and maintains productive relationships; identifies client needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments in the client’s environment; keeps clients informed of progress and setbacks; meets timelines for delivery.
* Commitment to continuous learning – Keeps abreast of new developments; actively seeks professional and personal development; contributes to learning of colleagues; seeks feedback to learn and improve.
* Technological Awareness – Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitations; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks.
Managerial Competencies
* Leadership – Serves as a role model; empowers others; proactive in developing strategies; establishes and maintains relationships; anticipates and resolves conflicts; drives change; does not accept status quo; shows courage to take unpopular stands.
* Vision – Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; inspires others; conveys enthusiasm for future possibilities.
* Empowering Others – Delegates responsibility; clarifies expectations; gives staff autonomy; encourages goal setting; holds others accountable; values staff input; rewards achievement.
* Building Trust – Provides an environment for open communication; manages deliberately and predictably; operates with transparency; no hidden agenda; follows through; treats confidential information appropriately.
* Managing Performance – Delegates appropriate responsibility; clarifies roles; judges time and resources; monitors progress; discusses performance; encourages risk taking; supports initiative; advocates career aspirations; assesses performance fairly.
* Judgment/Decision Making – Identifies key issues; gathers information; considers impacts; proposes actions; checks assumptions; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Remuneration
CTBTO offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in accordance with the policies of the International Civil Service Commission. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, see Salary Scale. The salary offered may be subject to deductions to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and/or Health Insurance Scheme.
Additional Information
* All applications must be submitted through the CTBTO e-Recruitment system before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.
* Incomplete applications and submission of employment history in formats other than the CTBTO Employment Information Form will not be considered.
* The CTBTO Preparatory Commission retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy; to make an appointment at a lower grade, in particular if the candidate has less than the qualifications required; to make an appointment with a modified job description, or to offer a contract term for a shorter duration than indicated in the vacancy announcement.
* Please note that the CTBTO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list.
* The CTBTO reserves the right to undertake correspondence only with shortlisted candidates.
* Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process.
Seniority Level
Director
Employment Type
Full‑time
Job Function
Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries
International Affairs
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