Communications Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is an agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. The organization operates in over 130 countries and employs thousands of staff members worldwide, working towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. FAO's mission is to support the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, thereby improving production, nutrition, the environment, and the quality of life for people globally.

Job Overview:
The position of Communications Specialist at FAO is designed to support the Office of Communications (OCC) in various communication functions. The role involves contributing to the development of public communication content across diverse media and formats. The incumbent will work closely with communication officers and teams, assisting in public information and advocacy efforts, internal and external communication, multimedia production, web publishing, and digital content creation. The position is open to candidates with various communication backgrounds, including junior professionals, and aims to build a roster of qualified candidates for future assignments over the next two years. The role requires collaboration with different branches and communication focal points, drafting and editing content, ensuring consistency in messaging, and supporting visibility efforts for FAO campaigns and initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Communications Specialist will have a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Collaborating with OCC branches and communication focal points across divisions to ensure effective communication strategies.
• Drafting and editing content for various platforms, including web, print, and internal communications, while maintaining consistency in terminology, tone, and branding.
• Supporting visibility efforts for FAO campaigns, initiatives, and events, coordinating with technical officers for content clearance.
• Producing and editing multimedia content such as videos, audio, and photos for global campaigns.
• Researching and analyzing FAO technical information to support content development, including drafting texts for internal and external channels.
• Contributing to the development of multimedia communication assets for diverse channels related to publication launches and events.
• Assisting in managing website and newsletter content, as well as maintaining social media accounts.
• Participating in stakeholder research and analysis efforts, including media intelligence gathering.
• Responding to requests for information on OCC processes and standards. 1
• Writing news releases and feature stories in collaboration with technical officers and attending communications coordination meetings to draft minutes and follow up on action items.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• For Consultants: An advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, Videography, or a related field. Those with a bachelor's degree must have two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• For PSA.SBS: A university degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, Videography, or a related field.
• At least one year of relevant experience in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Videography, or a related field.
• Full proficiency or working knowledge of English is required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, or Videography. For those with a bachelor's degree, additional professional experience is necessary to meet the qualifications. The degree must be from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU) or UNESCO, ensuring that candidates have a solid foundation in communication principles and practices.

Experience:
The position requires at least one year of relevant experience in fields such as Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or Videography. This experience should demonstrate the candidate's ability to handle communication tasks effectively and contribute to the development of public communication content. Candidates with more extensive experience may be preferred, particularly those who have worked in international organizations or similar environments.

Languages:
Full proficiency in English is mandatory for this position. Candidates who possess additional language skills, particularly in other UN languages, may have an advantage. Proficiency in languages such as French, Spanish, or Arabic can enhance a candidate's profile, especially in a multicultural and multilingual organization like FAO.

Additional Notes:
This position is part of a roster of communications specialists, meaning that inclusion does not guarantee immediate employment but allows candidates to be considered for future assignments over the next two years. The role may involve working on a full-time basis, and candidates should be prepared to engage in various communication tasks across different teams within the organization. The FAO emphasizes the importance of ethical communication practices and adherence to its standards and guidelines, which candidates will need to follow in their work.