Communication Specialist

Duration: 3 months

Organizational Setting

The Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) supports FAO’s work on inclusive rural transformation, gender equality and social inclusion in agrifood systems. The Division develops policy analysis, knowledge products, technical guidance, publications and communication materials that help make ESP’s areas of work accessible to internal and external audiences and contribute to FAO’s corporate communication priorities.
The Communications Specialist will support the visibility, accessibility and dissemination of ESP’s work by contributing to a broad range of practical communication activities. The role will include support to publication-related processes, drafting and editing of communication products, social media and digital content, visual and multimedia products, event communication, divisional planning tools and coordination with ESP teams and the Office of Communications (OCC).

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director, ESP, and the day-to-day guidance of the ESP Communication Coordinator. Functional liaison will be maintained with OCC, as required, to ensure alignment with FAO communication standards, clearance processes, corporate messaging and visual identity requirements.

Technical Focus

Communication support, content development, drafting and editing, publication-related coordination, social media and digital communication, basic visual and multimedia content, event communication, knowledge dissemination, communication planning tools, monitoring support and coordination of communication workflows in support of ESP’s technical areas of work.

Tasks and responsibilities

In close collaboration with Office of Communications (OCC) branches and ESP Communication Coordinator, the incumbent will:

• Support day-to-day communication activities for ESP, contributing to the preparation, coordination and follow-up of divisional communication plans, calendars and workplans under guidance.
• Assist with FAO publication-related processes, including compiling inputs, checking consistency of titles and metadata, supporting publication proposal tracking, following up on clearances, coordinating files and helping prepare materials for publication launches.
• Draft, edit, proofread and adapt communication materials of different nature, such as news items, web stories, articles, press releases, newsletters, captions, talking points, event blurbs, human-interest stories, intranet items and short visibility products.
• Support the preparation of clear and accessible content based on technical inputs from ESP teams, helping translate complex information into language suitable for different internal and external audiences.
• Contribute to social media management by preparing draft posts, adapting messages for different platforms, identifying visual assets, supporting scheduling and helping monitor engagement and relevant communication opportunities.
• Support basic graphic design and visual communication tasks, including the preparation or adaptation of simple layouts, presentation slides, flyers, banners, infographics, quote cards and other visual assets in line with FAO visual identity requirements.
• Assist with video and multimedia production, including developing simple scripts or storyboards, coordinating footage or interviews, supporting captioning, selecting images or clips and liaising with colleagues or service providers for editing and finalization.
• Provide communication support for events, seminars, webinars, publication launches, campaigns and knowledge-sharing initiatives, including drafting invitations and concept notes, preparing visibility materials, coordinating speaker inputs, supporting logistics and preparing post-event communication outputs.
• Help maintain and organize communication repositories, mailing lists, templates, image banks, trackers, shared folders and planning tools to support efficient collaboration across ESP teams.
• Coordinate routine inputs with communication focal points, technical colleagues, OCC and external providers, ensuring that deadlines, corporate standards, clearance requirements and agreed workflows are followed.
• Support light monitoring and reporting of communication activities, including collecting examples of outputs, compiling basic analytics, tracking dissemination activities and preparing short updates for planning purposes.
• Videos should follow the FAO Video production guidelines: https://www.fao.org/3/cc5308en/cc5308en.pdf
• Manage thematic social media channels as per the FAO social media guidelines: https://www.fao.org/communications/policy/social-media/en/
• Perform other communication, outreach, knowledge-sharing and visibility-related duties as required.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

• Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
• All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).
• Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• For Consultants:
Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in communication, journalism, public relations, international relations, development studies, social sciences, graphic design, digital media, multimedia production, economics or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization. Consultants with bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSA:
University degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in communication, journalism, public relations, international relations, development studies, social sciences, graphic design, digital media, multimedia production, economics or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization.
• One year of relevant experience in communications, public information, editorial support, digital communication, social media, graphic design, multimedia production, event communication, knowledge management or related areas
• Working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in drafting, editing, proofreading and adapting communication products for different audiences, formats and channels.
• Extent and relevance of experience supporting communication activities such as publication processes, news items, articles, newsletters, web stories, press releases, event blurbs, social media posts, presentations or short visibility products.
• Experience with social media management, including preparing draft posts, adapting messages for different platforms, identifying suitable visuals, supporting scheduling and monitoring engagement.
• Familiarity with basic graphic design or visual communication, including the preparation or adaptation of slides, flyers, banners, infographics, quote cards, templates or other simple visual assets.
• Familiarity with video or multimedia production support, including simple scripting, storyboarding, coordination of footage or interviews, captions, image or clip selection, and liaison with editors or service providers.
• Ability to help translate technical content into clear, accurate and audience-oriented communication materials.
• Good organizational skills, including ability to track deadlines, coordinate inputs, manage files, update planning tools and support collaborative workflows.
• Good digital literacy, including experience with Microsoft 365 tools, shared repositories, planning trackers, collaborative platforms and basic performance monitoring.
• Familiarity with FAO communication standards, FAOSTYLE, terminology, clearance processes, social media guidance, visual identity requirements and OCC coordination mechanisms would be an asset.
• Knowledge of another FAO official language would be considered an asset.