Communication Specialist

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports sustainable agrifood systems for better production, nutrition, environment, and life, aiming to achieve global food security. FAO India is implementing a project funded by the Pandemic Fund to strengthen animal health security for pandemic preparedness and response. This initiative focuses on enhancing India's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks, particularly zoonotic diseases, by improving surveillance, laboratory systems, and workforce development across animal health, poultry, and fisheries sectors.

Job Purpose

The Communication Specialist will focus on the development and execution of print, digital, and visual communication strategies. This role is crucial for enhancing the visibility and impact of FAO projects, particularly those related to the Pandemic Fund and One Health initiatives in India. The specialist will be responsible for creating compelling content that effectively communicates project objectives, progress, and outcomes to a diverse range of stakeholders, including government counterparts, international partners, and the public, thereby supporting knowledge sharing and advocacy efforts.

Responsibilities

The Communication Specialist will develop and maintain communication materials for FAO projects, ensuring brand consistency and visibility, with a specific focus on designing and producing visibility materials for the Pandemic Fund and other One Health projects. Responsibilities include drafting, editing, and reviewing reports, case studies, and policy papers; coordinating with government counterparts, the World Bank, and ADB on communication products and advocacy events; and facilitating knowledge sharing through various platforms. The role involves managing clearance processes for all communication products with FAO RAP/HQ, OCC, and ensuring compliance with FAO policies and FAOSTYLE standards. Additionally, the specialist will manage project-specific updates on FAO India’s website and social media, collaborate on video production and design with external agencies, support knowledge management, document success stories, and coordinate workshops and training programmes. The incumbent will also support the FAO India communication team and undertake tasks assigned by supervisors.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of relevant experience is required in interdisciplinary research and in developing media and communication materials, particularly for web publishing, information management, and hypermedia applications within the development sector, aligning with the described responsibilities.

Skills

Essential skills include strong communication, reporting, and presentation abilities in English, both written and spoken. Experience in preparing press releases, op-eds, news articles, and advocacy messages for various media outlets is crucial. Proficiency in web content management, Photoshop, and desktop publishing tools is necessary. The ability to work efficiently with minimal supervision, manage multiple tasks, produce high-quality reports, handle stress, and meet deadlines is vital. Experience working with UN agencies and familiarity with UN rules and regulations are considered assets. Strong teamwork and relationship-building skills are also important.

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