Communications consultant

Organizational Setting

The Secretariat of the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, which is the executive organ of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, is located in the Joint FAO/WHO Centre (CJW). The Secretariat is under the programmatic responsibility of the relevant Deputy Directors-General, Assistant Directors-General of FAO and WHO as well as the Chief Scientist of FAO, while administratively under the supervision of the FAO Deputy Director-General The Secretariat is administered in accordance with the rules and regulations of FAO. It services the sessions of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies, and acts as liaison between the Commission and interested sectors of FAO and WHO as well as the World Trade Organization (WTO), other organizations of the United Nations, and other international governmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with the consumer protection, quality and trade aspects of food standards.

Reporting Lines

The Communication consultant reports to the Food Standards Officer/Project Manager

Technical Focus

Strategic communications, external relations, advocacy, media engagement, outreach, digital communications, publications.

Tasks and responsibilities

A key aspect of this position is raising awareness and ensuring political engagement on the use of Codex Standards, addressing foodborne AMR through their application, and ensuring food safety in the context of One Health is well recognized.

• Develop and implement a communication strategy and roadmap to raise awareness and ensure political engagement on the use of Codex Standards, addressing foodborne AMR through their application and ensuring food safety in the context of One Health, in collaboration with the Codex and ESF communications team and OCC and communications focal points in HQ, regional and national offices.
• Coordinate the development of case studies on the use and impact of Codex standards and facilitate their finalisation, publication and dissemination.
• Lead the promotion of and support the organization of the annual conferences/events organized as part of the project.
• Promote activities to raise awareness and ensure political engagement on the use of Codex Standards, addressing foodborne AMR through their application and ensuring food safety in the context of One Health, including through drafting communications materials.
• Support the publication process and subsequent communication on and dissemination of products generated.
• In close collaboration with OCC contribute to the development of new multimedia tools to introduce and raise awareness on the Codex standards on AMR that particularly meet the needs of beneficiary countries, using media mapping to maximise impact.
• Create a Communications package/media kit with a core script and key messages and ensure that core set of advocacy materials are available to beneficiary countries and regions.
• Provide support to beneficiary countries and work closely with regional communications representatives to develop communications plans and materials targeted to local audiences using appropriate forms of media (social, tv, events, newspapers/etc), including through participation in regional workshops.
• Support the regular updating of the Codex and FAO AMR website.
• Liaise and coordinate closely with OCC regarding the production and dissemination of all related communications materials to ensure that achievements and success stories are communicated widely through FAO’s communication channels.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree relevant area such as, communications, media relations, social studies;
• At least five years of relevant experience in communications and publications;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages: Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Spanish and/or French;

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in communication services for prominent organizations, particularly at the international level.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the production of complex technical content for external audiences, especially in areas relevant to FAO’s mandate such as AMR and One Health.
• Demonstrated communication (spoken, written, public speaking and presentational) skills, including the ability to convey and present sensitive issues/positions.
• Analytical skills and ability to write clear and concise reports.
• Ability to work under pressure and to carry out several tasks in a timely fashion and under tight deadlines with minimum supervision.
• Courtesy, tact and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.