Media Training Consultant – Level C

Consultant Communications & PR

Overview

Provide media training consultancy for IPBES spokespersons.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communications, journalism, public relations, international development or related field is required.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in communications, journalism, public relations and/or marketing is required.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in writing and editing including extensive experience in writing press releases, media pitches, white papers and other PR and marketing materials is required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working on science-communication and science-policy media outreach with a UN organization, agency or similar entity is required.
• Direct knowledge of IPBES, biodiversity, climate change and environment-related matters will be an advantage.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

• IPBES spokespersons are trained to communicate effectively with media and to maximize reach and impact of IPBES’s work through the media. • Information about the work of IPBES reaches more policymakers. • Two toolkits containing training materials are available for future training.

Work Location

Remote working, but in-person is required at #IPBES12

Expected duration

5 Months (1 Oct 2025 to 28 Feb 2026)

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Established in April 2012, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has a membership of over 150 Governments (see www.ipbes.net) and seeks to respond to the needs of governments and other stakeholders to strengthen the science-policy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Under the overall supervision of the IPBES Head of Communications, the consultant will specifically provide the following media spokesperson training expert services: • Propose, create and strategically distribute bespoke media and spokesperson training materials to key spokespersons of IPBES – including slides, video and similar resources, as well as comprehensive key message guidance documents based on the most complex likely interview questions for each assessment. These will be informed by strategic and tactical messaging that the consultant will assist in formulating and will also include guidelines on how to communicate effectively with members of the media and influencers, communicating science and expert evidence to lay audiences, and how to maximize the reach and impact of IPBES’s work through the media. • Provide introductory, intermediate and expert media and spokesperson training through a bespoke online training session of two hours duration, for a total of up to 26 assessment spokespersons (21 from the assessment and 5 from the IPBES leadership). • Provide in-person introductory, intermediate and expert media and spokesperson training, through two in-person training sessions of four hours each, for a total of up to 35 assessment spokespersons at the #IPBES12 Plenary Session in Manchester, England on 2 February 2026. This in person training must include mock interviews, broadcast-specific on-camera training, extemporaneous practice, scenario-driven core message development and practical advice for medium-specific activities. • Provide a maximum of 8 further hours of in-person/telephonic/online follow-up training between 3 and 11 February 2026, on an individual or small group basis, for IPBES spokespersons who will have participated in the online and in-person training. • Develop and maintain an online spokespersons toolkit containing, inter alia, the training materials specified above. The consultancy will cover 30 working days, distributed over a 5-month period.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communications, journalism, public relations, international development or related field is required. • Minimum 10 years of experience in communications, journalism, public relations and/or marketing is required. • Minimum 10 years of experience in writing and editing including extensive experience in writing press releases, media pitches, white papers and other PR and marketing materials is required. • Minimum 5 years of experience working on science-communication and science-policy media outreach with a UN organization, agency or similar entity is require. • Direct knowledge of IPBES, biodiversity, climate change and environment-related matters will be an advantage

Languages

Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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Potential interview questions

Added 9 months ago - Updated 8 months ago - Source: careers.un.org