National Professional Officer (Communications)

Organizational Setting

The cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Ukraine has been designed to reinforce national capacities and to contribute to a broader development of agriculture, sustainable management of forests and fisheries, and animal and plant disease control. FAO is providing technical support for climate change adaptation, as well as working with civil society to mitigate soil erosion and degradation. FAO is also contributing to building resilience and boosting development in conflict-affected regions by supporting the economic recovery of farmers and rural communities. FAO's presence in Ukraine has upscaled and is distributed by offices in Kyiv, Lviv and Dnipro under the overall responsibility of the Head of the FAO Office/Designated Responsible Officer in Ukraine. The recent and large-scale escalation in hostilities in Ukraine is exacerbating the already dire food security situation of the most vulnerable rural households and small farmers. In response to the evolving situation, FAO Ukraine is scaling up its emergency humanitarian and resilience programming in conflict affected areas of Ukraine, including previous programming areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson; and Lviv and Zakarpattia in the West; as well as newly affected areas. In order the address to rapidly deteriorating situation, FAO has established a Rapid Response Plan (RRP) that is in line with the UN Flash Appeal and intended to provide life and livelihood saving interventions for the most vulnerable smallholder farming households impacted by the conflict.

The position is located in the country office in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Reporting Lines

The National Professional Officer (Communications) reports to the Communications Officer, REU under the general guidance of the Head of Office in Ukraine.

Technical Focus

Contribute to the development and strengthening of internal communication, web publishing and media-relations activities of the Organization.

Key Results

Effective and efficient coordination and provision of the technical and operational support of the programme and project activities.

Key Functions

• Processes and coordinates arrangements; delivers services; • Provides support to promoting the image of FAO through advocacy of the Organization's mandate, programmes and activities including development and maintenance of communication tools (e.g. website, press releases and publications); • Researches and analyses communication policy and service delivery issues, maintains operational statistics, and prepares related reports; • Contributes to the development of information and training materials and coordinates and assists in the presentation of information/training sessions to management and staff; • Provides communication related information and advice to management and staff; • Participates in project teams and work groups; • Performs other duties as required.

Specific Functions

• Supports the coordination of communication activities of FAO Ukraine, both internal and external (media relations, social media, audio-visual productions, outreach and promotion, corporate web presence, publishing); • Supervises the communication team, by mentoring, coaching and supporting career development of the team, including 1) FAO Communication Associate; 2) FAO Communication Assistant; 3) Graphic Designer/Visibility Communication Assistant; 4) Digital Communication Assistant; and others; • Supports the development and implementation of country-specific communication work plans and strategies designed to maintain and enhance the visibility and reputation of FAO, as well as support fundraising activities, ensuring alignment with overall communications, timeliness and relevance; • Identifies target audiences and develops specific key messages for FAO Ukraine communications; • Works collaboratively with staff at all levels across the Organization to ensure efficiency and synergy and to create accurate and consistent communications; • Creates regular news outlets (press releases, news stories, newsletters) of various formats (electronic, printed, web) in both English and Ukrainian languages, and disseminates them to stakeholders (FAO globally, donors, government, media, partners) through appropriate channels (TV, radio, social networks, web-pages, etc.); • Builds relationships with media and acts as a focal point for national and international media; • Performs as a spokesperson of FAO Ukraine, as delegated; • Leads the organization of public events (conferences, presentations, training seminars, official visits, field visits, etc.) ensuring consistency, quality and visibility for FAO and donors; • Supports FAO's global campaigns promoting observances like international days, years and decades, specifically World Food Day communication activities; • Ensures FAO Ukraine's visibility materials are up to date and in compliance with FAO corporate communication policies and donors requirements (project briefs, brochures, leaflets, newsletters, success stories, presentations, videos, printed banners and backdrops, etc.); • Liaises with donors in the area of communication and visibility; • Contributes to FAO implementing partners' (IPs) communication activities, ensuring compliance with donor's requirements, and advises on IPs communication activities; • Contributes to project proposals writing, annual work plans and programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting; ensures timely and accurate information provided; • Manages and regularly updates FAO Ukraine video/photo library and archive of visibility and communication materials; • Drafts, tenders and manages specific visibility and communication-related contracts with external providers, including the review and approval of deliverables and reports as well as assessment of invoices and requests for payments; • Interacts and develops good working relations with UN communications and advocacy groups; participates in sectoral groups/task forces maintaining FAO presence and proper reflection of its activities within the UN and humanitarian community; participates in all relevant initiatives developed by the UN Communications team duly representing FAO in joint activities; • Performs other related tasks as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National of Ukraine; • Advanced university degree in journalism, political science, communications, social science or related fields; • Three years of relevant experience in planning, development and implementation of press and communication contents, activities and strategies; • Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and Ukrainian.

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Ability to translate complex and technical communications to a wide and varied audience, in a simple and concise manner; • Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset; • Extent and relevance of experience with social media; • Extent and relevance of experience in the field of web-publishing and social media networks as well as in editing communication, promotional and technical materials; • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.