Communications Specialist (Multimedia)

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

The Subregional Office for West Africa of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO SFW) supports 15 countries in advancing the transformation of agrifood systems, in line with FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–2031 and the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and a Better Life, leaving no one behind.

Effective communication and visual design are critical to positioning FAO as a trusted technical leader, convener and integrator in West Africa. High quality graphic and multimedia products support the visibility of FAO’s work, enhance advocacy and resource mobilization efforts, and facilitate engagement with governments, partners, youth, women and the general public.

In the West African context, visual and digital communication tools play an increasingly important role in conveying evidence based messages on agriculture, food security, climate resilience and livelihoods. Professionally designed, policy compliant and audience focused visual content is therefore essential to ensure coherence, clarity and impact across FAO communication platforms.

In this context, FAO SFW seeks to engage a Communications Specialist (Multimedia) to support FAO SFW and FAO country offices in West Africa in graphic design, editorial layout and visual communication. The incumbent will contribute to the design, production and dissemination of visual communication products, in accordance with FAO corporate identity and communication standards, with the aim of effectively showcasing FAO priorities, activities, projects, programmes and results for technical, institutional and general audiences across West Africa.

Reporting Lines

The Communications Specialist (Multimedia) reports to the general supervision of the Communications Expert, and in close collaboration with the SFW Communications team, FAO Africa and OCC.

Technical Focus

Graphic design and editorial layout, Audiovisual production, Motion graphics and animation, Web and digital design, Data visualization and infographics, Multimedia storytelling and content packaging.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Collate information and develop appropriate digital assets, in line with global FAO key messages, terminology, standards and guidelines, and day-to-day management of thematic/regional/country social media channel(s), as per the FAO social media guidelines and in support of country/regional/global strategies, liaising and coordinating with the relevant technical officers, Regional Communication Officers (RCO) and OCC, as appropriate, and relevant supervisor for clearance.
• For videos intended for use on social media channels, liaise with RCO and OCC to review scripts, formats and final clearances
• Ensure that all communication products comply with global FAO key messages, terminology, standards, and guidelines.
• Maintain regular coordination with RCO and OCC, including to ensure key messages, outputs and products are shared via global multilingual channels, as appropriate.
• Design clear, functional and visually consistent templates for reports, briefs, brochures and other institutional materials, in line with FAO corporate standards;
• Design and develop high-quality, visually compelling communication products (reports, briefs, brochures, policy documents and knowledge products), ensuring full compliance with FAO corporate identity and FAOSTYLE guidelines;
• Conceptualize and implement creative visual approaches and branding packages for corporate publications, flagship events, campaigns and regional initiatives;
• Produce and adapt digital visual assets for websites, presentations, online platforms, banners, infographics, maps and multimedia outputs;
• Design and layout of communication materials, including posters, brochures, flyers, newsletters, factsheets and maps, ensuring clarity, consistency and accessibility;
• Develop engaging social media content (visual cards, GIFs, reels, short-form videos) optimized for multi-platform dissemination and audience engagement, in line with FAO communication guidelines;
• Contribute to the production of audiovisual content, including video shooting, editing, post-production, subtitling and basic sound design, in alignment with storytelling objectives;
• Design and produce motion graphics and animated content to enhance visibility, advocacy and digital campaigns;
• Participate in the end-to-end production of multimedia storytelling products, including scripting support, storyboarding, editing and content packaging;
• Support the creation of innovative in-house video productions, applying modern techniques in editing, animation and visual effects;
• Ensure the collection, curation, validation and enhancement of high-quality photo and video assets from projects, country offices and partners;
• Perform advanced photo editing and retouching, as well as enhancement of charts, illustrations, maps and visual datasets;
• Translate complex technical content into clear and impactful data visualizations and infographics tailored to diverse audiences;
• Support FAO country offices in West Africa by strengthening visual communication capacities and ensuring consistent branding across outputs;
• Prepare and finalize print-ready files and digital deliverables, liaising with printers and external vendors to ensure quality production;
• Submit design concepts for approval and integrate feedback through iterative revision processes, in line with OCC/PWS workflows and quality control standards;
• Ensure strict adherence to FAO corporate identity, logo policy, accessibility standards and digital communication guidelines;
• Contribute to the management, update and migration of digital content (e.g. Typo3 to Sitefinity), coordinating with OCC and technical teams;
• Ensure publication and dissemination of finalized products through FAO systems (PWS, web platforms, social media channels);
• Design and produce visual materials for exhibitions, corporate visibility events and major outreach initiatives targeting regional and international audiences;
• Provide technical advice and guidance on multimedia production tools, workflows and emerging technologies to enhance communication impact;

FAO Standards and guidelines:

o 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.
o All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
o FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
o FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
o Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
o FAOSTYLE(https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
o FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
o 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)
o Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.
• Perform other communication-related tasks, as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree/University degree in graphic design, visual communication, arts, audiovisual production, web design or a related field, or relevant technical training in multimedia production and design;
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in multimedia production, including graphic design, audiovisual content and digital communication;
• Advanced proficiency in industry-standard design and multimedia tools, including Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects and/or Premiere Pro);
• Strong knowledge of digital production and workflows, including web design, content adaptation for online platforms, and multimedia formatting for print and digital dissemination;
• Experience in motion graphics, video editing and basic animation is highly desirable;
• Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian
(A second FAO language can be inserted if needed for the assignment)

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work;
• Extent and relevance of experience in multimedia production, including advanced graphic design, visual communication, audiovisual content, web and digital design, motion graphics and animation;
• Experience with Sitefinity or other Content Management Systems;
• Strong technical proficiency in audiovisual production tools, particularly Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects, including video editing, animation and post-production;
• Experience in a UN, international organization or humanitarian context;
• Familiarity with development communication, including key thematic areas such as food security, agriculture, climate resilience, gender and rural development, particularly in the West Africa context;
• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear, engaging and audience-friendly visual content, supporting advocacy, knowledge sharing and stakeholder engagement.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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