National Communications Specialist

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

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

Under UNJP/ALB/022/JP, FAO Albania leads efforts with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to support the sustainable digital transformation of Albania’s agriculture and rural areas with an ambitious 3-years joint programme entitled “Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation (DART)” as part of the SDG Fund – Digital Transformation Window call.

DART focuses on three key components\:
1. Developing Albania’s National Digital Agriculture Strategy and Action Plan (led by FAO with support from ITU),
2. Designing and delivering digital services via the newly launched national Farmers’ Portal (led by FAO), and
3. Building digital capacities among national public workers, TVET schools, smallholder farmers, and vulnerable groups (led by ILO).
Note\: Only persons holding Albanian citizenship (or residents with a regular work permit) are eligible to apply. This position offers a National Personal Service Agreement (PSA.NAT) contract for an initial 138 days (for 2025). A break from duty of at least 30 consecutive days is mandatory within any twelve-month period after which the contract is renewable upon satisfactory performance and funds availability.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative for Albania and in collaboration with the DART National Project Coordinator, the National Communications Specialist will contribute to raising the visibility of the DART project. Working under the technical guidance of the REU Communication Officer for Europe and Central Asia. The role involves coordinating with international and national consultants, OCC branches, and focal points to ensure alignment with FAO and donor communication requirements.

Technical Focus

Working in close collaboration with the DART project team and other FAO units, the National Communications Specialist will\:
• Enhance the visibility of FAO and the DART project through dynamic, targeted communications;
• Implement strategic messaging to raise awareness about digital agriculture, drive stakeholder engagement, and promote the adoption of digital tools and services;
• Create content for the project webpage and ensure regular updates.

Tasks and responsibilities

Digital Content & Social Media Management
• Collate information and create digital assets (articles, photos, videos, infographics) in line with global FAO key messages, terminology, and standards.
• Oversee thematic, regional, and country social media channels (including account handles/URLs as applicable) per FAO guidelines. Coordinate content creation, review processes, and clearance in collaboration with technical officers, Regional Communication Officers (RCO), and OCC.
• Work with RCO and OCC to review scripts and formats for video content intended for social media.
• Ensure that digital content and social media initiatives are produced and disseminated effectively, aligning with FAO and DART project objectives.
• Promote activities related to the Farmers Portal and ensure its visibility among target audiences.

Media and Public Relations
• Collaborate with the REU communications team to address media queries, facilitate journalist visits to project sites, and support overall media engagement.
• Execute the DART Communication Strategy to disseminate key messages to agricultural and rural stakeholders—policymakers, farmers, and vulnerable groups.
• Maintain an up-to-date media contact database (journalists, photographers, videographers) and regularly monitor national media coverage related to FAO, digital agriculture, and rural transformation.
• Provide weekly coverage reports and insights to the REU Communication Officer.

Content Development and Branding
• Develop and distribute news releases, web stories, and media advisories, ensuring alignment with DART’s objectives and FAO’s communication guidelines
• Showcase success stories of farmers and rural communities using digital tools.
• Highlight gender-sensitive narratives that feature women, elderly farmers, and persons with disabilities.
• Promote best practices, policy discussions, and FAO’s contributions to digital agricultural transformation in Albania.
• Guide and support the development of communication materials—including brochures, infographics, videos, banners, and other outputs—to ensure they comply with FAO corporate branding and reflect DART’s key messages.

Event Support and Outreach
• Support the organization of events (conferences, training sessions, field visits, stakeholder consultations, project launches) that enhance FAO and donor visibility, increase stakeholder buy-in, and showcase digital agriculture’s tangible benefits.
• Assist the DART project team during media interactions to ensure coherent and consistent messaging
• Coordinate with DART stakeholders and the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Albania to amplify joint communication efforts around the SDGs and digital transformation.

Coordination, Monitoring, and Compliance
• Ensure all DART-related communications adhere to FAO guidelines, obtaining necessary clearances from OCC before publishing.
• Regularly assess media coverage and public perception of FAO’s role in digital agriculture. Utilize analytics (social media engagement, website traffic, media mentions) and stakeholder feedback (including gender-inclusive mechanisms) to refine communication strategies.
• Develop and implement risk management strategies to address potential challenges (e.g., resistance to digitalization, technical constraints).

Additional Duties
• Adapt DART communication strategies based on stakeholder and media feedback, emerging trends, and challenges.
• Ensure that donor visibility requirements and reporting obligations are met consistently across all communication outputs.
• Contribute to the sustainability of the DART project’s digital agriculture communication efforts.

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

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree (MA) in Communication, Public Relations or Journalism, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• A minimum of 5 years of national or international experience with a proven track record in developing integrated communication strategies, managing media and public relations, engaging key stakeholders, and producing compelling content.
• Working knowledge of English and Albanian
• National of Albania or resident in the country with a valid work permit

Technical/Functional Skills

• Excellent written and spoken proficiency in English and Albanian.
• Proficient in digital content creation, social media management, and coordinating with external PR/marketing service providers.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks in fast-paced environments.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic communications that drive stakeholder engagement and public awareness.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement cohesive communication strategies that combine corporate messaging, strategic outreach, and creative content development to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Experience working with international development agencies and, preferably, within the UN system (an asset).
• Familiarity with agriculture and economic development dynamics in Albania is essential.

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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