Digital Media Consultant - Communication and Advocacy Unit

The Communications and Advocacy section of UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti is currently seeking a Digital Media Specialist to plan, develop and produce digital communication content and materials based on research produced by UNICEF Innocenti primarily for dissemination on its website and social media channels.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

Background

The UNICEF Office of Research-Innocenti is the organization’s dedicated global research office. It undertakes and commissions research on emerging or current issues of relevance for children in order to inform the strategic directions, policies and programmes of UNICEF and its partners.  The Office explores emerging issues, identifies research gaps, brings together existing researchers and support or undertake new research and data collection to address critical questions and to inform global debates.

The communication unit is responsible for developing and implementing media and communication strategies and tools in support of global research uptake strategies, brand development, external relations, digital engagement and research facilitation for the Office of Research - Innocenti.

Objectives

The overall objective of the Digital Media Specialist consultancy is to plan, develop and produce digital communication content and materials (text/audio/simple video/web seminars and social media posts) based on research produced by UNICEF Innocenti primarily for dissemination on its website and social media channels. The digital content in various forms will contribute to wider visibility and increased uptake of Innocenti research and knowledge findings and catalogue publications.

Specific activities to be completed to achieve the objectives

 •     Work closely with Innocenti research teams to become well versed in the research projects and findings, including its objectives, key partners and the primary users of research outputs

•     Amplify visibility for report launches and campaigns by crafting targeted messages for social media channels (namely Twitter, Facebook) as well as text for e-Bulletins and blogs highlighting Innocenti research projects, findings, events, publications, and research-related activities

•     Record and edit simple audio and video interviews with Innocenti experts, research fellows and partners for dissemination on Innocenti YouTube and SoundCloud channels;

•     Ensure digital communication about Innocenti research is monitored as part of and feeds into research uptake strategies.

Specific outputs/products/results with specific delivery dates

 •     Social Media: Using social media and multimedia to drive traffic to Innocenti publications, initiatives and research activities published on unicef-irc.org each month - Continuous management of Twitter and Facebook social medial channels is essential (at least 8x per day on Twitter and minimum 1x per day on FB); contributions to Instagram where appropriate

•     Podcast series: Liaise with other members of Communications team to coordinate on research-focused audio podcast series on SoundCloud; produce podcast and/or dissemination strategy for podcasts each month

•     Webinars: Technical coordination and facilitation for continued Innocenti webinar series using existing platforms for registration, webinar hosting, video recording and dissemination

•     Blog: One UNICEF Connect blog about Innocenti publications, initiatives and research

•     Video: Contribute to online video promotions using FB Live and/or YouTube – produce and post live and edited video footage to increase visibility

•     Infographics: Produce at least 1 infographic or motion graphic per month on current Innocenti research

 Qualifications and/or specialized knowledge/experience required and desirable for undertaking the assignment

•     Minimum of 5 years of experience in journalism, digital, multi-media or fields of study related to the Innocenti research priorities

•     University degree in multi-media journalism, digital marketing, communication, journalism or relevant academic field of study with strong link to research uptake communication work

•     Proven experience in communicating about research and evidence products and findings to support uptake and to inform policy

•     Experience writing and producing web content in various formats

•     Experience with web CMS systems for publishing digital content in various formats

•     Familiarity with the fields of research undertaken by Office of Research-Innocenti

•     Ability to work flexibly and get up to speed quickly using available CMS and mainstream social media platforms

•     Fluency in English essential; Italian and other UN languages are helpful

•     Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, editing and creating infographics; editing video and sound

Duration of the consultancy

Estimated total 19 days per month over 5 months – 15 March 2018 through 15 August 2018

Candidates are requested to provide a daily all-inclusive fee.