Consultancy (6 months): Multimedia metadata and caption writer, Communication and Marketing, Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP)

UNICEF’s Private Fundraising and Partnership (PFP) plan – the Private Sector IMPACT Plan 2018 to 2021- aims to deliver on income, influence and brand recognition. A key driver of increased income is a strong brand and a key strategy to deliver that is through engaging content, to both build the brand and engender support. Therefore, the provision and management of compelling content materials aligned to UNICEF’s brand guidelines and qualities is critical to enhancing the goals set out in the IMPACT Plan. UNICEF’s Communications Supporter Content section seeks the services of a multimedia metadata and caption writer who can support the curation, writing and editing of metadata for video and photographic materials on a full time basis under the supervision of the communication manager supporter content.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

UNICEF's Private Fundraising and Partnership (PFP) plan - the Private Sector IMPACT Plan 2018 to 2021- aims to deliver on income, influence and brand recognition.

A key driver of increased income is a strong brand and a key strategy to deliver that is through engaging content, to both build the brand and engender support. Therefore, the provision and management of compelling content materials aligned to UNICEF's brand guidelines and qualities is critical to enhancing the goals set out in the IMPACT Plan.

UNICEF's Communications Supporter Content section seeks the services of a multimedia metadata and caption writer who can support the curation, writing and editing of metadata for video and photographic materials on a full time basis under the supervision of the communication manager supporter content.

How can you make a difference?

The multimedia metadata and caption writer will be responsible for the timely development and production of the final digital texts accompanying video and photographs selected for UNICEF's Digital Asset Manager (DAM) WeShare, advancing UNICEF's mandate and profiling children's stories across the globe.

This consultancy requires professional writing capacity and experience. The incumbent is responsible for editorial video and photography writing, caption writing, copyediting, editing and research functions. The incumbent will finalize video and photography texts in the DAM and assist in the curation of the assets. These texts are critical to the accuracy and quality of information attached to all PFP video and photographs for dissemination to UNICEF's fundraising markets for communication and fundraising purposes, as well as for use by external media and UNICEF partners.

The consultancy will support the Communications Manager Supporter Content in reviewing video and photography content and selecting assets for captioning and acquiring to UNICEF's DAM, as well as other curatorial tasks in the DAM itself, as needed.

As required, the consultancy writes engaging short-form copy for video and photography features e.g. Photo of the Week. The incumbent may support other editorial re/writing and editing text, as needed.

The incumbent will consistently apply high editorial standards to all texts, meets tight deadlines and have the flexibility to undertake weekend work, if needed.

MAIN TASKS:

• The multimedia metadata and caption writer leads in determining the language and position to be taken as relevant in compiling and editing video shotlists and writing and editing photography captions in respect of editorial and organizational policy. The incumbent will be guided by existing guidelines and policy as well as participating in regular section meetings. The incumbent will have excellent writing skills and be creative, detail-orientated, have good judgement.
• Review the content produced by the videographer and photographer and the accompanying shotlists and captions, and rewrite the metadata, correcting for errors in accuracy, spelling, punctuation, and grammar, checking and correcting the copy for readability, style, and agreement with editorial and organizational policy. Implement revisions, such as changing words and rearranging sentences and paragraphs to improve clarity or accuracy.
• Verify facts with reference to the subject, location and activities depicted in the content assets. Ensure shotlists and captions concisely depict and describe the actual visual content of each asset. When necessary, confer with the communications manager, the videographer/photographer or relevant UNICEF colleague for additional information or clarification.
• Succinctly summarize relevant personal narrative information about the subjects included in the content in an engaging style including relevant quotes, for audiences of UNICEF's Digital Asset Manager (DAM) WeShare which includes end-users such as internal and external audiences across a variety of digital and analogue platforms. Understand and apply established video and photography guidelines in the writing of the texts and recognize and respond to issues that arise in writing such as when identities need to be protected.
• As needed, undertake light research on the general theme of video / photograph and its relation to UNICEF policies, programmes or country-specific or regional information to support the captioning. Succinctly summarize information in a short engaging style for the audiences of UNICEF's Digital Asset Manager (DAM) WeShare which include internal and external audiences across a variety of digital and analogue platforms. This research can draw on advocacy, programme, press releases or other documents of the organization.
• As needed, the incumbent supports the communications manager to review video and photography content and selecting content, for acquisition to UNICEF's DAM, captioning as well as other curatorial tasks as required.
• Upload final video shotlists and photographic captions in UNICEF's DAM, ensuring these are formatted to specific criteria ensuring that photographs can be retrieved in DAM searches through relevant words, themes, and etc. in the photograph's caption and metadata. This includes liaising with relevant staff to uphold archival retrieval standards in this workflow, as well as various asset management tasks associated with uploading, captioning, keywording and curation within the DAM environment.

DELIVERABLES:

• Writing, editing and curation of video and photo content for emergencies (sudden onset and protracted) including  Covid-19, Syria, Yemen, CAR, South Sudan, and sudden onset/natural disaster emergencies.
• Writing, editing and curation of video and photo content for PFP partnership content and other content identified by communications manager.

ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AND PROPOSAL:

6 months, tentatively starting April 2020

REPORTING TO:

Communication Supporter Content Manager

WORK PLACE:

Work remotely.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced degree, or as a minimum, a Bachelor's Degree, in a field related to communication, journalism, writing photography or in international relations, public relations, social/human sciences and/or other related field equivalent to specialized training in original writing, proofreading, fact-checking and copyediting and editing is required.
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant professional work experience in an editorial environment, including original writing, proofreading, fact-checking and copyediting and editing is required.
• Proven writing, rewriting, research and text editing skills are required, particularly writing for different audiences. Incumbent is generally expected to have a firm understanding of editorial writing styles and above-average writing skills, especially in regard to grammar and punctuation.
• Experience in video/photography curation and editing is required.
• Strong planning and organizational skills are required; ability to research, analyze, and draft ideas and concepts, clearly and concisely, in written form is required.
• Preparedness to work under tight deadlines and drive to ensure content is correct and finalized before it's published is required.
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team in international and multicultural environment is required.
• Ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines is required as well managing sometimes stressful and difficult conditions that may appear in photographs displaying political/cultural sensitivity.
• Knowledge and experience of computer systems, internet navigation and general applications, more specifically experience with Photo Mechanic, Photoshop, or Lightroom is required.
• Knowledge and understanding of the process of content production is highly desirable.
• Experience with Digital Asset Management systems is required.
• Experience working in emergency context and relevant UN and NGO communication experience is an asset.
• Exceptional fluency of English is required
• Fluency of another UN working language desired, preferably French and/or Spanish.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Remarks: Please indicate your ability, availability and gross daily rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered. Also, please mention the earliest date you can start.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.