Food Safety Communication Specialist

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• 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

Organizational Setting

The Food Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF) of the Economic and Social Development Stream supports the strengthening and transformation of food systems, including the strengthening of food safety and quality at national, regional and international levels. Inter alia, this involves providing scientific advice on food safety issues, support to programmes of capacity development and facilitation of effective communication and access to information by all Member countries on food safety and quality issues. The Food Systems and Safety Division is a recognized global leader in the provision of scientific advice on food safety issues to support the establishment of international standards for the safety and quality of foods. Given the interdependencies between the health of animals, humans and the environment, ESF embraces a One Health approach to food safety.

Reporting Lines

The selected applicant will work within ESF, under the direct supervision of the relevant Food Safety Officer and overall guidance by the Head of the Unit, assuming the role of Food Safety Communication consultant.

Technical Focus

Develop communication products such as stories, narrative reports, video scripts, brochures, infographics, policy briefs, talking points, and presentations on various aspects of food safety and safe food production. This vacancy may be used to create a roster and fill similar positions.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Supporting the development of communication products such as stories, narrative reports, video scripts, brochures, infographics, policy briefs, talking points, and presentations on various aspects of food safety and safe food production.
• Collaborates with other individuals within the Division and in other technical departments, multi-disciplinary teams, and services to develop one health-focused food safety communication materials related to terrestrial and aquatic animal production and health, plant production, water and land quality and management, market practices.
• In collaboration with Food Safety Officers and technical consultants, prepares reports, presentations, training materials, and other documents regarding the assessment and control of food safety threats.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of food safety communication strategies.
• Ensure products conform to corporate publishing standards and meet the needs of the target audiences.
• Support the publication process and subsequent communication on and dissemination of products generated.
• Coordinate and track communication project activities, performance, budgets, timelines.
• Contribute to international campaigns related to food safety such as World Food Safety Day, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, One Health Day.
• Ensure that all publications and documents to be disseminated via the FAO document repository are timely processed through the corporate Publications Workflow System (PWS), from their planning to production and dissemination.
• Ensure compliance of all products with: FAOSTYLE (English: https://www.fao.org/3/cb8081en/cb8081en.pdf; French: https://www.fao.org/3/AC339FR/ac339fr.pdf; Spanish: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339s/ac339s.pdf; Arabic: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339a/ac339a.pdf; Chinese: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339c/ac339c.pdf); FAONOCS https://www.fao.org/nocs); FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm; Publishing at FAO – Strategy and guidance http://www.fao.org/3/I7429EN/i7429en.pdf; FAO Brand and policy book.
• Work in constant contact with the Publishing Group at FAO and ensure that all corporate publishing standards are adhered to in publications and documents.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in field related to communication
• Five years of relevant experience in communicating science or health data to the public
• Working knowledge of English and at least one of the other official UN languages preferred (Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese or Arabic)

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in reaching audiences in low and middle income countries
• Relevant experience working in networks, working groups and partnerships
• Demonstrated ability to analyse scientific topics and extract key information
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work
• Strategic and forward thinking

Selection Criteria

• Experience in communicating complex scientific concepts to a wide audience with diverse backgrounds and experience
• Experience related to food safety/public health/ one health/ agriculture communication
• Demonstrated track record of project delivery
• Ability to work against tight timelines
• Proven ability to write stories/releases for non-scientific audiences
• Knowledge of software tools (InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, etc.)
• Additional language proficiencies

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