UN-Nutrition Specialist

Join to apply for the UN‑Nutrition Specialist role at FAO . ESN/UN‑NUTRITION is the United Nations’ platform for collective action on nutrition, hosted by FAO in Rome under the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)’s mandate. It was founded in 2020 and unites agencies to align efforts, reduce fragmentation, and support national and global nutrition goals. Reporting Lines The incumbent reports to the Senior UN‑Nutrition Coordinator. Technical Focus The UN‑Nutrition Specialist Roles Comprise Three Distinct Focus Areas: Advocacy Lead (Nutrition) – lead and support global nutrition advocacy efforts, manage team, oversee knowledge management and communications workstreams. Thought Leadership and Partnership Expert (Nutrition) – provide thought leadership for nutrition and drive strategic engagement and coordination with partnership platforms, systems and fora. Reporting and Governance Support Specialist (Nutrition) – support Secretariat reporting, governance, stewardship and FAO processes, focusing on knowledge flows and timely, quality‑assured inputs to oversight and accountability. Tasks And Responsibilities Advocacy Lead (Nutrition) or Thought Leadership and Partnership Expert (Nutrition) Lead development and implementation of a unified advocacy or partnership strategy aligned with UN‑Nutrition priorities. Coordinate joint advocacy or partnership workplans across member agencies, ensuring coherent narratives and aligned positions. Represent UN‑Nutrition in global policy processes and inter‑agency mechanisms, advocating for nutrition integration across food systems, climate, health, and sustainable development agendas. Manage strategic engagement in global platforms—including CFS, the UN Food Systems Hub, OPN‑SFS, the SUN Movement and the HDSFS Coalition—ensuring coordinated inputs, governance participation and consolidated reporting. Build and manage partnerships with governments, UN entities, donors, civil society and advocacy networks to elevate nutrition in high‑level dialogues. Identify and leverage key opportunities for advocacy or partnership engagement; coordinate joint initiatives, events, communications and involvement of champions or influencers. Produce concise evidence‑based materials—briefs, talking points, narratives, statements, slide decks—to support advocacy or partnership efforts and leadership engagement. Oversee knowledge management standards, knowledge exchange and quality assurance for advocacy or partnership‑related products. Develop and implement monitoring frameworks for advocacy or partnership work, prepare analytical updates and advise leadership on strategic adjustments. Support and mentor staff or consultants supporting advocacy, partnerships, communications and knowledge management; deliver related capacity‑building activities. Perform any other tasks as required. Reporting and Governance Support Specialist (Nutrition) Coordinate annual and biennial Secretariat reporting, including calendars, templates, guidance, data consolidation, drafting and version control. Apply organizational reporting requirements, secure technical clearances, coordinate with finance and maintain evidence files. Support light monitoring and evaluation for reporting, including indicator tracking, lessons learned and simple dashboards. Provide logistical and content support for Steering Committee and membership meetings, including agendas, notes, action trackers, summaries and follow‑up. Maintain governance files—membership lists, rotation schedules, archives—and support updates to internal guidance. Maintain governance and workplan dashboards for Secretariat leadership and membership. Ensure compliance with organisational procedures for documentation, routing, agreements, budget instruments and archiving. Track monthly budgets, liaise with finance focal points, monitor expenditures and prepare concise budget summaries and dashboards. Maintain orderly digital workspaces (SharePoint/Teams) through structured folders, naming conventions, permissions and authoritative versions. Prepare leadership packages and communication materials (briefs, talking points, slides, background notes) and maintain a tagged repository of approved products. Perform any other tasks as required. CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements Advanced university degree from an institution recognised by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in public health, nutrition, international relations, political science, communications, food systems, development studies or a related field; consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience. Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in advocacy, partnerships, policy development, nutrition, food security, public health or international development for Advocacy Lead or Thought Leadership and Partnership Expert. Minimum 1 year of experience in coordination, reporting, project/knowledge support or administration in international or multi‑stakeholder settings for the Reporting and Governance Support Specialist. Working knowledge of English. FAO Core Competencies Results Focus Teamwork Communication Building Effective Relationships Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Technical/Functional Skills Advocacy & Partnerships Ability to design, implement and monitor evidence‑based advocacy or partnership strategies aligned with global policy agendas and UN‑Nutrition priorities. Strong communication, negotiation, diplomacy and influencing skills, with experience engaging high‑level decision‑makers and representing organisations in global and inter‑governmental fora. Demonstrated capacity to lead and coordinate multi‑agency or multi‑stakeholder initiatives, ensuring coherent messaging, aligned inputs and effective cross‑UN collaboration. Deep understanding of global nutrition, food systems and sustainable development, with familiarity with major platforms and governance structures (e.g., CFS, SUN Movement, HDSFS Coalition, OPN‑SFS, UNFSS, climate COPs). Proven ability to provide technical guidance on nutrition‑sensitive policies, programming or investments, translating analysis and evidence into strategic recommendations. Strong analytical skills, including data interpretation, indicator tracking, results‑based management and contribution to monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Ability to prepare high‑quality briefs, policy papers and presentations for senior audiences, ensuring accuracy, clarity and alignment with organisational positions. Experience navigating UN or international organisation procedures—clearance processes, governance mechanisms, project cycle requirements and coordination structures. Proven leadership skills with the ability to guide, mentor and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams in complex institutional environments. Strong organisational skills to manage multiple high‑level initiatives, deadlines and workflows efficiently. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). Reporting, Governance & Coordination Ability to support coordination of multi‑agency meetings and governance processes, including agenda preparation, note‑taking, action tracking and maintenance of structured files and archives. Experience compiling and formatting reports using shared templates, supporting routing and clearance, and assisting with basic monitoring and data tracking. Familiarity with UN or organisational processes (e.g., project documentation, budgeting categories, administrative workflows) and ability to follow established procedures using provided guidance. Basic understanding of knowledge management principles and capacity to maintain organised SharePoint/Teams libraries, web content updates and document version control. Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines while maintaining accurate document trails. Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and collaboration tools (SharePoint/Teams); familiarity with CMS or communication tools (e.g., Mailchimp) is an asset. Strong writing and communication skills, including the ability to synthesize inputs and draft clear summaries or sections of reports. Ability to work proactively and collaboratively in virtual, multicultural teams, with adaptability to support a broad range of coordination and administrative tasks. Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation and basic data analytics is an advantage. Experience in international development, humanitarian settings or the nutrition sector is an asset. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). Job Posting 09/Jan/2026 Closure Date 23/Jan/2026, 11:59:00 PM Primary Location Italy‑Rome Duration 11 Months Eligibility Statement 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 persons 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 Specialised 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. Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Full‑time Job function Health Care Provider Non‑profit Organisation Referral Policy Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at FAO by 2x. Location Notice Get notified about new Nutrition Specialist jobs in Rome, Latium, Italy . #J-18808-Ljbffr