Communication Specialist, Rome

Job Description - Communication Specialist (2602025)

Job Description

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT : 2602025

Communication Specialist

Job Posting

04/Oct/2026

Closure Date

19/Oct/2026, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : ESP - Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division

Job Type

Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition : Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Primary Location

Italy-Rome

Duration : 3 months

Post Number : N/A

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

• 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’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) supports FAO’s work on inclusive rural transformation, gender equality and social inclusion in agrifood systems. The Division develops policy analysis, knowledge products, technical guidance, publications and communication materials that help make ESP’s areas of work accessible to internal and external audiences and contribute to FAO’s corporate communication priorities.
The Communications Specialist will support the visibility, accessibility and dissemination of ESP’s work by contributing to a broad range of practical communication activities. The role will include support to publication-related processes, drafting and editing of communication products, social media and digital content, visual and multimedia products, event communication, divisional planning tools and coordination with ESP teams and the Office of Communications (OCC).

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director, ESP, and the day-to-day guidance of the ESP Communication Coordinator. Functional liaison will be maintained with OCC, as required, to ensure alignment with FAO communication standards, clearance processes, corporate messaging and visual identity requirements.

Technical Focus

Communication support, content development, drafting and editing, publication-related coordination, social media and digital communication, basic visual and multimedia content, event communication, knowledge dissemination, communication planning tools, monitoring support and coordination of communication workflows in support of ESP’s technical areas of work.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support day-to-day communication activities for ESP, contributing to the preparation, coordination and follow-up of divisional communication plans, calendars and workplans under guidance.
• Assist with FAO publication-related processes, including compiling inputs, checking consistency of titles and metadata, supporting publication proposal tracking, following up on clearances, coordinating files and helping prepare materials for publication launches.
• Draft, edit, proofread and adapt communication materials of different nature, such as news items, web stories, articles, press releases, newsletters, captions, talking points, event blurbs, human-interest stories, intranet items and short visibility products.
• Support the preparation of clear and accessible content based on technical inputs from ESP teams, helping translate complex information into language suitable for different internal and external audiences.
• Contribute to social media management by preparing draft posts, adapting messages for different platforms, identifying visual assets, supporting scheduling and helping monitor engagement and relevant communication opportunities.
• Support basic graphic design and visual communication tasks, including the preparation or adaptation of simple layouts, presentation slides, flyers, banners, infographics, quote cards and other visual assets in line with FAO visual identity requirements.
• Assist with video and multimedia production, including developing simple scripts or storyboards, coordinating footage or