Digital Communications and Content Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO in Viet Nam, which has a substantial and increasingly visible programme across agrifood systems transformation, climate and water resilience, nutrition and food safety, One Health, fisheries, forest and disaster risk reduction, has begun to strengthen its communications foundations to showcase evidence, field results and human stories with public, policy and donor value. Currently the communications function of the office is led and executed by the Communications Specialist/Lead, under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative.    

Reporting Lines

Reports to the Communications Specialist/Lead for work planning, editorial direction and quality assurance, under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative.

Technical Focus

Digital communications, content management/production and youth engagement

The role is designed to complement the Communications Lead. It is not a social-media-only position. Its purpose is to establish a reliable production flow from programme evidence and field activity to Vietnamese-language public content, while building the practical capacity of programme teams to contribute routine material through approved tools and processes. The post holder is also designated as the office’s Youth Engagement Focal Point, under the strategic oversight of the Communications Lead.

Tasks and responsibilities

In close collaboration with Office of Communications (OCC) branches and appropriate Communication focal points, the incumbent will:

• Manage the day-to-day editorial calendar and publication process for FAO Viet Nam’s Facebook and website, in accordance with approved priorities, editorial standards and global editorial calendar.
• Support major campaigns, events, media work and donor-visibility products, ensuring that digital content is planned before, during and after priority activities.
• Develop compelling Vietnamese-language social posts, web stories, short-form video, social cards, simple infographics, photo stories and other digital assets based on programme results and field material.
• Support delivery of hands-on clinics for programme focal points on photography, short video, designing, drafting posts, consent, attribution, logos and donor visibility.
• Support in coordinating field storytelling, including photography, short vertical video, beneficiary quotes, captions, consent and accurate metadata; maintain an organised, accessible digital asset library.
• Create and maintain practical bilingual templates, mobile-photo/video guidance, basic infographic formats and other tools that enable programme teams to contribute routine content independently.
• Regularly update and maintain FAO Viet Nam’s website, ensuring that content is accurate, current and relevant, and that key pages, news, events and other information are published and updated in a timely manner.
• Monitor audience growth, reach, engagement, video performance, web traffic and partner amplification; prepare concise monthly data and insight reports for the Communications Lead.
• Manage routine community engagement and channel housekeeping, escalating sensitive comments, reputational issues or media enquiries promptly to the Communications Lead.
• Coordinate routine design, photography, video, translation and production inputs from suppliers, as assigned by the Communications Lead.
• Serve as the office’s Youth Engagement Focal Point, reporting to the Communications Lead. Maintain liaison with Office of Youth and Women (OYW); develop and update a light stakeholder map of relevant youth structures, universities, youth-led agrifood networks and programme partners; and coordinate the youth-engagement calendar.
• Maintain a youth-facing, bilingual flow of relevant FAO, World Food Forum (WFF), partner, learning, innovation and event opportunities through appropriate digital channels and existing networks; manage routine online engagement and escalate sensitive, protection or reputational concerns immediately.
• Develop the recurring youth-story stream and support programme teams to identify credible youth voices, secure informed consent and turn youth participation and innovation into accurate public content.
• Document youth inputs from relevant consultations and events; provide a concise quarterly update to the Communications Lead on participation, partnerships, digital engagement, risks and emerging opportunities.
• Videos should follow the FAO Video production guidelines: https://www.fao.org/3/cc5308en/cc5308en.pdf  
• All social media assets should comply with Social Media Branding guidelines: https://www.fao.org/3/cb5044en/cb5044en.pdf  
• Photos should follow the FAO Photo Library Production Guidelines: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pu6vckocxhlc7fc/FAO_Guidelines_for_Photo_Production_202206.pdf?dl=0   

FAO Standards and guidelines:

• Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
• All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
  FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en    
  FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia    
  Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en   
  FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en    
  FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm    
  FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en       
  Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff). 
• Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

• University degree in Communications/Journalism (or related majors) and/or International Development/International Relations/Agriculture
• 5 years of relevant experience in digital communications, content production and youth engagement
• Working knowledge of English and Vietnamese
• National of Viet Nam or resident of the country with valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in supporting organizing high-level events, conferences and webinars
• Extent and relevance of experience in social media platforms, visual content design & production, and web management
• Strong organizational and coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple assignments, deadlines, editorial calendars and communications deliverables
• Experience in youth engagement and/or established networks with youth organizations, universities or youth-led initiatives
• Ability to work effectively in evolving environments and establish communications processes, workflows and tools
• Work experience with UN system is an asset
• Creativity and a can-do attitude are an asset
• Knowledge of agrifood systems, agriculture, rural development or related development issues is an asset

Selection Criteria

•     Based on minimum requirements, FAO core competencies, and Technical/Functional skills