Senior Communications Specialist

The Senior Communications Specialist will support the effective communication and visibility of the US Macro Grant Project in Sri Lanka by developing communication products, engaging stakeholders, documenting project achievements, and promoting awareness of project interventions and impacts. The role involves coordinating media outreach, managing digital content, and ensuring compliance with FAO and donor visibility standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Communication and Visibility Plan for the US Macro Grant Project, aligned with FAO corporate communication standards and donor visibility requirements
• Prepare and disseminate high-quality communication products, including press releases, success stories, human-interest stories, briefing notes, newsletters, factsheets, brochures, speeches, talking points, and social media content
• Lead the documentation of project achievements, results, best practices, lessons learned, and beneficiary impact stories through written, visual, and multimedia products
• Coordinate field missions to collect communication materials, including photographs, videos, testimonials, and case studies that showcase project interventions and impacts on vulnerable farming communities
• Ensure proper visibility and acknowledgement of donor contributions across all communication materials, events, publications, and project activities in accordance with donor and FAO branding guidelines
• Develop communication materials in English, Sinhala, and Tamil, ensuring accessibility and effective outreach to diverse target audiences
• Coordinate media engagement activities, including media briefings, interviews, press conferences, and field visits for journalists to promote awareness of project achievements and FAO's work in Sri Lanka
• Build and maintain strong relationships with national and local media organizations, communication focal points, government institutions, development partners, and UN agencies
• Produce digital and visual communication products, including infographics, videos, presentations, web stories, photo essays, and other multimedia content for internal and external audiences
• Manage and regularly update FAO Sri Lanka's website and social media platforms with project-related content, news, success stories, videos, and key messages
• Monitor, track, and analyse media coverage and social media performance related to the project and prepare periodic communication and visibility reports
• Support the organization of project launches, workshops, stakeholder consultations, field visits, donor missions, awareness campaigns, and other outreach events, ensuring effective communication and visibility
• Coordinate closely with the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO), communication teams of other UN agencies, government communication units, and implementing partners to promote coherent messaging and joint advocacy initiatives
• Contribute to knowledge management initiatives by developing and maintaining project communication archives, photo libraries, success story repositories, and other knowledge products
• Coordinate with the Office of Communications (OCC), FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), and relevant headquarters units to ensure compliance with corporate communication policies, quality standards, clearance procedures, and branding requirements
• Support the preparation of donor reports, presentations, and communication inputs highlighting project achievements, results, and impacts
• Perform any other communication, visibility, knowledge management, and stakeholder engagement tasks as assigned by the FAOR and Assistant FAORs

Requirements

• University degree from a recognized University in mass media communications or a related field
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in the field of humanitarian sector
• Working knowledge of English and Sinhala and/or Tamil
• National of Sri Lanka
• Proven experience in strategic communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge management, preferably in agriculture, food security, resilience, humanitarian, or development programmes
• Demonstrated ability to develop high-quality communication and visibility products, including press releases, success stories, donor reports, digital content, social media materials, and advocacy products for diverse audiences
• Strong understanding of UN communication protocols, donor visibility requirements, and corporate branding standards, with familiarity with FAO policies, programmes, and project reporting requirements considered an asset

Skills

• Strategic Communications
• Media Relations
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Knowledge Management
• Communication Product Production
• Press Release Writing
• Success Story Development
• Donor Reporting
• Digital Content Management
• Social Media Content Creation
• Advocacy Communication
• UN Communication Standards
• Donor Visibility
• Corporate Branding Standards
• Project Reporting
• Humanitarian sector communications
• Agriculture Communication
• Food Security Communication
• Resilience Communication

Languages

English, Sinhala, Tamil