Senior Media Consultant (English Speaker)

The Senior Media Consultant will support planning and implementation of international media outreach for the Global Land Outlook 3 (GLO3) launch under the supervision of the Science, Technology and Innovation Unit and in coordination with the Communications, External Relations and Partnerships Unit. The role aims to secure prominent, accurate and substantive international media coverage and communicate key scientific findings and policy implications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an international media outreach plan, including priority journalists, outlets and story angles.
• Develop media pitches and newsworthy angles from GLO3 findings in consultation with scientific experts.
• Draft and edit press releases, advisories, background briefs, key messages and other approved media materials.
• Build and maintain a targeted international and regional media contact database.
• Coordinate advance outreach, embargoed briefings and engagement with journalists and editors.
• Manage interview requests, spokesperson schedules, briefings and talking points for UNCCD leadership and GLO3 experts.
• Support media briefings, press conferences, interviews and virtual launch engagements.
• Coordinate targeted distribution of launch materials and follow-up with journalists.
• Monitor media coverage for reach, prominence, accuracy and messages reflected.
• Maintain an interview coordination tracker and manage post-launch media inquiries.
• Prepare a final media coverage report assessing coverage, spokesperson visibility and outreach effectiveness.

Requirements

• A first-level university degree in journalism, communications, public relations, political science, social sciences or a related field is required.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in journalism, media relations, strategic communications or public information is required.
• Experience pitching to leading international broadcast, print and online media, coordinating interviews and preparing high-quality editorial materials is required.
• Senior-level professional experience in media relations, journalism, strategic communications or public information is required.
• Experience communicating scientific, environmental or sustainable development issues is desirable.
• Familiarity with the United Nations system and UNCCD is an advantage.
• Only individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered staff members under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein.
• Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
• For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 11 or newer) or Mac (with the latest MacOS update), as well as a reliable, high-speed internet connection.
• An Office 365 license will be provided by the UNCCD to enable the candidate to access official emails, SharePoint, OneDrive and other office applications, such as Word and Excel.
• An antivirus application which receives regular updates is required.
• Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled.
• Regular Windows 11 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC.
• A mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App.

Skills

• Journalism
• Media Relations
• Strategic Communications
• Public Information
• Pitching to Media
• Interview Coordination
• Editorial Material Preparation
• Scientific Communication
• Environmental Communication
• Sustainable Development Communication
• Familiarity with UN System
• MS Office 365
• Windows 11
• MacOS
• Antivirus Software
• Multifactor Authentication
• High-speed Internet

Languages

English