Senior Media Consultant (English Speaker)

To secure prominent, accurate and substantive international media coverage of GLO3 and communicate its key scientific findings and policy implications through leading global and relevant regional media, including interviews with UNCCD leadership and scientific experts.

Home-based.

2 months

Background note: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). (www.unccd.int) The Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Unit supports the integration of scientific evidence into policy and decision-making, including through the Global Land Outlook (GLO). The third edition (GLO3) is a flagship UNCCD publication on sustainable land management, restoration and related global challenges. Its launch offers an opportunity to communicate scientific findings and policy implications to international audiences. The Senior Media Consultant will support planning and implementation of international media outreach for the GLO3 launch under STI supervision and in coordination with the Communications, External Relations and Partnerships (CERP) Unit, with the aim of generating accurate, substantive international coverage. Duties & Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the UNCCD Chief Scientist in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Unit, and in coordination with CERP Unit, the consultant will: - 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.

- 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.

- Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.

Only individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. 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 (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. 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. Further computer requirements: An antivirus application which receives regular updates; Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled; Regular Windows 11 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC. In addition, a mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App.