Social Marketing Specialist

FAO; Osage City (KS); Remote; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Social Marketing Specialist to contribute to environmental sustainability initiatives. This role involves developing impactful marketing strategies aimed at reducing beach litter and enhancing community engagement in waste management. You will work closely with diverse stakeholders, conducting research, delivering training, and implementing effective campaigns that drive behavior change. Join a mission-driven organization committed to promoting resilient communities and protecting marine ecosystems. This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible difference in environmental conservation while working in a collaborative and innovative environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in social marketing and environmental communications.
• University degree in a relevant field is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop evidence-based social marketing strategies for waste management.
• Conduct training workshops on behavior change strategies.

Skills

Social Marketing

Behavior Change Campaigns

Environmental Communications

Analytical Skills

Interpersonal Abilities

Education

University degree in social marketing, behavioral science, media, or related field

Job description

Job Description - Social Marketing Specialist (2501103)

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: 2501103

Social Marketing Specialist

Job Posting

: 23/Apr/2025

Closure Date

: 07/May/2025, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: SAPDD - Programme, Policy Coordination

Job Type

: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: Consultant

Primary Location

: Home-Based

Duration: 40 days WAE

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 persons 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 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advances the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation toward more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. This effort promotes better production, improved nutrition, a healthier environment, and enhanced livelihoods, ensuring no one is left behind.

The Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing, and implementing strategies and projects that drive the transformation of food, agriculture, and rural development. It also fosters and maintains relationships with subregional institutions.

The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP).

The ‘Resilient Islands, Resilient Communities’ project (GCP/KIR/009/GFF) is a five-year project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Kiribati Government. FAO is the Implementing Agency (IA) and is providing the technical support to the Kiribati Government in implementing the project. The project aims to improve biodiversity conservation and landscape level management to enhance socio-ecological resilience to climate variability and change.

Under the overall technical and operational supervision of the FAO SAP office in Samoa and of the Resilient Islands, Resilient Communities (GCP/KIR/009/GFF) project Technical Advisor, the Social Marketing Specialist will support the Environment & Conservation Division’s (ECD) Kiribati Solid Waste Management Programme (KSWMP) in developing an evidence-based social marketing strategy to promote behaviour change in beach litter reduction.

This work will contribute to the Pacific Ridge to Reef (R2R) Programme’s goal of addressing land-based environmental pressures on coastal and marine ecosystems, ensuring that improved waste management supports both community well-being and ecosystem health.

Reporting Lines

The Social Marketing Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands and the direct supervision of the Technical Adviser, who is the project team leader.

Technical Focus

Provide support to the Resilient Islands, Resilient Communities project (GCP/KIR/009/GFF) activities towards addressing land-based environmental pressures on coastal and marine ecosystems by developing an evidence-based social marketing strategy to promote behaviour change in beach litter reduction.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Finalise the “Our Beautiful Beach, Our Beautiful Ocean” KAP Survey and Stakeholder Report, including supporting KSWMP in completing and summarising stakeholder interviews.
• Conduct and summarise background research on social marketing, behavioural economics strategies and relevant case studies in litter reduction overseas.
• Deliver a one-day training workshop with R2R, ECD and other relevant stakeholders on social marketing and behaviour change strategies for waste management and conservation.
• Work closely with KSWMP to develop the 2025 Social Marketing Strategy and Implementation Plan, outline audience segmentation, messaging, outreach channels, and recommended interventions.
• Support content creation and activity implementation as identified in the strategy to engage target audiences and encourage voluntary action.
• Provide ongoing training and mentoring to R2R and KSWMP staff to strengthen their capacity to design and implement social marketing campaigns.
• Guide the development of a project video as a hands-on training exercise, support KSWMP staff in planning, filming and editing to document Phase 2 of the programme.
• Prepare and submit an end-of-consultancy report.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

• University degree in social marketing, behavioral science, media, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in social marketing, behaviour change campaigns, or environmental communications in small island developing states (preferably in the Pacific).
• Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

• Efficiency, competence and integrity as well as negotiating skills, tact and diplomacy are essential.
• Able to work with multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural project partners at regional and international level.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.
• Extent of knowledge of FAO standard operational rules and procedures and project/programme administrative management procedures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with experience liaising between diverse project stakeholders.
• Extent of knowledge of FAO’s corporate systems and database, or knowledge of other accounting or financial modules or applications relevant to accounting procedures or project budget management would be considered an asset.
• Demonstrated analytical and judgment skills and ability to apply rules and regulations in the subject field.
• Demonstrated experience in social marketing, behaviour change campaigns, or environmental communications in small island developing states (preferably in the Pacific).
• Strong understanding of behaviour change principles and their application to waste management and conservation.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing).
• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list.
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills.
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services.
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered.
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp