NATO: NATO: Multimedia Head – Brussels

 

 

 

 

Description

1. SUMMARY

NATO’s public diplomacy efforts serve a vital function within the Alliance by communicating its purpose and priorities to audiences worldwide. In fulfilling this role, the Office of the Strategic Communications (OSC) actively strengthens NATO’s public image, thereby fostering awareness and understanding of NATO’s policies and activities, and ultimately enhances trust in and support for the Alliance.

The Digital Communities and Content Section is responsible for the conception, acquisition, production, management, marketing and distribution of multimedia content to engage the Alliance’s audiences in NATO missions, events, operations, and activities. Through existing and emerging technologies, the Digital Communities and Content Section is empowering the Office of Strategic Communications to utilise the web, mobile multimedia sectors to impact relevant target audiences.

The role of the Multimedia Head is to implement the multimedia strategy as part of Office’s multi-channel approach to visual storytelling, a critical vector for achieving the Alliance’s communications objectives.

The main responsibilities of the incumbent include:

1. Working closely with contacts NATO-wide, including across military commands and agencies, to plan, assist and provide input about viability of topics and opportunities for their development.
2. Commissioning multimedia products and packages that are novel and engaging, and in line with the content strategy, channel strategy, NATO messaging and administrative requirements.
3. In close collaboration with channel and platform managers, planning and steering the production of professional quality products (e.g. b-roll, voiced/edited video packages, animation, photos and photo features, microcontent) for NATO’s owned platforms and channels and for distribution to professional media.
4. Managing the Multimedia team.
5. Overseeing evaluation of products to feed back into strategic planning and reporting.

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

The incumbent must:

• possess a university degree in journalism, communication or related field, or a field related to defence and security from an institute of recognised standing;
• have a minimum of 5 years’ experience developing professional multimedia packages in a digital production environment, including ideation, research, planning, still/video imagery, scripting, voice-over, editing and post-production;
• have experience creating content for social media;
• have experience managing a small team;
• demonstrate keen political awareness and knowledge of current events;
• demonstrate creativity and the ability to oversee content that will ride multimedia trends to advance the image and priorities of NATO;
• demonstrate solid understanding of story visualisation and editorial judgment when servicing multiple distribution channels and international audiences;
• have expertise in non-linear editing software, in particular Adobe Premiere Pro and/or Avid Media Composer, and expertise in the formats of multimedia deliverables required in a ‘digital first’ shop;
• have experience dealing with external media crews and production companies;
• be willing to deploy to demanding environments and to work on event coverage outside normal working hours including at short notice, delivering content autonomously, under pressure of tight deadlines;
• be exceptionally organised and detail-oriented in terms of project and resource management;
• possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; I (“Beginner”) in the other.

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage:

• knowledge of NATO’s organisational structure, and affiliated organisations;
• experience working in an international environment;
• experience working in an agency environment;
• experience overseeing coverage of international events;
• experience localising content for segmented international audiences;
• experience with promotional and/or public awareness campaigns;
• experience overseeing coverage from inhospitable environments, including areas of conflict and post-conflict;
• a higher level in NATO’s second language.

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Expertise Development

Provide normative guidance for digital products to content creators Alliance-wide. Advise on the proactive and regular acquisition of specialist knowledge and explore new techniques for enhancing multimedia production and communication technologies. Improve editorial processes and keep pace with evolving digital trends and platforms to increase product uptake. Ensure required pre-deployment training is maintained as valid.

Project Management

Ensure online multimedia projects are delivered on point and on time. Foresee requirements and identify pain points well ahead of anticipated need. Provide editorial and production guidance for approved projects to, e.g., external reporters, producers, photographers, camera operators and post-production teams. Oversee logistics including booking equipment and services; checking equipment; securing accreditation; and booking transportation and interviewees. Feed into planning mechanisms to ensure cohesion.

People Management

Manage staff and contract multimedia content producers to include planning workloads and staffing resources for the implementation of the multimedia strategy. Organise contract objectives, provide feedback and guidance to staff and contractors and handle contractual issues, when necessary. Undertake annual performance review and objective setting with direct reports.

Information Management

Initiate and advise on the lifetime planning of content, ensuring reporting mechanisms are updated. Oversee development of multimedia packages from concept to publication, ensuring strict version control. Ensure the full range of content is explored and executed to ensure maximum outreach potential. Oversee import of imagery and audio, as well as graphics and/or other elements, to non-linear editing software. Ensure approvals process is followed rigorously.

Stakeholder Management

Identify key colleagues as well as military/civilian authorities in the field who are kept informed of activities and developments on a constant basis. Maintain open communications with stakeholders of all levels to leverage necessary knowledge.

Knowledge Management

In a Microsoft Office environment, oversee the relevant paperwork for all products to a professional standard, for video including releases, scripting, shot list, time-codes, elements (text, graphic overlays, etc.), insertion points, voice-over duration (cumulatively and per shot), collaterals such as thumbnails and teasers, stills, microcontent, and for photo including captions and all necessary releases.

Compile and present on online activities using presentation software internally and externally at stakeholder meetings and conferences.

Perform any other related duty as assigned.

4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The incumbent reports to the Head, Digital Communities and Content Section, and manages the Multimedia team, including external contractors. The incumbent works in close collaboration with other staff members of Office of the Strategic Communications. The incumbent will also liaise with other sections within the Office as required and with points of contact NATO-wide and beyond.

Direct reports: 5

Indirect reports: N/A.

5. COMPETENCIES

The incumbent must demonstrate:

• Achievement: Works to meet standards;
• Analytical Thinking: Sees multiple relationships;
• Clarity and Accuracy: Checks own work;
• Conceptual Thinking: Applies learned concepts;
• Customer Service Orientation: Takes personal responsibility for correcting problems;
• Empathy: Is open to others’ perspectives;
• Impact and Influence: Takes multiple actions to persuade;
• Initiative: Is decisive in a time-sensitive situation;
• Teamwork: Solicits inputs and encourages others.

In accordance with the contract policy, this is a post in which turnover is desirable for political reasons in order to be able to accommodate the Organisation’s need to carry out its tasks as mandated by the Nations in a changing environment, for example by maintaining the flexibility necessary to shape the Organisation’s skills profile, and to ensure appropriate international diversity.

The maximum period of service foreseen in this post is 6 years. The successful applicant will be offered a 3-year definite duration contract, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years. However, according to the procedure described in the contract policy the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite contract during the period of renewal and no later than one year before the end of contract.

If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO’s member States, a 3-year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years subject also to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.

Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Régulations.

NOTE: Irrespective of previous qualifications and experience, candidates for twin-graded posts will be appointed at the lower grade. Advancement to the higher grade is not automatic, and will not normally take place during the first three years of service in the post.