Communications Officer III | International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

International Water Management Institute (IWMI) seeks to recruit a Communications Officer III who will support the implementation of IWMI’s global communications strategy in Ethiopia and East Africa. He/she will develop content and will support events and campaigns in the region, in accordance with quality standards and guidelines, and with input from project leaders and researchers. He/she will coordinate closely with the Communications & Knowledge Management team, as an integral part of its global systems and workflows.

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is a non-profit international research organization, serving a global mandate to improve the management of water and land for food, livelihoods and nature. IWMI’s headquarter is located in Colombo, Sri Lanka and one of its sub-regional offices is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. IWMI is one of the 15 research centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the implementation of IWMI’s global communications strategy in East Africa, in close coordination with IWMI's Communications & Knowledge Management team in HQ;

• Participate in weekly meetings of the Communications & Knowledge Management team and update planning tools, to ensure strategic alignment and a coordinated approach for content and upcoming events;

•  Write and edit articles (news, features, press releases, op-eds, success stories, profiles) for IWMI’s global websites, global newsletters, and other outlets. Liaise with authors and reviewers for edits and approvals. Follow IWMI’s style guide;

• Support IWMI’s presence at national and regional events (conferences, workshops, webinars, etc.). Prepare communications plans and key messages ahead of events. Provide communications and media support during events. Document event results through newsworthy articles and other materials;

• Develop audience-led communications outputs (briefs, factsheets, presentations, reports, infographics, posters, etc.) to advance IWMI’s corporate and project objectives, focused on impacts and results;

•  Prepare social media content for IWMI’s official global accounts;

•  Liaise with IWMI project leaders and researchers in East Africa for potential content and outreach materials, and to ensure technical quality. If required, lead or support the design and implementation of communications plans for IWMI projects;

•  Liaise with partners and stakeholders for the production of project communications materials;

•  Liaise with national and regional media, and organize press conferences and journalists visits to the field, as needed. Support proactive media outreach and engagement activities;

• Coordinate with IWMI’s Communications and Knowledge Management team in HQ for the production of video according to quality standards and guidelines. Once approved, lead the editorial aspect of video projects, to highlight project impact and results through storytelling. Ensure guidelines are followed and contract conditions are met before payment to consultants;

• Coordinate with IWMI’s Communications and Knowledge Management team in HQ for photographic documentation of IWMI activities in Ethiopia and East Africa, to ensure images are high-quality, capture areas of strategic interest, include complete caption info and metadata, and are ingested into the global photo library. Coordinate with photographers for editorial guidance. Ensure guidelines are followed and contract conditions are met before payment to consultants;

• Coordinate with IWMI’s Communications and Knowledge Management team in HQ for the engagement of consultants (for video production, photography, graphic design or other communications-related work) and provide guidance to ensure the timely delivery of quality outputs;

• Ensure compliance with IWMI branding guidelines and funders’ visibility requirements;

• Support the implementation of internal communications strategies and activities, as required;

•  Compile media contacts for East Africa and add them to global media lists, for targeted national, regional and global outreach;

•  Help increase global email marketing subscribers (adding partners, workshop participants and other stakeholders) for targeted mailings;

• Carry out any other tasks identified as priorities by the Country/Regional Representative or the Global Communications Lead for Water Systems.

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s in a relevant field such as communications, knowledge management, media, public relations, or journalism. Alternatively, in the fields of agriculture, natural resource management or environment, but with significant training and experience in communications.

• Relevant professional certification

• Broad / specialized knowledge of methods, techniques and processes

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of experience in communications-related work.

Skills:

Essential:

• Demonstrated knowledge of communications processes and technologies.

• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office, web applications, and social media outlets required.

• Excellent English writing and editing skills.

• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to handle multiple deadlines and a variety of tasks.

• Ability to grasp scientific and technical concepts and communicate them clearly to various audiences.

• Ability to be a positive team player with good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with people from a wide variety of cultures, with sensitivity and respect.

Desirable:

• Demonstrated understanding of agricultural, environmental and development issues in Ethiopia.

• Photography, graphic design, presentation and facilitation skills.

• Knowledge of Amharic, Arabic, Swahili or any other language in East Africa.

Willingness to undertake limited travel to Africa and other locations as required

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job Grade: HG 15

Monthly Base Salary: Birr 63,502 (Negotiable depending on salary history of the candidate)

Terms of appointment:  This is a National Staff (NS) position. The initial appointment is for three years. IWMI offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits in line with ILRI salary applicable for its National Staff. IWMI is an international and equal opportunity organization and believes that diversity of its staff contributes to excellence.  The ILRI campus is set in a secure, attractive campus with dining and sports facilities. 

How to Apply

Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae; names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to be included in the curriculum vitae. The position and reference number: REF: C/IWMI/33/23 should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter. All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: CLICK HERE on or before 20 December 2023.