Senior Communication Specialist at International Potato Center

The position:

The Senior Communication Specialist  will be based in Nairobi-Kenya and will report to the Initiative Lead. The selected candidate will work closely with other Communications & Outreach colleagues across the CGIAR and may draw upon C&O staff and consultants with specialized skills as needed.

Key responsibilities:

Establish the communications strategy and procedures

• Develop the Communications strategy, including identifying audiences and opportunities for engagement, in partnership with the Initiative leadership
• Ensure coordination and alignment with CGIAR’s broader communications strategy and ensure flow of information across the Portfolio of Initiatives and with other parts of the CGIAR involved in the Initiatives
• Engage with C&O working groups as appropriate to ensure coordinated engagement (e.g., knowledge management, event participation, stakeholder engagement)
• Ensure the Initiative is fully compliant with CGIAR Initiative branding and funder acknowledgement guidelines and protect and promote the correct use of the Initiative brand in all internal and external communication.

Develop communications content

• Actively engage in planning, monitoring, and executing communication activities as part of the Initiative.
• Develop or oversee the development of strategic communications content, including blogs, interactives, infographics, videos, social media
• Monitor global and regional media for Initiative-related opportunities, develop products on key issues, and actively engage with relevant reporters on Initiative work as appropriate

Website and social media

• Support development of an Initiative microsite on cgiar.org
• Keep websites related to the Initiative current, relevant, and up to date and in consultation with CGIAR guidelines.
• Maintain Initiative social media presence (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) and ensure Initiative videos are properly tagged, described, and posted to CGIAR YouTube channels.

Knowledge management and internal communication

• Manage Initiative-level knowledge management needs, including photo databases and curation of papers and publications to CGIAR databases and repositories
• Support the organization of Initiative events and workshops and participation in conferences and forums (e.g., event planning and logistical support, editing, graphic design, media engagement)
• Coordinate access to scientific literature and other knowledge bases for members of the Initiative team
• Establish and manage internal communications for management and planning, ensuring all Initiative team members are enabled to participate effectively
• Actively participate and engage in the global CGIAR C&O team.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in International Communications, Journalism, or other relevant field and/or a minimum five years’ experience in communications, with a preference for experience in international settings and/or urban development issues
• Excellent writing and critical thinking skills and ability to convey complex data ideas and messages in a clear and easy-to-understand manner.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative, and decentralized environment, including across teams at several levels.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure and with short deadlines.
• Strong interest in science and international development issues with the ability to grasp new material quickly.
• Excellent oral communication skills in English.