CGIAR: Communications Officer – One CGIAR

Location: Whilst Montpellier, France is listed as a preferred location, this position can be based in other CGIAR Center locations. Please see further details below.

Grade: CG09

Salary: 63,500 Euros + depending on experience. Please see further details below.

Date Published: 30th April 2024

Closing Date for Applications: 28th May 2024 at 09:00 CEST

About CGIAR

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is conducted closely with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations, and the private sector. 

About One CGIAR

One CGIAR provides an opportunity for a fresh strategy to shape a stronger, more relevant science agenda for today’s dynamic world. One CGIAR is the integration of CGIAR’s capabilities, knowledge, assets, people, and global presence for a new era of interconnected and partnership-driven research towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One CGIAR enables us to operate as a cohesive organization with a single mission, seamlessly leveraging all of our capabilities and assets to deliver real benefits to people and our planet. Through integrated systems research, One CGIAR and country partners are striving for impact to create sustainable and resilient food, land, and water systems, and meet SDG targets.

About the Communications Officer position

The Communications & Outreach Global Group engages external and internal audiences to increase CGIAR’s voice, influence, and impact around the world. This Group provides strategic and operational leadership in communications and outreach to build the brand, boost the understanding and relevance of CGIAR’s science, and support investment, positioning the organization to achieve its mission to transform food, land, and water systems.

Under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Manager, Communications, the Communications Officer implements communications strategic plans and products, working to promote the visibility of the Organization’s profile and brand.

The Communication Officer works closely with different teams to design and disseminate communications that drive forward the priorities of Communications and Outreach and influence the Organization’s capacity to establish and maintain strategic relationships. The Communication Officer is responsible for ensuring that important communication platforms, such as the CGIAR webpage and social media are regularly updated, that reports and other important publications are developed and disseminated in the timely manner, reaching a wide audience, and that colleagues are receiving the necessary communication and outreach guidance, advice and training.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Implement communication strategies and annual action plans using digital and social media channels, international events and donor engagements to reach key audiences of CGIAR (i.e., donors, decision-makers, staff, partners).
• Update CGIAR webpage and social media presence, including, content production, publication of articles and events and editing and reviewing contents by consultants and Center staff to ensure that major events and communication products are advertised.
• Develop and update digital content, including the homepage, Senior Leadership, Portfolio, Regional and other relevant pages, as well as special pages/microsites, e.g., for major events, launches and communications products to ensure information is up to date and available.
• Produce and deliver high quality communication reports and products, including oversee the production of the annual report and review articles, blogs, announcements, press releases, videos, newsletters and other outreach materials.
• Develop and maintain policies, guidelines and standards on communication, including on curating content on CGIAR website, use of images and communication processes to ensure alignment with CGIAR communication priorities across communication channels.
• Collaborate and liaise with CGIAR Centers’ Communication teams to ensure the quality and timely delivery and dissemination of communication materials and content shared across the CGIAR organization.
• Organize CGIAR’s visibility at major external events, conferences and workshops, in collaboration with the Events team by ensuring brand visibility and showcasing of CGIAR’s work.
• Act as focal point and advise different CGIAR units on messaging, content development and novel communication mechanisms to align communication initiatives and maximize communication effectiveness across the CGIAR organization.
• Guide and train teams on digital communication, including content management, platforms, web updates and uploads, building capacity to develop and update digital content as needed.
• Oversee and assess the quality of reports, communication materials and digital content through editing and proofreading to ensure consistency in communication design and messaging, including proofread and copy edit CGIAR internal and external newsletters.
• Develop and maintain communication systems, databases, repositories, processes and tools, ensuring consistency in CGIAR messaging, to promote CGIAR’s profile.
• Maintain and update the Communication and Outreach content planner through weekly updates, in consultation with the Events team, and the Head of Content, to optimize the timing of communication initiatives.
• Oversee the CGIAR-wide roll out and maintain content management platforms (PhotoShelter and Shutterstock) and oversee integration of communication platforms with other shared services (including Canva, Sprout, and Salesforce), liaising with relevant Communication and Outreach staff and external teams.
• Perform any other tasks as assigned by the Senior Director, Communication & Outreach.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in journalism, advertising, communications or related subject area.
• Starter to mid-career level experience working in communications and/or media relations in a global organization, proofreading and editing articles and overseeing publications.
• Experience managing social media and websites, and organizing publications, events, and outreach materials.
• Working knowledge of digital marketing/outreach tools or social media technologies.
• Basic knowledge of desktop publishing, HTML, photography and video editing.
• Previous working experience in a multicultural international or non-profit organization is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the use of different communication platforms to optimize audience impact.
• Excellent English written and oral communication, editing and reporting skills.
• An understanding and appreciation of how food, land and water systems work and the associated research platforms.
• Demonstrated abilities to influence, persuade and align people with an organization-wide strategy and associated prioritization.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills, work collaboratively and the ability to listen, interact effectively and bring people together.
• Ability to work under pressure with a solutions-orientated approach whilst working on multiple projects simultaneously. Strong organization and planning skills.
• Political awareness and the ability to navigate successfully through a complex hierarchy and structure.
• Proven ability to empower, integrate, inspire and develop teams without formal management authority.
• Ability to read, understand and assimilate complex technical information to produce clear, well- written summaries.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Excellent command of the English language, both written and spoken.
• A working knowledge of an additional language such as Spanish, French or Arabic is an advantage.

Benefits

CGIAR offers an attractive compensation package, with favourable taxation arrangements as applicable in the country of the duty station and subject to a successful candidate’s circumstances. A comprehensive employee benefits package is offered, including extensive insurance coverage and a non-contributory retirement plan in most locations. Support is provided in the case of relocation for the staff member and eligible dependents, including education grants. The successful candidate will be offered an initial 3-year contract, renewable.  

This position can be based in any of CGIAR’s Center headquarters, subject to a convenient working overlap with Central European Time. For more details on CGIAR locations, please see our website.

Please note that the salary listed is for a Montpellier, France based position. This salary may differ depending on the location in which the successful candidate takes up the position. More detailed conversations regarding location, salary and benefits will be had with candidates during the selection process.

Applications are welcomed until 09:00 CEST on 28th May 2024.

CGIAR is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational, and multi-disciplinary, collegial working environment, with a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and flexible working arrangements. We consciously create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Due to the high number of applications expected for this position, we will only be able to contact shortlisted applicants. 

We look forward to hearing from you.