The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB/the Bank) is seeking to recruit a dynamic professional for the role of Communications Officer (CO). The successful candidate will be based at CDBโs headquarters in St. Michael, Barbados.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Communications and Corporate Affairs (DCCA) portfolio includes corporate communications, corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate events, media and other stakeholder relations and supporting the advocacy work of the Bank. The Department shapes CDB's internal and external voice and amplifies its impact through effective partnerships, high-impact thought leadership, and institutional storytelling. Core to the work of the Department is delivering programmes that inspire connection, ignite conversations, and advance CDB's work and brand.
THE ROLE
Reporting to the Director, Communications and Corporate Affairs, the Communications Officer (CO) will plan and execute internal and external communication strategies and tactics that will improve employee engagement, strengthen the Bankโs brand, broaden awareness of its programmes, projects and priorities, and increase the knowledge of the impact of its work across key stakeholder audiences. In particular, the CO will play a key role in promoting the work of the Projects Department. The CO will plan and execute internal and external communication strategies and tactics to enhance project visibility, engage stakeholders, and strengthen the Bankโs brand. This role will also align with the Bank's broader communications strategy to amplify its work across the region.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The CO will be required to:
- Develop and implement a communications strategy that effectively showcases the impact of the CDBโs Projects Department, across various platforms, ensure all communications reflect the Bankโs commitment to sustainable development, environmental, climate resilience, and social equity, aligning them with the broader goals of the SDGs, ensure the communications strategy complies with CDBโs strategic plan, corporate communications policy and the visibility guidelines of strategic funding partners.
- Support the implementation of the Bankโs communication programme and develop action plans, tools, and assets to engage and inform target audiences.
- Establish, maintain, and improve influencer and media relations to earn coverage and mentions of CDB-funded projects, programmes, and other activities. Actively promote media opportunities around key milestones, events, and successes related to the work of the Projects Department. Coordinate press conferences, media visits, and interviews to increase visibility of CDBโs contributions to regional development
- Collaborate with project teams to gather content and craft stories that highlight the impact of technical assistance and infrastructure projects on livelihoods, gender equality, and climate resilience.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of the Bankโs brand guidelines and key corporate messages.
- Produce information and knowledge products, including media kits, news releases, feature articles, impact stories, blogs, reports, speeches, booklets, brochures, newsletters, and videos.
- In collaboration with the Events and Conferences Officer, organise special events and activities such as roundtables, knowledge-sharing and promotional events, news conferences and briefing sessions.
- Create, edit and update content for CDBโs publications, website and other digital platforms.
- Measure and evaluate the results of DCCAโs communication programme to inform communication strategy and planning.
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
The CO should have experience and an excellent track record in producing compelling content and demonstrated ability to consistently produce impactful communication plans and tactics. The CO should possess superior speaking, writing, editing and research skills. The CO should be able to work well independently as well as in teams and be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment.
The successful candidate should have:
- A postgraduate degree in communication, public relations, journalism, marketing, and a first degree in a related discipline.
- A minimum of eight (8) years of professional experience in the field of corporate communications, strategic communications, or public relations, including demonstrable knowledge and competence in digital communications, social media management, web content management and analytics.
- A good understanding of international development issues.
The following are considered assets for this position:
- Experience working in regional and/or international media, and in a global development context.
- Experience in graphic design and video production.
- A second language competency (preferably French or Dutch).
COMPETENCIES
Function-specific Competencies
The CO must demonstrate capabilities in:
- Exceptional research, writing, editing, verbal and interpersonal communication
- Strong leadership, diplomacy and negotiation
- Verbal, written and interpersonal communication with the ability to effectively tailor language, tone, style and format to align with target publics, including the media.
- Research and editorial skills with knowledge of Associated Press style, and the ability to review, edit and write content for publication on wide-ranging channels.
- The design and implementation of complex internal and external communications projects.
- The production and editing of videos and other multimedia content for multiple platforms.
- Adobe Creative suite or other similar graphic design applications, still photography and video.
- Event production and management, with both strategic and tactical competencies.
Behavioural Competencies
- Event production and management, with both strategic and tactical competencies.
- Adobe Creative suite or other similar graphic design applications, still photography and video.
- The production and editing of videos and other multimedia content for multiple platforms.
- The design and implementation of complex internal and external communications projects.
- Research and editorial skills with knowledge of Associated Press style, and the ability to review, edit and write content for publication on wide-ranging channels.
- Verbal, written and interpersonal communication with the ability to effectively tailor language, tone, style and format to align with target publics, including the media.
- Strong leadership, diplomacy and negotiation
- Exceptional research, writing, editing, verbal and interpersonal communication
- A second language competency (preferably French or Dutch).
- Experience in graphic design and video production.
- Experience working in regional and/or international media, and in a global development context.
- A good understanding of international development issues.
- A minimum of eight (8) years of professional experience in the field of corporate communications, strategic communications, or public relations, including demonstrable knowledge and competence in digital communications, social media management, web content management and analytics.
- A postgraduate degree in communication, public relations, journalism, marketing, and a first degree in a related discipline.
- Measure and evaluate the results of DCCAโs communication programme to inform communication strategy and planning.
- Create, edit and update content for CDBโs publications, website and other digital platforms.
- In collaboration with the Events and Conferences Officer, organise special events and activities such as roundtables, knowledge-sharing and promotional events, news conferences and briefing sessions.
- Produce information and knowledge products, including media kits, news releases, feature articles, impact stories, blogs, reports, speeches, booklets, brochures, newsletters, and videos.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of the Bankโs brand guidelines and key corporate messages.
- Collaborate with project teams to gather content and craft stories that highlight the impact of technical assistance and infrastructure projects on livelihoods, gender equality, and climate resilience.
- Establish, maintain, and improve influencer and media relations to earn coverage and mentions of CDB-funded projects, programmes, and other activities. Actively promote media opportunities around key milestones, events, and successes related to the work of the Projects Department. Coordinate press conferences, media visits, and interviews to increase visibility of CDBโs contributions to regional development
- Support the implementation of the Bankโs communication programme and develop action plans, tools, and assets to engage and inform target audiences.