Communications Specialist

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) deliver research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives. The Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation (https://alliancebioversityciat.org/ )

With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people.

The Alliance is a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org) a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

Position Summary

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is seeking to recruit a Communications Specialist. The Science Communications Specialist will develop and manage strategic communications plans for designated Alliance research areas or programs. The selected person will produce written content that showcases research impact to target audiences; and shares knowledge, insights, and priorities with colleagues responsible for strategic communications, so that resource mobilization and external communications are mutually reinforcing.

Key duties & responsibilities

• Identify communications objectives, plans, and milestones for each designated research area.
  
• Ensure feasible deployment of plans with allocated budget and resources.
  
• Act as interface between Alliance research areas and Communications Team (Digital and Internal, Publications and Design, Media, Outreach, and Regional Communicators), working closely with the Global Communications Officer.
  
• Maintain contact with research directors and research staff to identify opportunities to raise visibility of their work based on upcoming research outcomes or products.
  
• Write and edit communications content including stories, blogs, press and social media content. 
  
• Build a communications portfolio per research area (slides, multimedia, case studies, materials for events).u202F
  
• Contribute material for major communications projects such as the Annual Report.
  
• Keep website updated with information about research areas.u202F
  
• Visit field project sites with high communications potential for main target audience.
  
  

  Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in communications, or related fields. 
    
  • Master's, Degree in Communications, or relevant research field.
    
  • Experience in progressive communications, leading and deploying strategic plans and other communications deliverables (at least 5 years).
    
  • Thematic knowledge of topics including agriculture, food systems, climate change, agrobiodiversity, nutrition, poverty and livelihoods, digital and gender inclusion, crop research and sustainable development.
    
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Fluency in English (oral and written) is essential. Working competency in Spanish, French, or other UN languages is a plus (oral and written).
    
  • Prior experience working in an international organization, and in multiple time zones.
    
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team with people in a multi-cultural and multidisciplinary environment, including with external stakeholders, and excellent interpersonal skills.
    
  • Ability to provide a high level of service under pressure.
    
  • Experience and ability to translate complex science into widely compelling and targeted communications stories.
    
  • Able and willing to travel to global field sites.  
    
  • Creative, autonomous, and solutions-oriented approach
    
  • Knowledge management experience is a plus.
    

    Terms of Engagement
    This position is a nationally recruited position based in Nairobi, Kenya. The initial contract will be for