Communications Officer

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Asia Regional Office, Hanoi, Vietnam
(Nationally recruited staff)

The Organization

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (www.ciat.cgiar.org) develops technologies, innovative methods, and research-based based solutions in agriculture and the environment, in order to increase prosperity and improve human nutrition in the tropics, and by doing so, help the world secure a sustainable food future. Headquartered near Cali, Colombia, CIAT conducts research for development in tropical regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. CIAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org), a global research partnership for a food secure future. The Center’s research focuses on increasing productivity of key crops (cassava, common bean, rice, and tropical forages), developing sustainable agroecosystems and landscapes, and using information to foster better decisions about issues such as climate resilience and inclusive markets.

From its regional hub in Hanoi, Vietnam, CIAT conducts collaborative research and capacity strengthening in nearly 20 countries across Asia – with over 100 institutional partners ranging from national public-sector research and development agencies, universities, NGOs, private-sector business firms, and regional/international organizations.

CIAT’s global team for Communications leads institutional efforts in using communication tools and products for supporting science delivery, resource mobilization, and scaling impact. The team helps enhance CIAT’s institutional reputation and influence, including to make its goals and achievements visible and relevant to a range of audiences -- from scientists and policymakers to donors and the general public.

The Position

As member of the global Communications team, the position leads region-wide external and internal communications planning and implementation for CIAT in Asia. This includes: development and dissemination of information materials, strategic campaigns through multi-media channels, communications support to research projects and regional initiatives, facilitating intra-institutional knowledge sharing, and strengthening the overall communications capacity of staff and partners.

As member of the Asia regional team, he/she works closely with other regional management support staff responsible for stakeholder engagement, resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation, and institutional learning.

The position reports to CIAT’s Communications Team Leader based at headquarters, and to the Director for Asia based in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Key Responsibilities

1. Communications planning

• Facilitates regional communications planning – including priority audiences/users, target outputs/outcomes, operational strategies/implementation mechanisms, and required resources.
• Contributes communications-related inputs to project formulation, proposal writing and workplan development.
• Identifies strategic needs and opportunities for CIAT communications in Asia, as input to overall institutional planning both regionally and globally.

2. External communications

• Coordinates the development of various communication products including public awareness-raising materials, research briefs and reports, and capacity building tools.
• Manages working relationship with external multi-media outlets, professional service providers and online platforms in disseminating CIAT news items, feature stories and key institutional messages.
• Facilitates the organization of, and participation in, key knowledge-sharing events such as workshops, conferences and exhibits.

3. Internal communications

• Maintains intra-institutional communications tools (internal newsletters, office displays, electronic/virtual/online platforms) to support timely and regular information-sharing among members of the Asia regional team, and with CIAT’s global community.
• Plans and organizes in-house events for knowledge sharing, capacity strengthening and team-building.
• Provides relevant input to the management team and program coordinating committee in regional program review and planning.

Minimum Requirements and Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree related to media and communications, development studies, and agriculture/natural resources – with additional specialized training in science communications.
  Post-graduate level study is desirable.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience, including with international organizations/work-settings, and preferably in science-oriented programs and institutions.
• Excellent level of professional English skills in writing, speaking and copy-editing; proficiency in any relevant language/s in Asia is an advantage.
• Specialized communications-related skills with any combination of the following: photography/graphics/video production, computer applications for artwork and visual design, group-dynamics facilitation, and on-line social media and collaborative learning platforms.
• Existing professional relationships and networks with mainstream media and communications sector in Asia.
• Demonstrated capacity to effectively perform in a multi-cultural, team-based and virtual-group work environments.
• Willingness to work under flexible, extended time periods and ability to deliver outputs with tight deadlines.

Terms of Employment

The position is under the Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) category and limited to applicants with Vietnamese nationality or legal permanent/temporary residence in the country. Contracts are issued and renewed annually, based on performance and availability of resources, including an initial three-month probation period. CIAT is an equal opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity; it offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and benefits.

Applications

Applicants are invited to send: 1) cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications and work responsibilities, and 2) detailed curriculum vitae, including names and addresses of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Applications, including preliminary inquiries, should be addressed to the CIAT Asia Human Resources Office, by email to Ms. Khuong Thuy ([email protected]) with the subject line “Application for Communications Officer”.

Closing date for applications is 1 February 2019 or until a suitable candidate is identified.