Communications Manager, Climate Action (Europe Region)
Job Description
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. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.
The Alliance works with local, national, and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.
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 in a climate crisis.
The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
https://alliancebioversityciat.org/ www.cgiar.org
About the position
Based within the European Union, and under the supervision of the Climate Action Lever Director, the Communications Manager will provide an overall management function to set the strategic direction and global engagement of Climate Action projects, including AICCRA. This position will ensure alignment and integration between Climate Action communications and the Alliance’s global communications efforts.
Responsibilities
- Leverage expertise in global communications and strategic, impactful messaging to enhance visibility of Climate Action projects and foster meaningful engagement across regions and CGIAR centers by employing innovative strategies.
- Aim to amplify the reach of communications initiatives and projects (AICCRA, ClimBER, etc.), cultivating strong relationships with scientists, stakeholders, and ultimately contributing to the overarching goals of the Climate Action lever’s growth.
- Develop a unifying global communications strategy for the Climate Action Lever and specific communications strategies and workplans for each contributing project.
- Provide oversight regarding strategy, planning, and editorial guidelines, and offer advice, support, and feedback to communications staff or consultants.
- Identify opportunities to strategically communicate key messages for maximum impact among Climate Action senior team leaders.
- Develop brand guidelines and a writing style guide to promote a more unified global voice for the Climate Action Lever.
- Produce engaging content across multiple channels such as websites, social media, newsletters, press releases, and annual reports while ensuring consistency in messaging tailored to different audiences and platforms.
- Track and coordinate deliverables (blogs/news stories/events) across projects in monthly meetings with communications staff and consultants including those from East Africa, West Africa, ClimBeR, and other Alliance office staff and consultants.
- Act as a coordinator with The Alliance web, publications, digital, and social media teams to track workflows, problem solve, and ease bottlenecks.
- Report against potential key performance indicators such as web views (Google Analytics), altmetrics, citations, social media reach, visibility, engagement, and outcome stories in annual reporting.
- Coordinate and support global communications and advocacy efforts (e.g., COP28) in collaboration with the new Partnerships and Communications Specialist at The Alliance.
- Coordinate with the Alliance corporate communications team to ensure Climate Action outputs are actively promoted through core Alliance channels and advocate for Climate Action within the corporate communications team.
- Provide monthly updates to the Climate Action team highlighting stories, events, partner engagement, social media visibility and engagement, and impact of knowledge products and analytics data.
- Encourage resource mobilization from other parts of the Climate Action portfolio through tangible, evidence-based examples of impact through communications, potentially recruiting communications specialists to expand support.
- Identify training and development opportunities for Climate Action communications staff.
- Serve as the organization's spokesperson, responding to media inquiries and representing the organization at public events, conferences, and speaking engagements.
- Cultivate relationships with journalists, editors, and media outlets to secure positive coverage for Climate Action initiatives, events, and campaigns.
- Develop protocols and procedures for handling crisis situations or negative publicity, acting swiftly and effectively to mitigate reputational damage and communicate transparently with stakeholders.
- Report the required operations, services, and consultancies budget to the AICCRA Finance Manager and Project Leaders for approval and manage the communications budget, allocating resources effectively to achieve maximum impact within financial constraints.
- Serve as a 'matchmaker' and advisor, coordinating content production among various resources: junior staff, consultants, interns, and support from corporate communications teams.
- Coordinate contributions effectively to ensure high-quality outputs from participating projects.
- Implement internal communication strategies to foster transparency and engagement, keeping staff and board members informed about project developments, achievements, and priorities.
- Support Project Leaders in developing communication proposals and strategies for their projects, considering funds availability.
### Requirements
Requirements
- Master’s degree in economy, journalism, politics, or related field.
- Previous relevant professional experience (preferably minimum 5 years) in a closely related field gained in an international organization including communications strategies, budget management, journalism, among others.
- Three or more years of experience working as a communications manager, international consultant or advisor, and proven expertise in communications channels is highly desirable.
- Preferably a minimum of three years’ experience in leading communications strategy in worldwide organizations.
- Adaptability to dynamic environments and effective stakeholder engagement.
- Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills including the ability to work effectively with other national and cultural backgrounds.
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to write and understand in scientific language.
- Professional fluency in English, both written and verbal.
### Benefits
Terms of employment
This is an internationally recruited position based within the European Union. The salary level is level 10, on a scale of 14 levels, with level 14 being the highest. The Alliance offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary, non-contributory retirement plan, medical insurance, housing allowance and leave provisions. All benefits are denominated and paid in US Dollars. The initial contract will be for a period of 2 years subject to a probationary period of six months and is renewable based on performance and availability of funds.
Applications
Please apply online through the website ( https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers ) no later than 22 May 2024, attaching a curriculum vitae, motivation letter (illustrating your suitability for the above mentioned position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills), both in English, and contact information (e.g. names, email address) of at least three references (who have worked either as your professional or academic supervisors and knowledgeable about your professional qualifications and work experience).
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Closing date for applications: 22 May 2024
We invite you to learn more about us at:
http://alliancebioversityciat.org
Please visit our careers page at: