Communication Officer (Internal Communications) – P3

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The External Relations Department (ERD) leads IFAD’s external engagement through public and political advocacy, global policy engagement, partnership building, resource mobilization and strategic communications. ERD also leads IFAD’s Replenishment, which is the process through which IFAD mobilizes core funding from Member States and agrees on priorities and targets for the Fund’s work during each three-year replenishment period. ERD is led by an Associate Vice President and is comprised of two divisions: Global Engagement Partnership and Resource Mobilization Division (GPR) and the Communications Division (COM) and one initiative: The Food Systems Coordination (FSC).  

The Communications Division (COM) leads IFAD’s global communications and public advocacy, growing the Fund’s visibility and reputation, and promoting the IFAD brand. It expands IFAD’s media presence and digital footprint, connecting audiences with stories of IFAD’s work and impact. COM also leads on internal communications, keeping IFAD’s staff informed and involved.

COM is led by a Divisional Director and is comprised of two (2) teams: the Corporate and Regional Outreach Team (CCRT) and the Strategic Communication Team (STC). 

 

Job Role

Communications officers conceptualize and implement strategic communications approaches to promote an organization’s brand and activities among target audiences. in some cases they act as a liaison between the organization, the public, and the media to ensure the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for the organization’s mandate and work. They contribute to IFAD’s internal and external communication through a number of activities including by generating stories, press releases, videos, social media content, annual reports, speechess, and other communications materials that raise awareness of the organization’s work and mandate.

The Communication Officer (Internal Communications) is responsible for developing and implementing IFAD’s internal communication strategy, contributing to the effectiveness and staff awareness of core corporate initiatives and priorities.

 

Key Functions and Results

1. COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTIONS: Communications Officers are specialists with direct responsibility for external and/or internal communications activities, actions and outputs. They research and gather information and propose communications approaches, strategies and solutions. Working closely with external and internal partners, including IFAD divisions, regional offices and senior officials, they make recommendations, assess reputational risk, and provide quality oversight to ensure the relevance, effectiveness and accuracy of content. They remain abreast of relevant global issues, IFAD’s own priorities and positioning, and contribute to corporate planning and strategy processes. They provide quantitative and qualitative evaluation of communications activities to ensure continued improvement in IFAD communications practice.

2. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: Communications Officers are accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff or consultants supervised.

3. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS:  The Communication Officer (Internal Communications)

• In consultation with the Office of the President and Vice President, Division Directors, Unit Chiefs and internal leads, develops an internal communications strategy aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of key IFAD priorities among all staff.
• Provides internal communications expertise, supports and advises key stakeholders, such as the Senior Advisor, Director of Communications and the Director of the People & Culture Division, on internal communications approaches for key corporate initiatives and reforms.
• Produces, develops and reviews information products intended for staff, such as messages, blogs, articles, Information Circulars, President’s Bulletins and audio-visual presentations. Depending on the product, may also draft, research, obtain clearances, and liaise with other teams regarding design.
• Oversees the strategic development and continuous improvement of key internal communications channels, such as the Intranet and IFADNow newsletter, ensuring effective information sharing in an increasingly decentralized environment.
• Provides oversight to ensure quality and consistency of IFAD’s corporate intranet content as well as compliance of intranet guidelines.
• Serves as internal communications focal point on relevant working groups and taskforces in support of reforms and key campaigns.
• Recommends and develops internal communications templates, processes and guidelines to improve efficiencies and workflows, while providing briefings and trainings to users (content owners, focal points and teams).
• Partners with IFAD departments to develop messaging and communication plans to help drive results in support of key internal objectives.
• Advises all IFAD divisions in the development of timely and user-friendly internal communication products.
• Recommends, identifies opportunities, plans and organizes internal corporate events to share important news or update staff on major corporate undertakings.
• Creates and maintains a strong working relationship with all levels and functions of the organization (e.g. Office of the President and Vice-President, and PCD among others).
• Tracks and monitors the general mood in IFAD and flags in a timely manner internal communication issues and challenges; conducting formal and informal surveys of IFAD’s workforce to keep a finger on the ‘pulse of the organization’.
• Supervises consultants, interns and external providers as necessary.
• Keeps abreast of internal communication trends and practices.
• Serves as a core member of the COM rapid response team.

 

Key Performance Indicators

The Communication Officer is a seasoned professional in the field of Communication. The quality of work and external communications performed by the Officer directly impacts on the professionalism of the incumbent and the overall reputation of the Communication Division in terms of both substantive depth and adaptive relevance to emerging issues and changing client needs. The incumbent  follows established procedures but is expected to make recommendations on strategies for engagement and communications products. The Communication Officer is accountable for quality, substantive input and ability to project a competent and trusted image of the Fund to partners within IFAD and outside.

Strategic internal communications approaches are factored into corporate reforms and decisions by management; communications actions, tools and approaches are aligned with decentralized teams and increase information sharing and staff awareness of corporate priorities.

 

Working Relationships

Representational functions of the Communication Officer are focused on establishing and maintaining relationships, building stronger relationships, identifying and pursuing of opportunities for outreach, engagement, and collaboration, and projecting the image of a credible/reliable partner. The incumbent  presents policy positions, seeking to inform and build partnerships, within the limitations of guidelines set by the supervisor. Work relationships are established and maintained with counterparts both inside as well as outside the Fund. Exchange of information typically requires proactivity to clearly establish the policy, positions or practices of the Fund. The incumbent  functions as a collaborative partner within the Fund to enhance Communication.

This position maintains strong relationships across the organization but particularly with the Office of the President and Vice President (OPV), the People & Culture Division (PCD) and those units with responsibility for reform and corporate change agendas.

 

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

• Building relationships and partnerships – Builds and maintains effective working relationships
• Communicating and negotiating – Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others
• Demonstrating leadership – Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Focusing on clients – Focuses on clients
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating – Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
• Managing time, resources and information – Manages own time, information and resources effectively
• Problem-solving and decision-making – Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Strategic thinking and organizational development – Personal influence
• Team working – Contributes effectively to the team
• Managing performance and developing staff: Manages staff and teams effectively

Education:

• Level – Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area. The Advanced University degree may be substituted by a first university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) plus at least four additional years of relevant professional experience, over and above the minimum number of years of experience as stipulated below.
• Areas –  Communications, Journalism, Social Sciences or other relevant discipline

Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php 

Experience:

• At least five (5) years progressively responsible relevant experience in communications, journalism, information management, marketing, public administration or related area is required.
• Experience in working with digital communication tools and web-based media is required.
• Experience with internal communications and in project management is desirable.
• Experience working in an international organization is desirable.

Languages:

• Required English (4 – Excellent)
• Desirable: French, Spanish and/or Arabic (3 – Good)

Skills:

• Communication Strategy, Expert in planning and implementing internal and external communication to achieve communication objectives: defining communication goals, target audience, creating a communication plan and identifying the right channels. Expert in communication concepts, processes, or data to support long term goals of the organisation.
• Adaptability, Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes 3
• IFAD governance and mandate, In depth knowledge of IFAD’s governance structure, mandate, strategic priorities and technical work;
• Political acumen, Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice;
• Initiative and good judgement, High sense of proactive initiative-taking and good judgement (including on security matters);
• Advocacy, Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD’s vision and strategic priorities to external actors;
• Synthesis, Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences;
• Specialized communication skills, Technical know-how relevant to the specific communication role considered (e.g. communication planning, building and maintaining media relations, video production, publishing, web and other digital media, graphic design, visual identity, brand management, internal communication and events management);
• Verbal communication, Ability to use verbal communication as a main tool in profession; clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language;
• Written communication, Ability to use written communication as a main tool in profession, including for speech writing; clear, succinct and convincing written communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language;
• Risk management (e.g. reputational): Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD’s activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies;
• Leadership, Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD’s core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD’s goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all;
• Planning, Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources;

 

Other Information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD’s Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on ethnic, social, or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size, or sexual orientation. This is in line with our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategyand our Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse. 

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org.

In accordance with IFAD’s provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD’s remuneration package, please visit IFAD’s compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.

 

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