Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist for Animal Science for Sustainable Productivity (ASSP) program, to be based in Addis Ababa.

General: ILRI works with partners worldwide to enhance the roles that livestock play in food security and poverty alleviation, principally in Africa and Asia. The outcomes of these research partnerships help people in developing countries keep their farm animals alive and productive, increase and sustain their livestock and farm productivity, find profitable markets for their animal products, and reduce the risk of livestock-related diseases.

A member of the CGIAR Consortium working for a food-secure future, ILRI has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, a principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and offices in other countries in East, West and Southern Africa (Mali, Mozambique and Nigeria) and in South Asia (India and Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) and East Asia (China). http://www.ilri.org.

Main duties & responsibilities:

The Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist will help develop communications materials and organize communications and knowledge sharing activities of the work, outputs and outcomes of Animal Science for Sustainable Productivity (ASSP) research program of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). He/She will also work within a newly restructured ILRI Communications and Knowledge Management (CKM) team which include other communications and knowledge management staff similarly embedded in ILRI’s programs and regions as well as experts working across the institute. The Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist will manage all kinds of communications work for ASSP research program while also focusing on writing and editing work of a public nature that helps influence decisions and enhance the uptake of research products.

• Writes, edits, illustrates format and oversee production of a stream of public communication and awareness materials generated by Animal Science for Sustainable Productivity (ASSP) program staff, including regular news and feature blog articles and more occasional research reports, policy briefs, brochures, science posters and multimedia products;
• Populates program-specific blog sites with content, engaging with the readers of these blogs and with responders to social media content generated by the programs;
• Helps disseminate the program’s messages and materials through ILRI’s publishing, knowledge sharing and social media channels as well as more widely as needed;
• Updates Animal Science for Sustainable Productivity (ASSP) program content on relevant pages of ILRI’s main website and other relevant web portals;
• Develops program-related materials – such as summaries of research projects, updates of research progress, staff profiles, feature articles and success stories;
• Documents meetings and workshops and manages the uploading of all relevant materials online;
  Compiles, drafts and summarizes internal reports as needed;
• Helps the program’s researchers/team leaders work with media (e.g., organizes journalist interviews and staff profiles, disseminate key messages);
• Helps refine the basic editing, proofreading and presentation skills of the program’s scientists;
• Maintains lists of research publications and other outputs, a calendar of events, and mailing lists for the program, using existing ILRI Communications and Knowledge Management tools and channels (CGspace, Google Calendar, Sales Force);
• Identifies, tracks and reports on a set of performance indicators for communications work in Animal Science for Sustainable Productivity (ASSP) research program;
• Keeps track of the online footprint and media mentions of ASSP program work and amplifies these where appropriate;
• Coordinates with other communication and knowledge management specialists (Livestock and Irrigation Value-Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) and Africa RISING projects) within
• Animal Science for Sustainable Productivity (ASSP) program;
  Contributes to the ILRI-wide communications and KM community of practice, participates in Communications and Knowledge Management (CKM) learning, reviewing and planning activities and ensures that these activities follow ILRI standards and agreed channels;
• Supports the Programme Leader to design a communication strategy/plan for the program;
• Performs any other related duties as assigned by the Programme Leader from time to time.

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

• BA degree in communications, journalism, advertising or related field

Experience:   

• At least five years of progressively advanced experience in relevant communications work with a focus on writing, editing, proofreading and design of materials for print and web

Skills:

• Outstanding written, and excellent verbal, English
• Skilled in mainstream computer programs, especially Microsoft Office applications
• Sharp analytical, organizational and documentation skills
• Keen attention to detail
• Ability to work well both independently and within teams
• Flexible, willing to grow professionally, learn new skills
• Can meet tight deadlines without compromising quality

Advantages:

• Master’s degree in communications or related field
• Expertise in graphic arts computer programs
• Experience in database management
• Experience in managing media relations
• Experience in technical / scientific writing and editing
• Experience in international or development oriented organizations
• Experience using social media

Duty Station: Addis Ababa.

Job level:            2D.

Monthly Base Salary: Birr 18,018 (Negotiable, depending on experience, skill and salary history of the candidate)

Terms of appointment:  This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position, initial appointment is fixed term for three years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. The ILRI remuneration package for nationally recruited staff in Ethiopia includes very competitive salary and benefits such as life and medical insurance, offshore pension plan, etc.

The ILRI campus is set in a secure, attractive campus on the outskirts of Addis Ababa.  Dining and sports facilities are located on site.

Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae; names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to be included in the curriculum vitae. The position and reference number: REF: A/061/14 should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter. All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 8 December 2014.

To find out more about ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/

Suitably qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply.