Position Title: Senior Specialist – Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Coordination
| Job ID |
: |
HQ01053 |
| Location |
: |
Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Closing Date |
: |
August 28, 2019 |
About IRRI
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s premier research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.
Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.
Job Purpose
Under the direction of the Senior Manager - Advocacy, Engagement, and Communication, this position will lead the implementation of the communication and engagement plan to achieve the advocacy, engagement and communication goals of the Healthier Rice Program in Bangladesh and the wider communication and engagement goals of the IRRI Bangladesh Office. This includes but is not limited to developing communication toolkits and campaigns for targeted audiences, conceptualizing and implementing relevant events and meetings for target stakeholders and monitoring local media for arising issues and opportunities and providing advice on how to capitalize on them. The position is expected to ensure adherence to the Institute’s communication and branding guidelines, work collaboratively with the Healthier Rice Country Manager and team, IRRI Communication and Stakeholder Engagement and relevant project stakeholders. The position will also provide key support to the overall communication and engagement goals of the IRRI Bangladesh Office.
Roles and Responsibilities
Purpose
- Develop and implement a communication and engagement plan that supports the goals of the Healthier Rice Program and IRRI’s strategic goals in Bangladesh.
- Actively cultivate the support of stakeholder groups and policy makers through one-to-one briefings, creative and engaging events and engagement efforts
- Provide accurate and timely information and evidence to help stakeholders, policy-makers, farmers, consumers, value chain players, and the public form informed opinions and make informed decisions about products from the Healthier Rice Program.
- Actively cultivate positive public perception of the Healthier Rice Program, particularly among consumers and farmers, in preparation for market deployment
Engagement
- Collaborate with IRRI Communication Unit staff, BRRI, other NARES partners and other project partners to develop and roll-out communication materials that are appropriate for each stage of the project
- Support the engagement strategies with relevant and compelling communication materials, working closely with other team members
- Engage with policy advocacy groups related to micro-nutrient deficiencies, agricultural biotechnology, bio-fortification, and other relevant topics to provide appropriate collateral materials and support their policy efforts
Identify relevant media and develop strong relationships, providing up-to-date information
- Spearhead media seminars, press conferences, exposure trips, filming, and coverage to positively influence public perception
- Act as the primary media contact for the project and the IRRI Bangladesh office to facilitate media inquiries
- Work with the project deployment team to develop key messages for the various value chain players such as growers, processors, distributors, and consumers and to conduct communication activities to support marketing and deployment
- Provide support to the Bangladesh country office in relation to its communication needs.
Delivery
- Review and analyze the latest policy developments, existing processes, strategies and guidelines and provide recommendations for possible changes or amendments to the communication and engagement strategy;
- Write, edit and develop communication materials to increase knowledge and understanding of the Healthier Rice project, including materials in local languages, where appropriate.
- Develop and implement evidence-based advocacy campaigns
- Develop and implement traditional and social media plans for the various phases of the project
- Ensure the communication toolkit is kept up to date for the use of Program team members and partners, including FAQs, good news stories, memes, info-graphics, posters, brochures, exhibit materials, etc.
- Monitor and report on traditional and social media for coverage related to micro-nutrient deficiencies, agricultural biotechnology, bio-fortification, and other relevant topics, flagging issues and concerns
- Develop key messages and marketing campaigns based on the identified unique selling propositions and results of market deployment studies
- Optimize the delivery of outreach materials to target audiences and provide material to the media, including the local vernacular language press;
- Maintain records of stakeholder outreach activities and results;
- Facilitate and coordinate training sessions, workshops, conferences and meetings (national and international) on topics relevant to Healthier Rice advocacy and outreach
- Write, edit and develop communication plans and materials and marketing campaigns to increase knowledge and understanding of the impact of IRRI’s work in Bangladesh among target audiences in order to support the goals of the IRRI Bangladesh Office
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Journalism, Communication, Agricultural Science or relevant field with minimum 8 years of relevant editing work experience, or
- PhD degree in Journalism, Communication, Agricultural Science or relevant field with minimum 6 years of relevant editing work experience
Skills Required
Mandatory
- Has excellent English and Bengali editing and writing skills
- Has experience developing and implementing advocacy campaigns
- Has experience managing events
- Has proven ability to develop plans and strategies
- Has experience in delivering high quality communication material to deadlines
- Has excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills
- Has media relations experience
- Has good organizational skills and is timely in delivery
Preferred
- Has experience working for an international organization
- Has a good understanding of complex scientific information and theories related to agriculture
- Has basic understanding of agricultural biotechnology
- Has stakeholder engagement and coordination experience
- Has knowledge on equal opportunity, cultural, and gender diversity
- Experience working with/ in a nutrition project or program
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Salary Ranges: Basic (70,667- 130,833) BDT per Month
Other Benefits: Housing Allowance: 30% of base pay per month, Transport Allowance: 14,400 BDT, Festival Bonus: 2 times each year, Contributory Provident Fund (CPF), Returning Mother Allowance: BDT-1,000 per month for 9 months to female employees post-delivery of a baby to support return to the workplace, Medical insurance coverage: maximum US$16,000/year and other admissible benefits. |
