We are looking for a communications expert who wants to be part of a dynamic team to create a better world.

With rice we can make big impact, and our imperatives are solutions that significantly help mitigate climate change, save the water and soil, bring nutritious and healthy rice to consumers and ultimately bring prosperity to the poorest farmers across Asia and Africa.

If you care about these issues and are innovative, a highly experienced communications expert and have the ability to work with others, please raise your hand and apply.

The Communications Head will provide strategic, technical and implementation leadership for communications for the organization globally.

This critical position will  drive communications on global issues and the solutions needed to make big changes to rural poverty, climate change/environment and nutrition/health. Your efforts will contribute to attracting funds for these solutions as well as strengthening our partnerships and helping IRRI’s innovations be known to key influencers to support leading to scale.

You will excel at supervising and guiding IRRI's communication specialists to ensure strategic and high quality development and use of key communication tools and channels. There will be close engagement with IRRI's leadership and scientists as well as external stakeholders.

This position will be based at the IRRI Headquarters, Los Baños, Philippines and is open for international applications.

• Reporting to and working closely with the Deputy Director General for Strategy, Engagement and Impact, direct IRRI’s communications to ensure it is integrated and cohesive and impactful relative to the strategic direction and positioning of the organization and its leadership
• Ensuring that a broad range of communication tools and channels are used strategically and effectively to impact on IRRI’s visibility, positioning, high reputation and credibility as an international scientific research and development organization and growth, connecting IRRI and its innovations to critical global issues, especially across Asia and Africa
• Work closely with the Executive team researchers on communication and visibility necessary to mobilize resources and support for IRRI's research strategy and program across Asia and Africa
• Provide strategic direction of the IRRI's Communication Service and oversee and coach the performance of Communication staff
• Internal Employee Communications & Engagement: Work with and support the Director of HR&OD to provide a proactive, enabling and transparent framework for communicating and implementing change initiatives  to IRRI workforce  in line with IRRI’s Organizational Change Policy and Principles  
• Closely collaborate with the executive and research teams as well as external stakeholders globally to ensure effective communication about the overall mission of the Institute, undergirded by a keen understanding of the contributions of rice science to address big issues like climate change, water scarcity, soil degradation and poverty through food and nutrition security
• Oversee the high level visitors to headquarters ensuring productive and positive engagement
• Assist the Director General and Executive Team on the formulation and implementation of appropriate external speaking and engagement opportunities to advance IRRI’s strategic goals
• Provide IRRI with reputational risk management advisory services, especially for IRRI's senior management, proactively identify potential risks and develop and implement issues management strategies
• In collaboration with Human Resources and Organizational Development management and IRRI management, create, incubate and deliver new and innovative approaches to internal communication and change management in order to inspire and engage IRRI’s internal stakeholders in the mission of the organization and delivery of its strategic goals
• Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance IRRI’s brand identity; broaden awareness of its programs and priorities; and increase the visibility of its programs across key internal and external stakeholder audiences
• Create and implement an engagement strategy that leverages communications activities and outputs that will allow IRRI’s leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, 
• Act as one of IRRI designated spokespersons, on matters relating to non-research related stakeholder engagement and other fora for International Organization best practices in M&E, communications and  organizational impact
• Anticipate, design and implement ‘crisis communication’ strategies that address issues that may be harmful to IRRI's reputation

• Master's degree in applied communication, journalism, public affairs, OR equivalent experience
• An advanced degree in the sciences, with a demonstrated ability in popularizing technical content is desirable
• At least 10 years of writing, editing and multimedia experience, with leadership skills and managerial experience

Mandatory

• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Excellent writing skills especially for news style writing and for capturing science for a general audience
• Demonstrated abilities in managing teams
• Expert user of standard Microsoft Office applications and social media services
• Strong relationship management skills
• Team player with leadership skills
• Understands the value of political and reputational capital as well as the ability to act by taking informed risk
• Strong understanding of issues impacting IRRI, i.e. agriculture, climate change, etc.

Preferred

• General understanding of web development software
• Experience in developing public advocacy campaigns

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances.

Join our team and be part of our story!

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.