Communication Specialist (Leadership Communications)

The Communication Specialist conceptualizes and implements strategic communication approaches to enhance IFAD's visibility and influence, strengthen its brand, and promote awareness of its mandate. The role involves developing high-quality content across multiple platforms, crafting speeches for senior leadership, and driving external communications to build credibility and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to and support implementation of communications strategies advancing IFAD's priorities and building visibility, reputation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Research, conceptualize and produce communications content across formats and platforms tailored for diverse audiences.
• Contribute to media outreach, digital storytelling, editorial content, and communications planning aligned with IFAD's brand identity.
• Contribute to corporate planning, delivery, monitoring, evaluation and strategy for communication initiatives.
• Assess communications trends and needs, propose strategic approaches, and develop workplans supporting programmatic and institutional goals.
• Manage internal review processes to deliver quality-assured content on time.
• Accountable for project management and management of IFAD resources including people management, resource management, and strategic guidance.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing, develop templates and guidance notes, and support communication capacity across IFAD.
• Develop and disseminate external communication approaches and products supporting senior IFAD positioning.
• Craft speeches, statements and op-eds for IFAD President and Vice President that are clear, persuasive and fit speaker's style.
• Work closely with colleagues to ensure multimedia leadership placement in mainstream, digital and online media.
• Develop messaging in consultation with management and technical staff around IFAD's brand and comparative advantage.
• Build and maintain a network of contacts within and outside IFAD as a knowledge resource on emerging issues and trends.
• Guide IFAD leadership on communication platforms, tools and practices including media training.
• Coordinate, review and revise work of consultants and advise IFAD staff producing statements and talking points to promote accuracy and avoid reputational risks.
• Lead leadership stakeholder partnership mapping, audience segmentation, monitoring and analysis.
• Pilot and evaluate new technologies to increase efficiency and coordination in production of complex written texts.
• Develop speeches using IFAD authorized AI tools and co-design new agents with ICT AI specialists.
• Develop better coordination and workflow management around a compendium of all IFAD senior management speeches using in-house AI systems.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in Communications, Journalism, Social Sciences or other relevant discipline. The advanced degree may be substituted by a first university degree and at least four additional years of relevant professional experience.
• At least five years of practical professional experience as a writer drafting high-quality materials, including speeches, in English.
• Five years of practical experience in communications and public information or journalism, communications or publishing.
• Thorough knowledge of international political, economic and social affairs and of the United Nations is an asset.
• Proven expertise in researching, writing and editing speeches, talking points and other communications on behalf of senior international figures.
• Demonstrated experience in writing for publication and oral delivery such as speeches, op-eds and talking points.
• Strong understanding of development, multilateral organizations, and global thematic issues relevant to IFAD's mandate.
• Knowledge of research practices, evaluation of reputational risks, strategic positioning and audience-focused messaging.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership positioning.
• Required language: English (4 - Excellent).
• Desirable languages: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 - Good).

Skills

• Speech Writing
• Content Development
• Public Information
• Communications Strategies
• Research Practices
• Reputational Risk Evaluation
• Audience-Focused Messaging
• Leadership Positioning
• Writing for Publication
• Editing
• Strategic Communications
• Multilateral Organizations Knowledge
• Global Thematic Issues
• Political Affairs Knowledge
• Economic Affairs Knowledge
• Social Affairs Knowledge
• Journalism
• Brand Management

Languages

English, French, Spanish, Arabic