Communications Officer - Cairo, Egypt (Nationally Recruited Staff)

Main purpose of position

ICARDA’s Communications Team carries out a diverse range of activities in a busy and time-restricted environment, promoting the organization externally, ensuring a timely and clear exchange of information internally, and preparing ICARDA spokespeople for communications and advocacy at high-level. External outputs are mostly digital and online with a strong element of social media, as well as traditional press engagement, hard-copy publications, event coordination and partner relations. Internal activities include the clear exchange of information, guidance for messaging, and the upkeep of tools and databases. The team also carries out a range of daily and ad-hoc communications activities, ensures a consistent external voice and branding of the organization, and supports targeted resource mobilization.

Under the management and guidance of the Communications Manager, the post-holder will support a range of communications and marketing activities that aim to target and build key audiences, raising the profile of ICARDA’s work and supporting resource mobilization.

Main responsibilities

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Manage and develop ICARDA’s social media channels and keep them up to date with new trends and good practices.
• Recruit influencers and respected in-sector peers to strengthen ICARDA’s reputation.
• Support the Communications Team to mentor staff in producing compelling visual content and copy for use across social media.
• Alongside the Communications Manager, devise and implement a paid advertising social media strategy.
• Use listening tools to monitor the digital domain for online mentions of ICARDA and share these internally and externally.
• Suggest opportunities, campaigns and strategies to improve ICARDA’s social media toolbox and impact.
• Help develop the Director General and Deputy Director General social media accounts.
• Use social media analysis tools to gain insight on ICARDA’s social media performance and audiences, and include in the quarterly communications report

WEBSITE

• Help the Communications Team create compelling content for the website and mentor ICARDA staff across the organization in the same.
• Update web pages and images when required, keeping the ICARDA Webmaster informed.
• Monitor the website to guard against errors and protect brand, and provide ideas for improvement of UX.
• Monitor website performance, audiences and impact through evaluative and analytical tools and include outcomes in the quarterly communications report.

WRITING

• Create basic drafts in English and Arabic for news alerts, blogs, social media and campaign content.
• Proofread existing copy written by the Communications Team, ICARDA staff, scientists and guest writers.

EMAIL MARKETING

• Help develop compelling email alerts, press releases and newsletters through the MailChimp email marketing tool.
• Keep abreast of industry trends, styles and practices in email marketing.
• Maintain subscriber lists and help to identify audience segments and provide ideas on strategical approaches to expand audience diversity and numbers.
• Help to design and build a range of email templates.
• Monitor email performance and prepare analysis reports.

INFORMATION FLOWS FROM THE FIELD

• Liaise with Country Program Managers and/or their Communications Officers in order to create a regular flow of up-to-date information about field activities, research, happenings and events.
• Support Country Teams with their events and media/high-level visits.
• Ensure regular external promotion of Country Team activities through social media and other communications activities proposed to the Communications Manager.

GENERAL DAY TO DAY AND AD-HOC TASKS

• Manage daily requests for ICARDA communication products/drafts/presentations/etc. and liaise with external writers, editors, designers and printers on the same.
• Help respond to internal and external communications related enquiries.
• Help manage the internal database of audio-visual stock and stories.
• Safeguard the ICARDA branding and style guide by monitoring outputs leaving the communications domain.
• Help to ensure content is in-line with the ICARDA strategic plan.
• Help prepare reports, training materials and presentations to inform ICARDA’s staff on good communications practices.
• Recruit and manage interns when required.

• Help coordinate communication campaigns both on and offline.
• Support coordination of events, meetings and forums and help prepare ICARDA staff with messaging and tools tailored to target audiences.

Essential qualifications and competencies

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a marketing or communications related field.
• Three years’ experience in a communications or public relations environment ideally with an emphasis on digital marketing.
• Proven background in basic development of creative and compelling digital content.
• Robust understanding of social media practices and trends.
• Experience of using a Website CMS to update and edit a website.
• Familiarity with MS Office.
• Good organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a multicultural and multidisciplinary work environment.
• Self-starter with a highly developed customer service approach.
• Able to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders in various ICARDA locations.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English.

Desirable qualifications and competencies

• Masters’ degree in related field.
• Experience in development sector with focus on agriculture.
• Basic design skills, knowledge of tools for A/V content production, and understanding of photography.
• Skills in monitoring, evaluation and analysis of digital marketing activities through industry standard tools.
• Arabic or French would be an advantage.

Terms of appointment

This is a nationally recruited position for which ICARDA offers an attractive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, five months’ maternity leave, 15 days’ paternity leave. The successful candidates will be offered an initial contract of 3 years, renewable subject to satisfactory performance. The first year will be a probationary period. The salary range starts from EGP 16,539.00 to EGP 27, 564 per month and will depend on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please apply online at https://apply.workable.com/icarda/j/00A063CBDC/ by 30 May 2020.

ICARDA is committed to increasing women representation in its workforce and strongly encourages applications from women.

Applications will be acknowledged, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.