Media Relations Lead, One CGIAR

Location: Whilst Montpellier, France is listed as a preferred location, this position can be based in other CGIAR Center locations. Please see further details below.

Grade: CG11

Salary: 106,000 Euros + depending on experience. Please see further details below.

Date Published: 30th April 2024

Closing Date for Applications: 28th May 2024 at 09:00 CET

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is conducted closely with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations, and the private sector. 

One CGIAR provides an opportunity for a fresh strategy to shape a stronger, more relevant science agenda for today’s dynamic world. One CGIAR is the integration of CGIAR’s capabilities, knowledge, assets, people, and global presence for a new era of interconnected and partnership-driven research towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One CGIAR enables us to operate as a cohesive organization with a single mission, seamlessly leveraging all of our capabilities and assets to deliver real benefits to people and our planet. Through integrated systems research, One CGIAR and country partners are striving for impact to create sustainable and resilient food, land, and water systems, and meet SDG targets.

The Communications & Outreach Global Group engages external and internal audiences to increase CGIAR's voice, influence, and impact around the world. This Group provides strategic and operational leadership in communications and outreach to build the brand, boost the understanding and relevance of CGIAR's science, and support investment, positioning the organization to achieve its mission to transform food, land, and water systems.

The Media Relations Lead will develop and implement global media strategies that support CGIAR's mission and objectives in measurable ways. The successful candidate will build a global media practice that strengthens the reputation of CGIAR and its Centers, effectively reaching and engaging new and existing audiences.

With a creative vision and strong understanding of the media and development landscapes, the Media Relations Lead is an expert at turning ideas and scientific outputs into high-quality and meaningful media opportunities, driving awareness of CGIAR's role in addressing current global challenges in food, land, and water systems.

• Develop and implement a media relations and outreach strategy, activities, integrated campaigns, and compelling content that engage target audiences in measurable ways, support CGIAR's mission and objectives, and position the organization as a thought leader in relevant and prioritized markets.
• Develop media outreach policies, guidelines, and procedures, ensuring internal dissemination and implementation to guide and enable relevant activities and deliverables across the organization.
• Create innovative and exciting products for media outreach that cater to CGIAR priority audiences, working jointly with other CGIAR divisions to ensure relevance and consistency with research progress, impact, and ambition.
• Build and manage a global media database to secure CGIAR's presence in top-tier media outlets and achieve shared communications objectives with a strong focus on developing decentralized media capacity, including through training.
• Advocate approaches for CGIAR leadership and scientists on effective media engagement strategies and advise them on participation in media events and interviews.
• Lead media engagement on major corporate initiatives including the global replenishment campaign and, in collaboration with the other teams, develop messaging that resonates with media and other audiences and is aligned with CGIAR’s broader research agenda, calls to action and objectives.
• Provide expert advisory and support to science groups and regions in producing tailored and relevant media products and in engaging the media to position the CGIAR as a thought-leading organization and strengthen its role as a critical player in each space.
• Proactively engage with global, regional, and national media to secure coverage that supports CGIAR’s mission. This will include working with key target top-tier media or indirectly managing a media outreach agency through existing or cultivated relationships with target journalists and media.
• Commission and/or oversee the production of media products (op-eds, press releases, etc) in line with CGIAR’s tone of voice, brand guidelines and strategy to ensure it resonates with the target audience.
• Originate strategies and advisory for building and maintaining the organization’s reputation, providing professional advice and expert guidance to colleagues on opportunities and reputation risks.
• Manage and work with media monitoring to provide insights to the communications teams across the CGIAR systems.
• Introduce, implement, and manage shared platforms, systems, and processes for CGIAR’s communications teams for the timely, effective, and consistent delivery of media outputs and innovations. This includes email marketing and media monitoring tools.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs), monitoring systems and timelines in line with C&O goals, annual budget, and use results to refine the implementation of the annual communications plan and transparent use of financial resources.
• Develop an evaluation framework and system for CGIAR media outreach to ensure the adoption of best practices in audience engagement, that complies with CGIAR communication standards.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in communications (Masters equivalent), international relations, social sciences, or other relevant disciplines.
• Progressive experience in a similar role in a multi-faceted international institution.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate team activities to implement strategic plans and projects.
• Demonstrated experience in setting up, monitoring, and reporting on KPIs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of/interest in relevant specialist topics and subject matter.
• Demonstrated ability to be an agent of change to build a unified CGIAR culture and a dynamic, integrated, and agile organization.
• Consistent record of upholding the highest ethical standards by inspiring trust and treating all people with respect and personal integrity.
• Ability to effectively communicate a common vision to diverse internal and external stakeholders combined with proven ability to convey complex scientific work to lay audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills and ability to work collaboratively with people at all levels in a decentralized, respectful, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary organization.
• Fluency in English is essential to communicate verbally, and excellent mastery of written English is required.
• Other major languages such as French and/or Spanish as a second language would be an advantage.

Benefits

CGIAR offers an attractive compensation package, with favourable taxation arrangements as applicable in the country of the duty station and subject to a successful candidate’s circumstances. A comprehensive employee benefits package is offered, including extensive insurance coverage and a non-contributory retirement plan in most locations. Support is provided in the case of relocation for the staff member and eligible dependents, including education grants. The successful candidate will be offered an initial 3-year contract, renewable.  

This position can be based in any of CGIAR’s Center headquarters, subject to a convenient working overlap with Central European Time. For more details on CGIAR locations, please see our website.

Please note that the salary listed is for a Montpellier, France based position. This salary may differ depending on the location in which the successful candidate takes up the position. More detailed conversations regarding location, salary and benefits will be had with candidates during the selection process.

All applications must be submitted online in English. If you require assistance or face challenges in submitting your application, please email recruitment@cgiar.org with the position title in the subject line. Please note we will not accept applications through this email. 

Applications are welcomed until 09:00 CET on 28th May 2024.

CGIAR is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational, and multi-disciplinary, collegial working environment, with a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and flexible working arrangements. We consciously create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Due to the high number of applications expected for this position, we will only be able to contact shortlisted applicants. 

We look forward to hearing from you.