Communications Officer – Bioinnovate Program

The Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Program, seeking to recruit a Communications Officer as part of the Program Management Team. S/he will be responsible for ensuring the smooth flow of information within the Program, its projects and stakeholders and the general public.

The Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Program, hosted at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), is a regional initiative established to support multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder biosciences and product-oriented innovation activities in the eastern Africa countries of Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The purpose of the Program is to strengthen the link between research, bio-innovation and end users with the aim of initiating and commercializing/deploying innovations for sustainable utilization and integration of the region’s bio-resources for economic growth and development. Phase I of the Program that commenced in 2010 is projected to end in 2015 (www.bioinnovate-africa.org).

Responsibilities:

• Design and oversee the communication activities of the Program and supported projects.
• Support the production of Bio-Innovate Program reports, publications, including print, CD and web materials and other multimedia and promotional products such as posters, information packets and documentary.
• Oversee the design, management and content of the Program website and provide web-friendly content to keep the site interesting and up to date.
• Work with the nine consortium project leaders and teams in the six countries of eastern Africa in sourcing stories about their project activities, achievements, outputs and impacts for the Bio-Innovate website and e-newsletter, ensuring the accuracy of the science as well as the liveliness of the news and pictorial presentation.
• Provide mentoring and advice to Bio-Innovate Project leaders and their project teams on generating appropriate communications materials to reflect the work of the Bio-Innovate Program and its partners.
• Manage public awareness for Program events like conferences among others.
• Identify and liaise with journalists in respective participating countries to publicize project and Program activities.
• Prepare and maintaining program web pages on internet and intranet; facilitate links with other communication functions at ILRI on a regular basis.
• Edit, proof read Program documents, and write articles about Bio-Innovate Program work as requested.
• Work with graphic designers and printers in producing high quality Program promotional materials.
• Maintain a Bio-Innovate publications inventory and keep the publications archives and website pages up to date.
• Keep up to date about current trends in research communication and methods so as to advise the Program on ways to improve the Program communications cost-effectively.
• Support other Bio-Innovate Program communications activities as requested.

Requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree in journalism’ communications or a related field.
• At least three years’ experience in writing, editing, design, web design management, blogging, use of Web 2.0 and new media tools.
• Experience in supporting communications and/or media relations in the area of agricultural/environmental research for development is an added advantage.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office packages.
• Ability to read, understand and assimilate complex technical information to produce clear, well-written summaries.
• Ability to present and package scientific information into various formats to a wide range of readership.
• Basic knowledge of and skills in desktop publishing, HTML, photography and photo editing.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and well within teams.
• Fluent English language skills, both written and spoken.
• Excellent communication, organizational and documentation skills.

Terms of appointment: This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position based at ILRI’s Nairobi campus and is for a 1 year contract period; renewable subject to availability of funds and individual performance. Salary and benefits will be in line with those provided by ILRI.

Job level and salary: This position is job grade 2D with a starting gross salary of KES 154,711 per month, negotiable based on experience. In addition ILRI currently offers medical insurance for staff and dependents, Life insurance, Pension at 12.5% employers contribution, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days+ public holidays within ILRI’s National Recruited Staff Scheme.

Applications: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Director, People and Organizational Development. The position title and reference number REF: CO/BI/08/14 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com by 12 September 2014.

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website athttp://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/