Team Leader, Strategic Communications and Outreach at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Key Responsibilities

Strategic content development, outreach and dissemination

• Lead ILRI’s shift to audience-driven, impact-oriented communication which works with multiple media
• Support CAKM leadership in managing communication workflows and strategy execution.
• Oversee the social media ensuring strategic planning, implementation and results.
• Set systems and standards for effective, strategic communication, outreach and dissemination using of data driven monitoring to drive decisions.
• Align ILRI’s communication with policy, advocacy, and resource mobilization goals.
• Support wider ILRI marketing, branding and design efforts

Thought leadership

• Oversee messaging and communication plans for ILRI’s leadership and research themes.
• Strengthen ILRI’s reputation by positioning ILRI leaders and researchers as authoritative voices in sustainable livestock research.
• Oversee media relations, including development and implementation of a high impact media relations strategy, establishing strong media relations, handling media enquiries and reporting on results.
• Lead campaigns that promote ILRI’s role in food systems, climate, and policy discussions.
• Oversee the production of high-quality communication outputs (articles, multimedia, digital content).

Communication management and oversight

• Responsible for ILRIs website and news sites, leading editorial strategy and overseeing a team and ensuring timely quality output, and aligned with institutional priorities.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of communication efforts for continuous improvement.
• Mobilize resources (internally and externally) to support communication initiatives.
• Mentor communication officers to enhance storytelling, messaging, and strategic dissemination.
• Link and support other CAKM areas

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in international relations, communications, journalism, or related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of professional work experience in a fast-paced, dynamic communications environment, preferably
• Fluency in English at a native level is essential; other languages (esp. French) an advantage
• Experience in working for a research, agriculture or within the development sector is an advantage.

Knowledge and experience

• Proven experience in managing teams and driving change and innovation in communications
• Expertise in science communication, with the ability to translate research into engaging, high impact narratives. Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills for diverse audiences.
• Well-versed in using different communication, multi-media approaches and techniques, with a clear focus on targeting stakeholders effectively and achieving measurable impact.
• Proven experience in developing and monitoring impactful and targeted outreach and dissemination strategies using a range of channels (social media, traditional media, documentaries, etc.)
• Project management skills, delegating responsibilities effectively, ensuring clear roles and accountability and aligning communication initiatives with institutional priorities.
• Commitment to excellence, ensuring high quality outputs under tight deadlines.

Personal attributes

• Ability to deal well with complexity and ambiguity, including excellent flexibility and adaptability.
• A genuine team-player with strong listening, influencing and  negotiating skills.
• Excellent emotional intelligence, including listening and empathy, and the ability to develop highly collaborative business partnering relationships.
• Maintains high performance and demonstrates resilience when operating in a fast-paced professional service environment.
• Demonstrates strong sense of delivery – ensuring things get done to a high standard and who holds themselves and their team accountable