Job Title : Senior Communications Specialist (External Engagement)

ID : 30223

Location : ROME

Date of issue : 07/25/2025

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 08/25/2025

Organizational Unit : Communications Division

Full/Part Time : Full-Time

Regular/Temporary : Regular

Assignment Duration : 2 Years

Grade : P-4

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution, and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The External Relations Department (ERD) leads IFAD's external engagement through public and political advocacy, global policy engagement, partnership building, resource mobilization and strategic communications. ERD also leads IFAD's Replenishment, which is the process through which IFAD mobilizes core funding from Member States and agrees on priorities and targets for the Fund's work during each three-year replenishment period. ERD is led by an Associate Vice President and is comprised of two divisions: Global Engagement Partnership and Resource Mobilization Division (GPR) and the Communications Division (COM) and one initiative: The Food Systems Coordination (FSC).

The Communications Division (COM) leads IFAD's global communications and public advocacy, growing the Fund's visibility and reputation, and promoting the IFAD brand. It expands IFAD's media presence and digital footprint, connecting audiences with stories of IFAD's work and impact. COM also leads on internal communications, keeping IFAD's staff informed and involved.

COM is led by a Divisional Director (D-1) supported by the Chief, Communications Strategy and Operations (P-5), and is comprised of four (4) teams: External Engagement, Partner and Field Engagement, Production, and Strategic Planning and Internal Communication.

Job Role

The incumbent manages a team within COM and works under the supervision of the Chief, Communications Strategy and Operations (P-5), and overall strategic leadership of the Director, COM. The incumbent is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of communications strategies and initiatives that advance IFAD's visibility, internal alignment, and engagement with key stakeholders. The incumbent provides managerial and technical guidance, supervises the work of staff and consultants, and ensures the quality, relevance, and innovation of communications efforts. The position contributes to cross-divisional coordination and collaboration, and is accountable for results aligned with IFAD's strategic objectives as well as integrating processes to mainstream communications support for the President and Vice-President throughout the divisional output. The incumbent is responsible for identifying and advising the Chief, Communications Strategy and Operations (P-5), of potential issues relating to the implementation and delivery of communication strategies and substantive projects.

The role focuses on media relations, digital communications, and public engagement to raise IFAD's profile and promote thought leadership in agricultural development and rural transformation.

Key Functions and Results

1. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent provides guidance in managing the human, financial, and knowledge resources of the assigned communications team. This includes:

  • People management: Recruitment, supervision, performance evaluation, and learning plans.
  • Resource management: Development and monitoring of budgets and workplans; responsible use of team assets
  • Knowledge and content management: Ensuring documentation of best practices, up-to-date tools, and knowledge sharing across the division

2. PARTNERSHIPS AND OUTREACH: The incumbent contributes to the development and maintenance of partnerships relevant to their technical focus, including governments, donors, the private sector, media, influencers, and development partners. They identify opportunities to enhance IFAD's visibility, influence and credibility through joint initiatives, campaigns, or co-branded communications, and align outreach with IFAD's strategic objectives and audience priorities.

3. CAPACITY BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING: The incumbent builds capacity within their teams and across IFAD by providing training, coaching, and guidance tailored to their technical area (e.g., internal comms, media, content production). They contribute to a culture of communication by promoting best practices, developing guidance tools, and ensuring staff across the organization are empowered to communicate effectively and consistently about IFAD's impact.

4. MEDIA RELATIONS: Provides essential advice and support to the Chief, Communications Strategy and Operations, in carrying out IFAD's global media strategy, manages relationships with key media partners, and develops high-quality media materials to position IFAD as a leader in rural development.

5. WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA: Advises on and manages IFAD's digital platforms, ensuring they are dynamic, audience-driven, multilingual, and aligned with corporate strategies to maximize global engagement.

6. INTEGRATED CONTENT STRATEGY: Aligns digital and media campaigns with strategic objectives and corporate messaging. Ensures consistency and innovation across IFAD's public-facing content.

Key Performance Indicators

The incumbent is a seasoned professional with technical expertise and responsibility for their respective portfolio. While they work under the supervision of the Chief, Communications Strategy and Operations, they are expected to act with a degree of autonomy and propose innovations beyond established models. They supervise teams, guide consultants, and contribute to corporate and divisional planning with a focus on quality, risk management, and efficient resource use. They provide essential advice and support to the Chief, Communications Strategy and Operations in conceptualizing and delivering impactful communication initiatives aligned with IFAD's priorities.

Advises on effective use of media, digital platforms, and IFAD's online presence to promote visibility and engage key external audiences around the impact of IFAD's investments.

Working Relationships

The incumbent serves as an experienced voice in their domain and collaborates widely across IFAD. They manage a dedicated team, supervise consultants, and represent the organization in internal and external fora. Under guidance and direction of the Chief, Communications Strategy and Operations, they work closely with senior leadership and technical units, and engage partners including UN agencies, governments, media, influencers, and other stakeholders to advance IFAD's mission through communication.

Engages proactively with media, digital influencers, and communications counterparts in peer institutions to position IFAD as a global leader in rural development.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

  • Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
  • Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
  • Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change
  • Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture
  • Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
  • Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
  • Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
  • Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
  • Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
  • Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

  • Advanced university degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, Political Science, Social Sciences, Organizational Psychology, or a related field. Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php

Experience:

  • At least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience.
  • At least three (3) years of experience in a multicultural or international organization supporting global-level initiatives.
  • Excellent written English with proven experience in writing/editing impactful materials for diverse channels and audiences.
  • In-depth understanding of the global media market, including trends, styles, and strategies for maximizing visibility and influence.
  • Background working in development-focused institutions such as UN agencies or international financial institutions is an asset.

Languages:

  • Required: English (Excellent)
  • Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (Good)

Skills:

  • Advocacy: Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD`s vision and strategic priorities to external actors
  • Communication strategy: Expert in planning and implementing internal and external communication to achieve communication objectives: defining communication goals, target audience, creating a communication plan and identifying the right channels. Expert in communication concepts, processes, or data to support long term goals of the organisation;
  • Specialized communication skills: Technical know-how relevant to the specific communication role considered (e.g. communication planning, building and maintaining media relations, video production, publishing, web and other digital media, graphic design, visual identity, brand management, internal communication and events management)
  • Verbal communication: Ability to use verbal communication as a main tool in profession; clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language
  • Written communication: Ability to use written communication as a main tool in profession, including for speech writing; clear, succinct and convincing written communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language
  • IFAD partners: Knowledge of IFAD's partners' functioning and mandate , such as the public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors
  • Project coordination: Identification of key-priorities, ability to work with others, coordinate and structure work to meet deadlines and adjustment of workplan/resource allocation when needed, identification and management of project-related risks
  • Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.)
  • Time management: Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g. to deliver governing body documents on time); ability to coordinate and manage complex workflows and in-house and external teams
  • Performance management: Know-how in managing performance so that staff supervised deliver on the agreed objectives and meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD. Is proficient in establishing clear performance goals (operational and behavioural) and learning plans as well as in evaluating the performance of staff against the set goals.
  • Planning: Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
  • Interpersonal skills: Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants)
  • Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD's core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD's goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.
  • Problem solving: Strong systemic and structured thinking, ability to identify and dissect problems into components and formulate a comprehensive set of creative viable and sustainable solutions and strategies
  • Specialized communication skills: Ability to negotiate on behalf of IFAD and drive for creative and pragmatic solutions in complex negotiations with key partners, both public and private sector
  • Strategic mindset: Proactive, ongoing identification of strategic opportunities, potential synergies and partnerships

Other Information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on ethnic, social, or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size, or sexual orientation. This is in line with our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and our Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org.

In accordance with IFAD's provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD's remuneration package, please visit IFAD's compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.