Outreach and Strategic Communications Specialist

Location: Penang, Malaysia

Application Deadline: 03 APRIL 2020

Post level: Internationally Recruited Staff

Type of contract: Fixed term 3 year (option to renew based on performance and budget)

Language(s) required: English (native/fluent writing and oral skills) and French (preferable)

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

WorldFish is an international, non-for-profit research organization that works to reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty by improving fisheries and aquaculture. With a 45-years track record of leading-edge science, WorldFish generates research evidence and innovations to inform sustainable practices and inclusive policies that enable better livelihoods and healthier diets for millions of poor people, particularly women, who depend on fish for food, nutrition and income. WorldFish is a member of CGIAR, the world’s largest global partnership on agriculture research and innovation for a food secure future. Headquartered in Penang, Malaysia and with regional offices across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, WorldFish leads the cross-disciplinary CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH).

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are looking for an enthusiastic and results-driven Outreach and Strategic Communications Specialist to join our busy and dynamic Communications and Marketing team at the WorldFish headquarters. If you are passionate about working with world-class scientists and engaging with different policymakers, donors and development practitioners to inform and influence the global sustainable development agenda - through scientific evidence and innovative solutions - on issues as diverse as climate change, sustainable ocean governance and inclusive blue growth, food and nutrition security, poverty and livelihoods, gender equality and environmental sustainability, then this is the job for you.

Reporting to the Director of Communications and Marketing and working closely with the Office of the Director General, you will be responsible for creating and implementing bold, innovative outreach and communications activities to build and consolidate WorldFish’s position and image as a trusted thought leader and maximize the outreach and impact of its research work and innovations. Your main responsibilities will focus on: 1) content development and implementation; 2) engagement of target audiences and stakeholders through innovative outreach and strategic communication events and activities; 3) public and media relations, and; 4) learning and innovation for improving processes and results of the outreach and strategic communications effort.

You must have a strong foundation in all aspects of outreach and strategic communications, reflected in your experience with strategic planning, development and implementation of complex communication activities, including high-level events. Moreover, you are a digital native with experience working both strategically and tactically with different digital tools – ideally applying omni-channel approaches. You love to think and plan strategically, and more so you to get going with effective execution. You understand what it takes to create messaging and design processes that engage target audiences. You can grasp complex concepts and structures quickly and can think on your feet. Excellent customer service and relations come naturally to you, and your top-notch interpersonal skills enable you to work well with different people, as well as inspire and motivate them. Most importantly, you are structured and well-organized, and able to handle multiple issues and shifting priorities with ease.

This is a challenging and exciting role for a stellar communicator with strong writing skills, excellent public relations experience and the incurable intellectual curiosity to always learn and push yourself outside of the comfort zone. You must be passionate about science and communications and have a knack for seizing opportunities. You have a proven ability to manage and coordinate multiple projects and people across different regions and time-zones, as well different functions and disciplines.

We are looking for someone who embodies and demonstrates a strong results-driven work ethic that.

Your results-driven work ethic and your approach to constant learning and innovation sets the bar for others to deliver high-quality results time and again. You have a flair for bringing out the best in multidisciplinary teams operating in complex research programs and the multicultural setting of an international organization, and more importantly you know how to build trust, enable effective teamwork and exceed the expectations of key customers, audiences and partners of WorldFish.

To find out more about the role, please check out the full job description here before applying.