Outreach Manager (Communications)

Outreach Manager (Communications) Reference No 1342 Closing date 15 Jan-2014 Overview The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) is a nonprofit, global facility dedicated to advancing human well-being, environmental conservation and equity by conducting research to help shape effective policy, improve the management of tropical forests and address the needs and perspectives of people who depend on forests for their livelihoods. CIFOR is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. Our headquarters are in Bogor, Indonesia, with offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America. CIFOR is looking for an Outreach Manager The Outreach Manager will lead implementation of a well-funded and far-reaching communication program to raise awareness of CIFOR’s research in the forestry sector worldwide. Leading a global team of about 15 staff, consultants and interns, the Manager will be responsible for creating uptake pathways for research findings with the goal of maximizing outcomes and impact for specific research projects. Target stakeholders include government officials, the private sector, civil society, donors, media and the research community. The Manager will also be responsible for enhancing the Center’s reputation as a leading international research organization. The ideal candidate would have a passion for science communications, with strong experience leading high-caliber, multicultural teams of communication and knowledge-sharing professionals. He/she would be a strong writer and take pleasure in taking complex research findings and making them understandable and accessible for a broad audience, especially policy makers. Duties and responsibilities • Lead implementation of media and outreach strategies to build CIFOR’s reputation and maximize the policy and development impact of its research; • Coordinate outreach activities in Latin America, Africa and Asia, including overseeing the tasks of Regional Communication Coordinators on these three continents, as well as other support staff and consultants; • Coordinate all communication activities related to conferences and workshops, including drafting event outreach strategies and taking the lead in implementation of key top-tier international conferences. This includes managing an event logistics team; • Draft and edit press releases, talking points, op-eds, blog stories, multimedia packages and corporate communication documents; • Oversee social media activities, especially related to CIFOR’s Forest News blog (blog.cifor.org), a virtual news service on forestry issues. Provide guidance to the Senior Writer, who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the blog. Education, Experience and Technical skills  Masters degree in communications or a related discipline.  Have at least 10 years of professional work experience in media/communications, preferably internationally. Have a strong understanding of how media works.  At least 5 years management experience of teams.  Be a strong and fast writer and editor with a flair for turning complex research findings into accessible content.  Have a proven strong understanding of social media.  Experience in planning, implementing and evaluating complex communication programs.  Experience in working for a research facility or within the development sector is an advantage.  Fluency in English is essential and other languages an asset. Personal Attributes and Competencies  Be self motivated, outgoing and welcome the opportunity to work with significant autonomy; enjoy multitasking;  Be able to strategize at both macro and micro levels;  Be a team player and have outstanding interpersonal communications skills;  Strong client service approach;  Proven ability to work well under pressure; have a sense of humor. Terms and conditions  This is an internationally recruited position. CIFOR offers attractive and internationally competitive compensation and benefits, commensurate with skills and experience.  The initial contract will be for 2 years with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of this position, and available resources. The position will be based in Bogor, Indonesia. Duty station Bogor Country Indonesia

Senior Scientist, Forest Ecology and Forest Management

Senior Scientist, Forest Ecology and Forest Management Reference No 1205 Overview The Center for International Forestry Research advances human wellbeing, environmental conservation and equity by conducting research to inform policies and practices that affect forests in developing countries. We are one of 15 centres within the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Our headquarters are in Bogor, Indonesia, and we have offices in Asia, Africa and South America. CIFOR is looking for a Senior Scientist, Forest Ecology and Forest Management The Senior Scientist will work primarily on the ecological basis of tropical forest management for the production of multiple goods and services at various spatial scales and will also generate new knowledge aimed at promoting conservation through sustainable use of forest resources and forest biodiversity. The position involves research, research coordination and fundraising. Specific research plans will be defined at the beginning of the contract. Research activities will include: a.Strengthen the scientific basis of biodiversity conservation in tropical production forests. b.Develop science-based approaches and technologies to promote multiple forest use in natural forests that include timber, non-timber forest products and wildlife use and its conservation. c.Assess the effectiveness of certification schemes in promoting environmental conservation and long term sustainability in production forests. d.Biophysical dimension of forest ecosystem services in relation to management options including carbon sequestration. e.Silviculture of natural forests at the industrial and small holder scale. Duties and responsibilities The Senior Scientist is expected to: -Work with research partners and practitioners and interact with policy makers to enhance the impact of the research and provide scientific leadership within CIFOR. -Team up with CIFOR researchers and partners to implement collaborative research activities and with researchers from collaborating CGIAR centres in the context of the Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry. -Produce high quality publications and dissemination materials such as policy briefs, substantive reports, and peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals. -Develop and maintain donor relations; report to donors and make sure that donor requirements are met; attend donor meetings, contribute to developing research proposals, coordinate with other CIFOR scientists in the region to leverage funding. -Represent CIFOR at international meetings, engaging with a variety of partners and stakeholders, developing and maintaining functional partnerships. -Provide scientific mentoring to junior staff engaged in CIFOR projects, support capacity building initiatives and staff development, and encourage continuous improvement and learning. Details of duties, assignments and objectives will be further discussed and laid out in the staff’s annual performance contract. Education, Experience and Technical skills -PhD in forestry, and/or forest ecology. -At least 10 years of relevant experience in collaborative research. -Demonstrated capacity to undertake high quality research and a strong publications record in peer-reviewed scientific journals. -Track record in resource mobilisation/fundraising and in proposal development/writing. -Fluency in English is required. Fluency in other languages used in countries where CIFOR works is an asset (e.g., French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Indonesian). -Knowledge and experience of East Africa region is an advantage. Personal Attributes and Competencies -Management and organisational skills, experience in project management. -Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experienced in working with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary research teams, experience in developing countries. -Excellent facilitation and teambuilding capacity. -Values the sharing of information and continuous improvement in a cooperative atmosphere of constructive evaluation and learning, and is committed to staff’s development. Terms and conditions -This is an internationally recruited position. CIFOR offers a competitive remuneration commensurate with skills and experience. -The appointment will be for 3 years, including a standard one-year probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of this position and available resources. Duty station Bogor Country Indonesia

Director, CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees, and Agroforestry (FTA)

Closing date 31 Jan-2014 Overview The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) is a nonprofit, global research organization dedicated to advancing human well-being, environmental conservation and equity. We conduct research that enables more informed and equitable decision making about the use and management of tropical and sub-tropical forest landscapes. We help policy makers and practitioners shape effective policy, improve the management of tropical forests and address the needs and perspectives of people who depend on forests for their livelihoods. Our multidisciplinary approach considers the underlying drivers of deforestation and degradation which often lie outside the forestry sector: forces such as agriculture, infrastructure development, trade and investment policies and law enforcement. CIFOR is looking for Director, CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees, and Agroforestry (FTA) Overview The CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry: Livelihoods, Landscapes and Governance (FTA) is a large integrated research program that started in 2011. It is responding to the call for urgent, strong and sustained effort focused on forest management and governance, given the crucial role of forests in some of the most important challenges of our time: climate change, poverty, environment and food security. The FTA brings together several hundred scientists from four CGIAR Centers: CIFOR, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), two non-CGIAR organizations (CIRAD and CATIE), as well as many other research and non-research partners. The program was initiated in 2011 with a ten-year horizon. The 2014 budget is US$89 million. The FTA is led by CIFOR, which hosts the Management Support Unit, headed by the Director of FTA. For further information about FTA, see: www.cifor.org/forests-trees-agroforestry Duties and responsibilities Summary of responsibilities 1. Provide intellectual leadership in building a shared vision for the FTA research agenda and impact pathways with a strategic perspective through which research outcomes lead to the achievement of long-term impacts. 2. Coordinate, monitor and support the work of FTA theme coordinators and focal points. 3. Facilitate and oversee the delivery of research outputs and contributions towards outcomes and impacts across themes in the program. 4. Coordinate FTA work plans, budgets, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, including working closely with the Consortium Office, Independent Evaluation Arrangement, Independent Science and Partnership Council and other CGIAR or related institutions. Principal accountabilities With guidance from CIFOR’s Deputy Director General for Research and the FTA Steering Committee, the Director of FTA will be responsible for the following: Management of FTA planning, budgeting, reporting, monitoring and evaluation • Develop and update the FTA research and impact strategy, which will include the compilation of the annual program of work and budget and rolling three-year operational plans. • In close collaboration with cross-cutting theme coordinators, oversee the implementation of cross-cutting themes in the framework of a results-based management system. • Put in place all the necessary steps, such as policy engagement and communication strategies, in order for research outputs to contribute to achieving expected outcomes and impacts. • Establish an internal platform for communication and coordination across the FTA thematic and cross-cutting themes in order to ensure synergies in the program implementation. • Oversee progress of teams in delivering expected research outputs through the semi-annual technical reports (traffic-light reports). • Coordinate annual reporting to the Consortium Board for all program participants. • Supervise the design and implementation of an appropriate monitoring and evaluation system built on a sound theory of change and realistic impact pathways. • In consultation with the gender coordinator and theme leaders, ensure proper consideration is given to gender and related issues in the programming, budgeting and implementation of FTA research and action activities. • Coordinate internal and external reviews and evaluations, as requested by the Steering Committee, the Consortium Board or the Fund Council. • Supervise staff in the Management Support Unit. • Work closely with the Consortium Office and other CGIAR institutions for all of the above tasks. Leadership and support to science and impact orientation • Provide overall direction to and facilitate collaboration among FTA theme leaders, supplementing and complementing accountabilities of the organizations participating in the program. • Facilitate collaboration and seek synergies among program participants, including data management, peer review processes, monitoring and evaluation and impact assessment. • Build a shared vision among program participants for FTA objectives, ensuring adequate synergies and collaboration across the different contributing research themes. • Ensure collaboration between FTA and other CRPs in order to complement the different CRPs’ research agendas and in the achievement of broader system level outcomes. • Stimulate the development and adoption of cutting edge knowledge and methodologies in the research program, as well as innovative ways to achieve the program outcomes. • Organize periodic FTA meetings to bring together scientists from across the CRP to present results, discuss and exchange research methods, develop strategies to maximize impacts and build stronger collaboration. Coordination and outreach • Support, manage and coordinate meetings of the FTA Steering Committee. • Coordinate FTA level communication functions as needed to supplement and complement center-level outreach activities. • Represent FTA at international meetings, maintain donor relations and engage in resource mobilization activities as needed and required. • Ensure coordination and information flow among FTA partners, as well as with other CGIAR Centers, CRPs and CGIAR system bodies and working groups. Education, Experience and Technical skills • PhD in a relevant discipline with at least 15 years of relevant experience, including research management experience in an international, multicultural and multidisciplinary environment. • Familiarity with the current state of knowledge, policy and practice across a substantial portion of the FTA research agenda. • Proven expertise in leading collaborative research. • Proven expertise in the management of large integrated complex programs. • Fluency in English is required; proficiency in other international languages is preferred. • Knowledge and experience of the CGIAR and its operations. Personal Attributes and Competencies • Strong leadership skills and ability to engage in strategic planning with sound analytical skills and good judgment. • An open and transparent leadership style, encouraging participatory processes and promoting fairness. • An astute manager, able to manage human resources and administrative matters with efficiency and effectiveness. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to interact constructively with people across different cultures, disciplines and institutions. Terms and conditions Location: Bogor, Indonesia Duration: Initial contract will be for 3 years. Possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of this position and available resources Duty station Bogor Country Indonesia

Communications Officer: REDD+, Governance and Locally Controlled Forests

Status:	Open (currently receiving applications)
Vacancy #:	716
Unit:	Global Forest and Climate Change Programme
Organization:	International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:	Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland
Reporting to:	Manager, Knowledge and Communications
Work percentage:	100%
Function group:	P1
Expected start date:	15 January 2014
Type of contract:	Fixed-term (36 months)
Closing date:	08 January 2014

BACKGROUND

LOCATION: This position will either be based in Gland, Switzerland or Washington DC, USA.


IUCN’s Global Forest and Climate Change Programme is seeking a motivated and creative communications professional to contribute to the delivery and uptake of targeted knowledge and communications for its thematic work on REDD+ and Locally Controlled Forests.

The Communications Officer will work with programme and project colleagues to identify and facilitate effective and efficient pipelines and pathways for transforming lessons, findings and analysis from the programme into desired impact upon policy and practice through targeted audiences. Experience with impact-driven knowledge and communications approaches is essential, as is wide-ranging experience in writing and editing. Technical knowledge of issues related to natural resources management or policy or a related field is a definite asset.

 
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Overall responsibility

Under the supervision of the Manager, Knowledge and Communications, and in collaboration with programme and project staff the Communications Officer will develop and execute communications and outreach strategies to raise awareness of IUCN’s project and programmatic work on REDD+ and LCF. Key responsibilities include executing a communications and outreach strategy, ensuring consistency in all communications, producing marketing materials (brochures, presentations, newsletters, social media, etc.), event planning and promotion, desktop publishing, media engagement, and maintaining alignment with IUCN’s overall global communications strategy.

More specifically the Communications Officer will:
• Build clear and consistent programmatic messaging on REDD+ and LCF, based on identified synergies across projects and other programme activities, and improve integration across platforms and media channels
• With programme and project staff, develop and execute communications plans that contribute to learning frameworks and knowledge uptake plans:
o For the programmatic themes of REDD+ and LCF
o For GFCCP projects and initiatives that fall under the themes of REDD+ and LCF
• In collaboration with the Knowledge and Learning Officer, monitor project and national reporting on an ongoing basis to identify key stories and knowledge outputs and results, building the programmatic messaging on REDD+ and LCF.
• Manage the production and dissemination of high quality and evidence-led communications and marketing materials in a variety of formats.
• Create compelling and persuasive slideshows and other presentation materials.
• Draft press releases and media advisories and contribute to the writing of other program materials.
• Engage key audiences through online and social media, which may include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Flickr.
• Maintain the REDD+ and LCF sub-sites of the IUCN web pages and act as the IUCN focal point for any external REDD+ and LCF related programme websites.
• Monitor and report on media placements, website analytics and other communications impact metrics.
• Organize media events.
• Provide substantive backstopping to meetings, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, facilitation of meetings.
• Liaise with national and regional teams to understand capacity needs and requirements in relation to the above.
• Contribute to broader IUCN communications and media engagement on REDD+ and LCF.
• In consultation with the GFCCP Manager of Knowledge and Communications, maintain relationships with communications staff of other international and regional organizations working on relevant REDD+ and LCF issues, particularly those that are crucial to project and programme delivery because of partnership commitments.
• Carry out other communications duties as needed.

REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum of 3 years of previous experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or journalism, with evidence of strong writing and editing skills across a range of styles and issues; and experience working within IUCN or a similar organization is an asset.

• University degree or equivalent in communications, international development, natural resources management, social sciences or other relevant field

• Further qualifications in communications and/or journalism an asset

• Knowledge and practical experience of approaches for effective communications

• Ability to rapidly research, analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources

• Ability to present complex information in a clear and effective manner and to tailor communications to target audiences

• Demonstrated capacity to work well under pressure and successfully manage multiple deadlines and competing demands

• Relevant IT skills, including desktop publishing and other communications applications

• Experience building and managing websites and learning platforms

• Experience in working with social media, video, ICT and/or other outreach approaches and tools

• Experience in working with video is an advantage

• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential. Knowledge of a second language is an advantage (Most relevant are Spanish and French, the other official languages of IUCN; and the languages ENPI FLEG + Russia countries).

• Ability to travel occasionally if needed would be desirable, but not essential.  

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST).

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=716

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