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Join the International Fund for Agricultural Development as a Senior Communications Specialist: Apply Now

Ednah Carrick July 29, 2025

0 424 6 minutes read

Close Date : 25 August 2025

Join the International Fund for Agricultural Development as a Senior Communications Specialist: Apply Now

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.

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.

Job Role

The Senior Communications Specialist 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 Senior Communications Specialist provides managerial and technical guidance, supervises the work of staff and consultants, and ensures the quality, relevance, and innovation of communications efforts.

The Senior Communications Specialist 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.

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. STRATEGIC PLANNING AND ALIGNMENT: Advises on and implements IFAD’s global internal communication strategy and manages COM’s internal planning systems, workplans and reporting tools to ensure alignment with institutional priorities and corporate campaigns, and develops internal KPIs and tracking mechanisms to inform decision-making.

5. INTERNAL COMMUNICATION: Manages internal communication channels and platforms, crafts messages and leadership communications, and promotes internal transparency, employee engagement, and alignment with IFAD’s values.

6. ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE AND CULTURE: Supports internal communication for corporate transitions and change processes. Develops campaigns, surveys and dialogue channels that strengthen a shared sense of mission and institutional culture.

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.

Responsible for driving and supporting internal engagement, aligning divisional and corporate messaging, planning communications around corporate campaigns and ensuring consistency in communication planning and execution across IFAD.

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.

Collaborates with all IFAD departments to drive employee engagement and cohesion, ensuring internal communications reflect and reinforce institutional values and priorities.

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.
Proven experience in internal communication, corporate planning, strategy, or organizational development.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement communication strategies, campaigns and events, and divisional workplans, including experience engaging senior leadership.
Familiarity with results-based management, strategic frameworks, or corporate planning processes is considered an asset.

Languages:

Required: English (4 – Excellent)
Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 – 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.
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)
Verbal communication: Ability to use verbal communication as a main tool in profession; clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication;
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);
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.
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;
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