Communication and Knowledge Manager at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Communication and Knowledge Manager

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2021-0019
Location: Yola, Adamawa
Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract)

Duties
Successful candidate will among other things perform the following duties:

• Develop, coordinate, and implement a detailed communication and knowledge exchange plan for the Activity in close collaboration with Activity experts, partners and the Chief of Party;
• Establish and maintain approaches to ensure the sustainable, timely, transparent and interconnected two-way exchange of knowledge across the Activity;
• Manage and ensure effective stakeholder relationships and knowledge exchange approaches by engaging in dialog and using feedback mechanisms with Activity partners, ADPs and beneficiaries;
• Manage Activity events (including press conferences, promotional events and exhibitions) and produce accurate timely report, events and success stories, newsletters/bulletin;
• Set up, design and coordinate an online media platform on Activity results in close collaboration with a social media;
• Support web-based tools and social media for widespread communication of knowledge generated;
• Produce efficient communication materials (print and audio including educational video documentation) adapted to the needs of farmers for communication of key Activity outputs and learnings;
• Advise on and produce training and educational materials for the manufacture and use of the best-practice production technologies, seed systems approaches, business cluster formation, and integrated value chain development for extension services and rural populations;
• Manage in close collaboration with the Chief of Party and the donor the PR aspect of a possible crisis situation and advising on possible crisis communicationstrategies;
• Participate and contribute to the reporting, evaluation and planning processes and elaboration of Activity.
• Work with other staff of the Activity to ensure that the objectives of the Activity are achieved;
• Perform any other job-related task asmay be assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications

• Master’s in Mass Communication, Journalism, English Language, Linguistics, Public Relations or related field;
• With a minimum of seven (7) years experienceperforming similar role in a well-structured environment or donor funded organization.

Competencies
The ideal candidate must:

• Be proficient in the use of computers (with good grasp and knowledge of spreadsheets, word processing, power point presentation and other MS office applications), database management software, internet-based tools and other electronic communication tools.
• Have a good understanding and knowledge of online social media tools (such as Web 2.0 platforms, blog sites etc.) and writing for the Web.
• Be Proficientin English language with excellent oral, writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills, be a team worker and facilitator, communication and networking skills and the ability to work in a team-oriented multicultural environment.
• Demonstrateability to plan and co-ordinate, and monitor own work plans, prioritize and organize workloads; take initiatives and work under pressure.
• Have an excellent understanding of agriculture, poverty, youth empowerment, gender and sustainability issues in rural development of Nigeria, especially in the Northeast region.|
• Have ability to integrate in an existing complex programme set-up.
• Have ability to deliver accurate and timely reports, events and success stories and newsletters/bulletins.
• Be able to work with minimum supervision and with tight deadlines.
• Ability to communicate in one or more of northern Nigeria’s major languages is an advantage.

Remuneration

• We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Application Closing Date
2nd August, 2021.