Senior Communications Officer

<!–

Description

–>

IFC’s Communications and Outreach Department is responsible for managing IFC’s communications and outreach strategy with a focus on the corporation’s business priorities. The department has three integrated units that facilitate strategic engagement with both internal and external stakeholders. The units include Corporate Communications, Regional Communications, and Global Industry and Thematic Communications.

To support business teams, the Global Industry and Thematic Communications unit delivers global thematic/sectoral communications and outreach, developing strategic communications outreach plans; producing, publishing, and promoting industry insights and thematic reports; organizing and marketing global events; promoting IFC’s thought leadership; managing reputational risk, and coordinating across the World Bank Group communications network to highlight IFC’s impact. The team works closely with IFC’s Regional Communications unit on outreach related to country and regional level investments and sector trends, and with IFC’s Corporate Communications team to communicate IFC’s development impact.

The selected Senior Communications Officer will join the Global Industry and Thematic Communications team supporting themes around Infrastructure, such as energy, transportation, extractive industries, waste management and circularity, water, digital solutions, cities, and sustainable infrastructure advisory services. The role works closely with the other Senior Communications officer supporting Infrastructure in the Global Industry and Thematic Communications Team. 

Responsibilities :

• As an experienced Communications professional, the Senior Communications Officer leads the planning, development, and implementation of effective communications and outreach strategies for the Infrastructure Department, which includes investment and advisory activities in power, transport, cities, extractive industries and digital solutions. For more information, please see https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/industry_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/Infrastructure.
• •  Products: Conceptualizes and supervises the preparation, production and dissemination of communication products (e.g., media packets, news releases, brochures, Q&As, presentations, briefing notes, online and social media content, speeches, etc.) and thought leadership. Writes and/or oversees preparation of high-profile speeches, talking points, op-eds, and presentations, as well as client-facing collateral and internal staff engagement content.
• •  Networks: Initiates effective professional relationships with key external and/or internal constituencies (e.g., the media, civil society, academia, businesses, government agencies, World Bank Group colleagues, etc.). 
• •  Events: Oversees planning, coordination, and logistics, often across multiple teams, for press briefings, IFC-organized industry conferences and seminars, executive missions and speeches, public or broadcast appearances, and other communications-related activities involving external and/or internal audiences.
• •  Stakeholder engagement: Works with Risk and Public Affairs team to provide tailored communications and stakeholder-risk management advice to teams working on high-risk projects, including meeting clients and conducting stakeholder mapping and analysis. Assist project teams with procuring specialist communication firms to work on projects, including developing terms of reference, evaluating proposals, and onboarding consultants.
• •  Risk management: Works with Risk and Public Affairs team to coordinate risk identification and mitigation activities in the context of corporate and operational communication interventions.  Focus includes current events, public opinion, social or political issues, and other external or internal developments related to IFC’s thematic work.
• •  Team oversight: Leads and directs a cross-cutting thematic communications officer charged with developing and monitoring high visibility communications plans and activities. For specific deliverables, responsible for assigning work, monitoring work quality, reviewing output and ensuring that staff in the unit is effectively trained to successfully deliver the work.
• •  Resource management: Manages specific human and financial resources for team/unit and specific tasks/projects. Helps plan and supervise procurement tasks and/or issues as needed.

Sample Activities:

• •  Take a deep dive into IFC’s infrastructure work to understand challenges, opportunities, and master key facts and figures 
• •  Adopt an issue and story-driven approach to message development to ensure that IFC’s voice can resonate with global concerns and stand out 
• •  Develop impactful content with tone and format tailored to the needs and audiences, both external – such as: investors, funds, media, partners, etc. – and internal – such as: IFC’s staff and board members 
• •  Leverage strategic-thinking skills to proactively contribute to the communications strategies for Infrastructure, and execute related communications plans and tactics 
• •  Determine communications activities best suited to business needs. Write and/or oversee the preparation, production, and dissemination of both routine and complex best-in-class outreach products for print or digital purposes (e.g., backgrounders, media packets, news releases, multi-media packages and features, op-eds, talking points, blogs, radio\TV\podcast interviews, presentations, brochures, Q&As, websites, fact sheets, social media, briefing notes, etc.) that promote the strategic and timely flow of information and major issues about IFC’s Infrastructure work.  
• •  Initiate, build, and sustain effective professional relationships with key internal and external contacts. Specifically, explore synergies and connections between IFC’s Infrastructure work and other global priorities and sectors to create a continuum from mobilization to strategic investment. 
• •  Actively contribute to developing a relevant network of media contacts in key business and financial print and online publications. 
• •  Develop, through regular monitoring and insight gathering, a solid understanding of elements that could impact / shape messaging – including key internal developments across the World Bank Group. 
• •  Contribute to reputational risk mitigation strategies related to IFC’s infrastructure work. 

Selection Criteria:

• •  Master’s degree and eight years of relevant professional experience, in relevant discipline (communications, journalism, economics, finance, business administration, development studies, or international relations) 
• •  Experience in communicating complex technical concepts in a clear, compelling, and concise manner and developing messages that are accessible to a wide range of audiences 
• •  Strong writing, editing, and speaking skills in English and ability to convey complex ideas in a clear, direct, and engaging style for a variety of platforms including digital media. Fluency in other languages a plus.
• •  Demonstrated ability to lead and manage relationships with senior industry colleagues and content experts and contribute to strategy development.
• •  Proven ability to capture trends, case studies and innovations in communications products in a compelling, easy-to-understand manner. 
• •  Proven ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze diverse information from varied sources and an ability to learn, adapt, and to be innovative as new communications challenges arise.
• •  Self-motivated, creative, excellent organizational skills, proven ability to perform multiple tasks.
• •  Understanding of multilateral development institutions, including the World Bank Group, its policies and operations; understanding of current development topics and issues. 
• •  Excellent organizational skills, proven ability to perform multiple tasks independently, adjusting to priorities and achieving results meeting agreed objectives and within sometimes tight deadlines across various time zones 
• •  Proven ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze diverse information from varied sources and an ability to learn, adapt, and to be innovative as new communications challenges arise 
• •  Excellent interpersonal skills with a willingness to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary team environment 

Source:  https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/33295?c=worldbankgroup&sq=req33295

<!—

<!–

–>