Head of Communications and External Affairs

Overall Purpose of the Job

This position will lead icipe’s strategic communications, visibility, advocacy, and public engagement efforts. The role is responsible for positioning icipe as a thought leader in its field, increasing its visibility among global stakeholders, and enhancing its communication systems to effectively convey icipe’s research and impact. The incumbent will manage and coordinate institutional communications, oversee digital presence, cultivate media and partner relationships, and ensure consistent, high-quality messaging across all channels.

Specific Duties

• Develop, implement, and regularly update icipe’s communications, advocacy, and outreach strategy in collaboration with the leadership team.
• Align communications efforts with icipe’s strategic priorities and programming goals to maximize institutional visibility and influence.
• Ensure effective integration of communication and advocacy components into project design and implementation.
• Translate complex research and development concepts into simple, compelling, and actionable messages for diverse audiences.
• Oversee the design, production, and dissemination of high-quality communications and advocacy materials, including press releases, videos, policy briefs, donor brochures, and digital content.
• Provide strategic oversight for icipe’s internal and external messaging, including branding and editorial consistency.
• Lead media engagement and cultivate relationships with key media outlets and journalists.
• Oversee icipe’s presence in traditional and digital media platforms, ensuring timely, relevant, and consistent content across channels.
• Identify and leverage strategic events, campaigns, and global observances to elevate icipe’s voice and visibility.
• Supervise the maintenance and development of icipe’s website and social media platforms, ensuring dynamic, updated, and audience-focused content.
• Monitor digital performance and user engagement; implement improvements based on analytics and feedback.
• In association with the Resource Mobilization and Advocacy Manager, build and maintain strong relationships with donors, partners, government agencies, and research collaborators.
• Represent icipe in external forums, events, and strategic conversations where communications and advocacy are central.
• Support icipe’s leadership in speechwriting, high-level briefs, and strategic messaging.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary communications team, including science writers, digital content specialists, and consultants.
• Provide functional oversight and coordination to the Scientific Publications and Content Advisor (SPCA), ensuring that scientific content aligns with icipe’s overall communications strategy. The SPCA role will maintain a dotted line reporting relationship to the Deputy Director General – R4D to ensure technical and scientific accuracy.
• Coordinate communications-related meetings and workflows across departments for coherence and synergy.
• Monitor and report on communication and advocacy performance, using indicators aligned with icipe’s strategic plan.
• Manage the communications budget to ensure efficient use of resources and measurable impact.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Master’s level degree in Communications, International Relations, Journalism, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling ability.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in strategic communications, public affairs, advocacy, or media relations, ideally within international or research-based organizations.
• Strategic thinker with strong leadership and team management skills.
• Contribution to research publications and reports.
• Sound judgment and ability to respond quickly to media and reputational matters.

Core Competencies

• Proven track record in developing and implementing successful communication and external affairs strategies would be desired.
• Ability to build strategic partnerships at national and international levels.
• High level external representation with various stakeholders.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Director General.