Job: Senior Communications Officer

Location: Washington
Closing Date: Thursday, 05 December 2013

Background / General description:

The Program on Forests (PROFOR) finances forest-related analysis and processes that support the following goals: improving people's livelihoods through better management of forests and trees; enhancing forest law enforcement and governance; financing sustainable forest management; and coordinating forest policy across sectors. The global partnership is funded by multiple donors who believe that smarter forest policy, informed by solid evidence and timely analysis, can improve rural livelihoods, cut down unsustainable and illegal logging, spur investments in forests and trees, and reconcile different needs at the landscape level. Housed in the World Bank Sustainable Development Network (SDN) Forests Team since 2002, the PROFOR Secretariat closely aligns its work with the Bank's objectives of enhancing forests' contribution to poverty reduction, sustainable development, and the provision of environmental services.

PROFOR has scaled up and strengthened its activities through proactive engagement with Bank staff as well as external stakeholders and development partners on areas of topical interest (including landscape restoration, investing in locally controlled forestry, agroforestry and climate change). Knowledge-sharing and communications are an integral part of PROFOR's mandate. The Program has earned a reputation for timely, high-quality knowledge products and invested in ramping up the dissemination of knowledge for greater impact. In an increasingly competitive ideas marketplace, proactivity is needed to help PROFOR deliver on its communications and knowledge management goals.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Sr. Communications Officer will:

 Conceptualize, design and lead the implementation of a PROFOR communications and knowledge management strategy across media platforms (print, electronic, social, video).

 Conceptualize, write and oversee production and dissemination of program materials including outreach pieces such as brochures, presentations, briefing notes, electronic newsletters, videos, blogs, feature stories and also more technical reporting materials on the status and achievements of the PROFOR portfolio.

 Manage PROFOR's overall publication portfolio by liaising with PROFOR task team leaders and authors at various stages of the publication cycle (editing, type-setting, graphic design, co-branding, marketing, etc.).

 Review dissemination strategies and associated budgets in PROFOR proposals. For PROFOR-financed activities, work with project teams to strengthen dissemination strategies, assist the teams in identifying options for disseminating findings, and ensure that PROFOR financed products meet PROFOR publication standards.

 Task manage selected PROFOR activities which emphasize communication, outreach and learning.

 Manage PROFOR's online presence. Maintain an editorial calendar and grow content for PROFOR's website and social media channels (Twitter, Vimeo, Flickr, Facebook, etc.). Closely monitor web statistics and search engine optimization trends to improve PROFOR's online performance by adjusting online content strategies.

 Assist with monitoring and synthesizing key lessons and other relevant content from on-going and past PROFOR-supported activities. Proactively engage in the mainstreaming of PROFOR activities and findings in Bank operations and country processes.

 Liaise with donor agencies and partner organizations implementing PROFOR activities, to coordinate and develop programmatic work and joint knowledge-sharing and communication campaigns.

 Assist with monitoring emerging trends and issues of relevance to the four PROFOR thematic areas and advise program manager in strategic directions for PROFOR portfolio.

 Support the PROFOR Manager in monitoring the aggregate contribution of individual PROFOR-funded initiatives towards the overall success in attaining PROFOR's program goals.

 Collaborate with the PROFOR Manager and with other members of the forests team to communicate with PROFOR donors on a regular basis and implement fund raising strategies. Participate in UN-related PROFOR activities and in the Collaborative Partnership on Forests process.

With regard to other, broader communications tasks but in conjunction with PROFOR-related responsibilities, the Communications Specialist will:

 Provide general support to the Forests Team and SDN Front Office for corporate communications such as the development of issue briefs, blog, editorials, talking points and key messages.

 Take a lead role in fostering knowledge networks on forests within the World Bank and also with external partners.

Selection Criteria:

COMPETENCIES::

• Communication in International Development - High-level ability to communicate with internal and external partners, based on understanding their communication needs and possessing significant experience with international development topics and issues.
• Communication Strategy, Planning, and Execution - Has significant experience in and/or demonstrates in-depth proficiency at a level sufficient to assist, consult, or lead others in the planning, development, and execution of communication strategies for complex projects. Makes formal presentations on the work of, or on wide-ranging issues concerning the work of, the WBG and conveys ideas effectively to multiple audiences. Interacts effectively with higher-level stakeholders/audiences to build consensus on difficult issues.
• Relationship Management and Political Awareness - Has significant experience in and/or demonstrates an in-depth proficiency sufficient to lead and manage overall relationships with critical internal and/or external high-risk, critical constituencies to foster strategic partnerships and to strengthen the Bank's overall effectiveness and image or mitigate reputational risks. Collaborates with or leads others to foster deep understanding of the social, political, and development environment and contributes to the development of this competency in others.
• Content and Style Editing - Has significant experience in, leads others and demonstrates in-depth proficiency in rewriting or editing complex communications products for purposeful structure, clarity of ideas, and the logical persuasive presentation of content.
• Social Media, Information Channels, and Communication Tools Awareness: Has significant experience in and/or demonstrates in-depth proficiency level sufficient to assist, consult, or lead others in assuring existing or new, upcoming communication tools and media channels as well as World Bank's Knowledge Management products are fully leveraged to assure proper communication.
• Access to Information Policy: Demonstrates broad, in-depth proficiency sufficient to be recognized as an authority /expert in subject matter area both inside and outside the Bank.
• Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and sustainable solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge. Delivers new insight and recommends actions or viable solutions for multiple client groups and future needs related to Network and Bank goals and results.
• Drive for Results - Creates conditions to achieve challenging results. Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work.
  The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
  Other Selection Criteria
• MA or MS in communications, international relations, public affairs, journalism, or a related field and a minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience.
• A disciplinary background in Natural Resources Management or in a related rural development field, as well as previous exposure to key policy issues on forests would be an important asset.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentational skills. Spoken and written fluency required in English, and highly desired in French.
• Experience in managing HTML web content; video and image production and editing skills; strong computer skills; ability to use standard Bank technology packages.
• Experience in interviewing, fact-checking and writing about policy and science for a lay audience highly desired.
• Prior publishing experience a plus. Excellent attention to detail and ability to work with a team to handle multiple publication deadlines.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

More Info and Application