IWMI Communications Director
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is a non-profit scientific organization engaged in research and capacity building activities for developing countries. IWMI´s mandate is to improve the management of water and land resources, for food security, livelihoods, and the natural environment. Working with diverse partners and supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), IWMI seeks to translate its research findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers, resource managers and poor rural communities.
IWMI requires a dynamic director to lead its communication, information and knowledge division. IWMI is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka and has 12 offices in other Asian countries and Africa. Our work is of high importance to helping solve the world´s water and food crises.
Duties and Responsibilities
The appointee will be responsible for a team of approximately 25 staff providing IWMI´s external and internal communications, library services, publishing and data and knowledge management functions. These groups have recently been combined to streamline IWMI´s ability to get its messages, research products and data services to as many users as possible. Whilst leadership of these functions will be a key responsibility, we are also looking for an individual who will be able to promote IWMI´s research outputs to the wider international community using a range of available media. Managing internal communications will also be an aspect of the job. To fill the role, we are seeking an outstanding individual with media experience as well as an ability to contribute to corporate policy and strategy. The successful applicant will be based at IWMI headquarters in Colombo and report to the Director General.
Specific responsibilities include:
o Leading our external communication processes to ensure that IWMI´s results and output are widely disseminated and potentially adopted.
o Ensuring all IWMI staff and partners are well informed of corporate policies, plans and actions via the oversight of an effective internal communication process.
o Applying knowledge management techniques across the organization, to provide rapid access to useful information for researchers across all offices and for external partners;
o Leading the development of corporate culture, processes, infrastructure and information resources to facilitate the creation and utilization of institutional knowledge;
o Promoting the knowledge agenda within and beyond the organization, i.e., knowledge sharing among researchers as well as among IWMI´s partners, users, donors and other stakeholders;
o Oversight of IWMI´s monitoring, adopting and information sharing and Electronic Media Technologies (e.g., content management systems, meta-data systems, data-warehousing, collaborative software, intranet/website platforms) within the organization and between CG centers;
o Building and leading an effective information and knowledge management team across IWMI. Via creating synergies between the Communications, ICT, Publishing/Library and Data Management Units.
Skills & Abilities:
o Strategic and conceptual thinking-Developing a strategic information and knowledge management plan for IWMI that complements its research agenda.
o Advocacy-Articulating IWMI´s knowledge agenda and actively promote it across and beyond the organization;
o Project and people management-Overseeing a range of activities, and motivating people to carry out these tasks;
o Communications-Communicating IWMI´s knowledge agenda, possess good listening skills and be sensitive to organizational opportunities and obstacles;
o Information Technology-Must be knowledgeable in Information and Communication Technologies and trends.
Qualifications and Experience:
A degree or higher degree in communications (or related area) complemented by significant management experience at national or international level including people management relevant to the job description. Experience in a research organization including scientific publishing and information management is
highly desirable.
Selection Criteria
Essential
1. Demonstrated practical experience in corporate communications activities across the spectrum of print and electronic media.
2. Demonstrated practical experience in leadership and management of communications/public relations/information management groups.
3. Demonstrated ability and capacity to build and develop networks through which information can be released and publicized.
4. Demonstrated capacity to assist in the development of corporate communications strategy.
5. Ability to work as a member of a team.
6. Highly developed oral and written communication skills.
Desirable
7. Demonstrated understanding of the mandate of the CGIAR and IWMI in the context of international agricultural development.
8. Experience of living in developing countries
9. An understanding of the science involved in water management and agriculture
10. An understanding of information technology platforms used to manage, store and retrieve data and information
11. Demonstrated understanding of the ethos and principles of the role of
research and development in assisting the livelihoods of the poor.
Salary and Benefits:
This is an Internationally Recruited Staff position with a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes a housing allowance, transport, education, shipping assistance, annual home leave, retirement, and health insurance
package.
Applications
The position will be for a period of two years with the possibility of extension. Please send applications addressing the selection criteria and including your résumé together with the names and addresses of 3 referees to:
The Human Resources Office, IWMI, P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Email: work-at-iwmi@cgiar.org or Fax (94-11) 2786854
Application deadline: 16th June, 2008
For further information visit IWMI - http://www.iwmi.org
IWMI is an equal opportunity employer and is keen to further diversify its staff
in terms of both gender and nationality
