Africa Communications Manager

Develops and delivers integrated communication strategies for the African Region, ensuring alignment with CIMMYT’s 2030 Strategy and global objectives. Manages high-profile media relations, internal communications, and public engagement to enhance CIMMYT’s reputation, influence, and impact across Africa and beyond.

Duties and responsibilities

1.       Strategy.

• Manage Communications operational plan aligned with CIMMYT’s mission, vision, and strategic goals to build reputation and maximize the policy and development impact of its research across the African Region.
  
• Provide strategic communications to support resource mobilization efforts in the region, ensuring global impact.
  
• Work on impactful donor communications plans with the Donor Relations and Fundraising Support services team as part of donors’ cultivation plans.
  
• Represent the organization at high-profile regional and international forums, such as UN assemblies and COP events, to amplify CIMMYT’s mission and impact."
  
• Provide input into Chapter global strategy and operational plan.
  
• Keep abreast of the latest communication trends and technologies, ensuring that the organization is using the most effective tools and strategies.
  
• Manage and implement crisis communication plans to ensure that the organization is prepared to respond to negative events, in coordination with the Global Head of Communications.
  

2.       Creative Hub.

• Ensure consistent brand expression and powerful visuals through regional creative services.
  
• Ensure the creation of high-quality content for various channels, including internal communications, executive communications, websites, social media, email, and publications.
  
• Establish and enforce editorial policies and procedures, in line with C&O global policies and procedures.
  
• Translate CIMMYT’s mission and projects in concrete, tangible story lines with high human interest.
  
• Ensure that the company’s brand voice is consistent across all regions and communication channels.
  
• Manages workflows, including project scoping, prioritization, and scheduling, to ensure timely execution of all requirements.
  

3.       Media Relations.

• Coordinate with Media Relations Manager all activities involving programs or projects from Africa, including media events, speeches, interviews, press releases or any other activity related to media management.
  
• Develop engaging content for media channels, such as press releases, news articles, feature stories, and interviews. Craft compelling narratives that highlight CIMMYT’s impact, research breakthroughs, and human-interest stories.
  

4.       Social & Digital Communications.

• Manage digital communications to support global communications goal of positioning CIMMYT as a leader within food and agriculture within the African Region.
  
• Lead innovation in social and digital communications in the region by driving digital transformation, implementing AI-driven content strategies, and managing campaigns; oversee the development of enterprise-wide communications systems and platforms to strengthen reach and impact according to the global communications strategy.
  
• Manage and curate content calendars to optimize content for different platforms and formats Plan and execute social and digital campaigns to achieve specific objectives related to Africa’s programs and projects.
  
• Prepare quarterly reports including CIMMYT’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for social media, media, website, and publications.
  
• Monitor and evaluate CIMMYT’s communications and outreach digital platforms and regularly provide analysis and recommendations for improvements.
  

5.       Internal Communications.

• Support strategic decisions on internal communications channels and tools, including townhalls, intranet, newsletters, etc.
  

6.       Executive Communications.

• Coordinate with the Executive Communications Manager all activities related to the Executive team and programs/projects developed in Africa.
  
• Manage systems to ensure quality assurance and streamline event engagement for leadership team members.
  
• Provide guidance and support to senior leaders on communication matters, including media relations, crisis communications, and public speaking.
  

7.       Regional Communications.

• Ensure all regions contribute to building reputation and maximizing the policy and development impact of CIMMYT’s impact across the main target regions, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
  

8.       Administration.

• Develop and Manage workflow and plans of CIMMYT’s Communication unit for Africa and ensure all output and deliverables are produced cost-efficiently and according to predetermined timelines, guaranteeing internal clients’ satisfaction.
  
• Create a high-performing team that strives for excellence and supports the CIMMYT mission for impact with a culture of shared accountability and results orientation.
  
• Develop and constantly update a global roster of cost-efficient, high-quality freelance editors, translators, designers, web programmers, and other specialists.
  
• Mentor and empower the Africa communication team to pursue innovative approaches and set demanding metrics for engagement that deliver results in a fast-changing, competitive external communications environment, and build the organization’s brand and contribute to succession planning.
  
• Develop and manage the communications budget/SAS Africa, ensuring resources are allocated effectively.
  
• Conduct recruiting and onboarding processes to expand the team as needed. ·
  
• Promote values and behaviors, to uphold CIMMYT’s culture in the organization.
  
  

Education, knowledge and experience

• Master’s degree in communications or a related field.
 • 8+ years of experience in Communications, with a strong emphasis in external, internal and executive communications, media relations management, campaign execution, social and digital communications.
 • Strong knowledge of media outlets, journalists, content development, advocacy, media, writing, editing, and translation.
 • Proficiency in digital content management systems, social media platforms, and Microsoft Office Suite.
 • Extensive experience in various countries of the Africa region.
 • Experience in nonprofit or international development contexts is preferred.
 • Experience with development, management and execution of strategic communications plans.

Terms and conditions

• This is a Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) position and on competitive remuneration in local currency, commensurate with skills and experience.
 • The appointment will be for two (2) years, including a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent on performance, continued relevance of the position, and available resources.
 • The duty station will be in Nairobi, Kenya.
 
 • The application deadline is 28 August 2025, 5:00 PM EAT.
 • CV and Cover Letter should be in PDF and labelled with the applicant’s First and Second Names.
 • We will acknowledge all applications, but will only contact short-listed candidates.
 
 
CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. Staff diversity contributes to excellence.