CONSULTANCY

CIFOR-ICRAF is seeking an Executive Communications Officer in Nairobi, Kenya, to enhance the organization's visibility and thought leadership. Responsibilities include crafting speeches, managing social media, and developing impactful presentations. The role requires a Bachelor's degree in communications and at least 3 years of relevant experience. The successful candidate will ensure communications align with the organization’s mission and strategic priorities.
This is an opportunity to drive the messaging and impact of CIFOR-ICRAF research and action on the ground. The Executive Communications Officer will play a pivotal role in enhancing the visibility and thought leadership of CIFOR-ICRAF by managing key social media channels, drafting speeches, and preparing high-quality presentations. The successful candidate will ensure that all communications align with the organization’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities, reflecting the voice and values of the organization.

The Primary Objective Of This Assignment Is To Strengthen The Organization’s Public Profile And Thought Leadership Through Strategic And Effective Communication. The Executive Communications Officer Will Achieve This By
• Crafting compelling speeches and talking points that effectively communicate the vision, values, and organizational goals
• Developing visually appealing and impactful presentations
• Managing and curating social media presence to enhance engagement with key audiences and stakeholders
• Providing comprehensive communications support to ensure consistency and alignment with the organization’s strategic priorities and internal messaging

Duties and responsibilities 2. Speechwriting: 3. Presentation Development: 4. General Communications Support:
• Social Media Management:
• Develop, implement, and manage social media accounts and strategy
• Create, curate, and schedule engaging content across key platforms (Twitter/X, LinkedIn)
• Monitor, analyze, and report on social media performance and engagement
• Ensure brand consistency and manage online interactions in a timely and professional manner
• Draft, edit, and refine speeches, talking points, and remarks for public appearances, events, and internal meetings
• Conduct thorough research to ensure speeches are relevant, impactful, and aligned with current organizational and industry trends
• Collaborate with relevant teams to gather insights and data to support key messages
• Design and develop visually compelling and informative presentations for various audiences, including stakeholders, partners, and internal staff
• Ensure presentations are aligned with messaging and organizational branding guidelines
• Maintain a repository of presentation templates and materials for reuse and adaptation
• Provide strategic communications advice and support on media engagements and public appearances
• Drive internal communications initiatives
• Write regular staff newsletters and opinion pieces
• Support filming the CEO (Communications, Outreach and Engagement)
• Coordinate with the broader communications team to ensure alignment and integration of messaging across platforms
• Prepare briefing materials, reports, and other documentation as required
• Manage special projects and perform other duties assigned

Education, knowledge and experience
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or a related field
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in communications, preferably in a high-profile or executive environment
• Proven experience in managing social media platforms for corporate communications (senior executives, organizations, initiatives)
• Strong background in writing (speeches, newsletters, opinion pieces etc.) and content creation
• Proficiency in designing presentations using tools such as PowerPoint, Keynote, or Canva

Personal attributes and competencies
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills
• Strong understanding of digital communications and social media trends
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear and engaging content
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Creative thinker with the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Discretion and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across teams

Terms and conditions
• This is a consultancy position
• The period of the consultancy is 12 (twelve) months
• Work location: Nairobi, Kenya
• Candidates interested in this recruitment notice are requested to send their
• cover letter,
• an updated CV + their telephone and email contacts, and contact information for two references.
• Applications must be submitted by EMAIL ONLY to the email address: execcomms@cifor-icraf.org with the mention "Recruitment Executive Communications Officer 2025"
• The application deadline is 10 June 2025
• We will acknowledge all applications but will only contact short-listed candidates

To apply, please visit our career site at: https://www.cifor-icraf.org/about/work-with-us/

To learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at: https://www.cifor-icraf.org

CIFOR-ICRAF promotes Gender Diversity – Applications from women professionals are encouraged.

CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity.

Application process

The application deadline is 10 Jun 2025

We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.