IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition. The Institute conducts research, communicates results, optimizes partnerships, and builds capacity to ensure sustainable food production, promote healthy food systems, improve markets and trade, transform agriculture, build resilience, and strengthen institutions and governance. Gender is considered in all of the Institute’s work. IFPRI collaborates with partners around the world, including development implementers, public institutions, the private sector, and farmers’ organizations. IFPRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium.

Job Summary:

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks a Senior Media Relations Specialist I in the Communications and Knowledge Management Division. The successful candidate will develop and lead IFPRI’s media relations strategy to establish IFPRI as a credible, independent authority on the subjects including agriculture, food security, nutrition, climate change, and trade. The successful candidate will work closely with IFPRI researchers and senior staff members to identify significant and newsworthy products and publications; and then will determine how to reach core target audiences with this information through various forms of media, ranging from major U.S. and international newspapers and magazines to blogs and social media. The successful candidate will build relationships with key media representatives and will leverage events and topics in the news to offer IFPRI’s expert perspectives.  The successful candidate also will build communications capacity in IFPRI’s field offices by helping country office communications staff represent IFPRI’s mission and impact to broad audiences, including donors, reporters and partner organizations.

Based in Washington, D.C., this position is an exempt, one-year, fixed-term appointment, and is renewable for longer-term after the first year depending on performance. The Senior Media Relations Specialist I reports to the Director of Communications and Knowledge Management.

IFPRI offers excellent benefits and competitive salary. Applications without cover letters will not be considered.

Responsibilities: 

• Refine and update IFPRI’s external media strategy and tactics as needed to reach targeted audiences with information about IFPRI’s research.
• Coordinate, develop, and implement the media team’s proactive media relations efforts to obtain coverage of IFPRI research and activities in targeted developed and developing countries. 
• Organize media outreach campaigns and press events, including launches of IFPRI’s flagship reports; write and edit press materials and other content. 
• Build strong relationships with IFPRI researchers both in Washington and in the field to represent and disseminate their research and publications to reporters, donors, policymakers and leaders of the international development community. 
• Maintain and develop relationships in the U.S. and key nations globally with journalists and editors from key media outlets, including print, online, television, and radio reporters as well as bloggers, to ensure that IFPRI is a key source for agriculture, nutrition and climate change news, among other topics. 
• Work closely with field-based communications specialists to provide guidance and develop their capabilities on the ground; ensure their outreach is high-quality, engaging, and consistent with other IFPRI outreach. 
• Provide media training for researchers and maintain strong internal communications with the research divisions and the director general’s office. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, English, Communications or other relevant areas plus ten years of journalism or media relations experience (or master’s degree plus seven years of journalism or media relations experience).
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills. Demonstrated ability to write clean, engaging copy, including op-eds, articles and reports of the highest quality on deadline. 
• Existing contacts at major media outlets from which to build new relationships; a keen understanding of traditional and digital media and newsworthiness in the U.S. and globally and ability to persuade reporters to cover an issue or event. 
• Ability to communicate complex research results in a concise and engaging fashion, both verbally and in writing. 
• Experience of proactively using social media channels to engage with the media and secure press coverage. 
• Ability to work well in a team setting and under pressure of deadlines when necessary; and also ability to work independently and in a multicultural environment. 
• Overseas experience, especially in Africa, Asia or Latin America, preferred. 
• Background knowledge in economics, agriculture, science or global health strongly preferred.