Senior Communications Officer, Washington

Job #	111046
Job Title	Senior Communications Officer
Job Family	Communications
Location	Washington, DC
Appointment	International Hire
Job Posted	16-Jun-2011
Closing Date	30-Jun-2011
Language Requirements	English [Essential]
Appointment Type

Background / General description

The External Affairs Vice Presidency (EXT) manages strategic communication and relationships with key stakeholders for the World Bank Group. EXT’s overall mandate is to increase understanding and support for the Bank Group’s mission both at the global and country levels, and to leverage the Bank Group's development impact through effective communication, advocacy, diplomacy and issues management. The Corporate Communication unit (EXTCC), within EXT, manages strategic communications with the Bank’s key stakeholders. The unit works to increase understanding and impact of the Bank Group’s mission through effective communications, representation, and issues management. The unit has four teams: Media, Broadcast, Web, and Internal Communications. EXTCC is now recruiting a Senior Communications Officer to take a key role in working with the EXTCC Media Team lead to coordinate and produce EXTCC’s work, augmenting the unit’s ability to consistently communicate timely, clear, and compelling World Bank Group messages to key audiences.

Duties and Accountabilities

The Officer will: help coordinate EXTCC’s support and advice to colleagues in the World Bank’s regions and networks on communications plans and products; work with these colleagues to ensure the highest quality editorial output consistent with the World Bank’s poverty reduction mission and mandate, and both lead and work with others to develop and monitor high visibility communications campaigns, with primary charge of a set of issues in the overall communications portfolio. The officer will contribute to development of a range of communications products including press releases, talking points and communications plans to ensure they will provide maximum value to senior Bank leadership. The candidate must have a proven track record of coordinating diverse sets of inputs in a timely manner. S/he must show substantial and diverse experience in the main facets of communications and public affairs, and demonstrate impeccable writing, editing, research and presentation skills, a sound grasp of development issues, and the ability to produce results on deadline as part of a multicultural team. The successful candidate will also have strong skills and experience in journalism or public affairs and the capacity to work with reporters to provide timely access to accurate information on the Bank and its work. S/he will also have a proven understanding of managing reputational risk issues, including the ability to identify, analyze and manage red flags. The successful candidate will have a sophisticated understanding of the broad range of communications tools and outreach options and a pragmatic approach to effective delivery and follow through with extensive experience in design and implementation of global communications strategies and a proven track record of results. The job involves frequent interaction with communications counterparts across the World Bank Group, as well as with senior management. The Senior Communications Officer will report to the Media Team lead. The Senior Communications Officer’s main responsibility is to coordinate communication planning around a range of issues. The officer will also be required to write and edit a range of communications products to ensure they are clear, concise and compelling. S/he will: Take the lead role in working with the Media Team lead to ensure Bank-wide coordinating of communications plans and strategies to reflect the vision and strategic direction as defined by senior Bank leadership. Use an extensive knowledge of the Bank’s core development operations and policies to engage with counterparts across the institution to offer strategic advice on communications planning and outreach approaches and provide timely analysis of risks and opportunities in consultation with communications colleague across the Bank. Exercise ongoing editorial judgment to ensure all communications products to be used by senior Bank leadership are of the highest quality and standards, including editing and writing press releases, talking points and briefing notes, op-eds, letters to the editor, and speeches for senior management. Develop and monitor high visibility communications plans and activities that require the coordination of multiple team’s equipment, facilities and other resources. Take the lead in strategy and program development, and editorial coordination for diverse and highly complex communication campaigns of major significance for the Bank’s reputation. Anticipate critical communications issues and contribute to formulating and writing the Bank’s public position on such critical issues. Work with the broadcast and multimedia teams to ensure consistency of messages and, as needed, work with reporters to provide rapid responses to media inquiries. Understand and have the ability to analyze risk issues and develop strategies and programs to help mitigate and ensure accurate communications around these issues. Candidate should possess a strong desire to effectively communicate for results.

Selection Criteria

A successful candidate would typically have an advanced degree in Communications, Public Affairs, Journalism, Marketing, Marketing communications, Social Marketing, or related fields, plus 8 years of relevant experience OR, a BA plus about 13 years of relevant experience. Excellent writing, editing, and research skills and an ability to quickly produce quality, engaging, and crisp documents and presentations. Superior written and spoken English. Knowledge of another major language used by the World Bank would be an advantage. Strong knowledge of and practical experience in a range of communications planning and implementation approaches such as campaign management, opinion research, media operations, message targeting, and marketing communication. Experience working with top-shelf media on high-profile and or sensitive issues. Solid conceptual, research and analytical skills, with an ability to think strategically and rapidly synthesize information from varied sources into concise conclusions and recommendations. Familiarity with online writing techniques including writing editing for web and broadcast media. A firm understanding of the World Bank’s mission and a sound knowledge of disciplines relevant to development work. In-depth knowledge of national and international trends, political-economic issues, and conditions and developments related to assigned areas. Demonstrated experience in persuasive writing and on strategic and development issues. Ability to work under stress and to juggle multiple tasks on tight deadlines. Demonstrated willingness to assist others and perform whatever tasks are necessary to help the team achieve its goals. Strong interpersonal skills and excellent team player Ability to deal sensitively in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relationships with clients and colleagues. - Proven track-record in acting as spokesperson and getting stories placed in top-tier media. - Working with top-shelf media on high-profile and or sensitive issues. 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.