Communications and Knowledge Management (CKM) Officer - C4RPWC

Reports to: C4RPWC Project Manager and ICARDA Head of Communications
Location: Ajman/Dubai, UAE

Main purpose of the position

The Consortium for Red Palm Weevil Control (C4RPWC) is a multi-partner initiative led by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in collaboration with the UAE Government, the Gates Foundation, CGIAR centers, and international research institutions. The project aims to protect date palms, livelihoods, and the environment through innovative and sustainable pest management solutions. To ensure strong visibility, coordination, and uptake of research outputs, ICARDA seeks a Communications and Knowledge Management Officer to lead the implementation of the C4RPWC Communications and Outreach Plan.
ICARDA's Communications Team carries out a diverse range of activities in a busy and time-restricted environment to market the work, news, and achievements of the organization and its leadership. Outputs are mostly digital through social media and the website, with a strong element of traditional press engagement, hard-copy publications, event coordination, and partner relations. The Communication Team also provides colleagues with a range of marketing tools and style guides, supports internal communications and ensures ICARDA’s external voice and branding are consistent.

The successful candidate will work closely with ICARDA’s Head of Communications and C4RPWC management and technical teams to lead communications, outreach, and knowledge-sharing activities for C4RPWC. They will ensure effective visibility, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination of results through integrated media, digital, and knowledge management strategies aligned with ICARDA and CGIAR standards. The role will involve regular coordination with the C4RPWC team, donors, and partners to ensure quality and consistency in communications outputs and branding across a high profile, multi-faceted project.

About ICARDA

ICARDA is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR. ICARDA’s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development, and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organizations, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org.

Main responsibilities

Strategic Communications and Branding

· Serve as ICARDA’s main point of contact for all communications related to the C4RPWC program.

· Collaborate with C4RPWC technical and communications team to ensure on time implementation of the C4RPWC Communications and Outreach Plan (2025–2027).

· Manage communications service providers, vendors and consultants to ensure high quality, timely delivery of professional communications products.

· Ensure all communications adhere to the agreed upon C4RPWC branding guidelines.

· Manage the C4RPWC visual identity across print, web, and partner materials.

· Develop/oversee production of press releases, feature stories, videos, brochures, and infographics and/or other projects as needed, highlighting project milestones and impacts.

· Coordinate quarterly newsletters, annual updates, and progress briefs for stakeholders and donors.

Media and Public Engagement

· Maintain proactive relationships with target media outlets at global, regional, and national levels to promote C4RPWC successes.

· Draft and pitch stories, coordinate interviews, and manage press events.

· Prepare media kits, talking points, and Q&As for ICARDA C4RPWC leadership and partners.

· Track and report on media coverage, social media engagement, and campaign performance.

· Support communications for events under the project.

Digital and Social Media Management

· Manage and regularly update the C4RPWC project webpage on the ICARDA website in close coordination with the ICARDA communications team.

· Design and execute social media campaigns around major milestones and publications in coordination with ICARDA Digital Communications Officer.

· Manage the production of multimedia content (videos, photo stories, animations) highlighting scientific innovations and impact.

· Monitor analytics and optimize digital engagement strategies for maximum visibility.

Coordination and Partnerships

· Collaborate closely with project leads, scientists, and country focal points to capture outcomes. Liaise with communication teams of partners (ICIPE, ICBA, ICRISAT, IITA, and others) to harmonize messaging.

· Provide communications support to joint publications and cross-center initiatives.

· Support capacity development in communications and knowledge sharing for national and regional partners.

Knowledge Management and Dissemination

· Work with scientists to translate data into accessible policy briefs, factsheets, and case studies.

· Document and disseminate success stories and good practices across project countries.

Requirements

Education, qualifications, and experience

Essential qualifications and competencies

· Bachelor’s degree in communication, marketing, journalism, international relations, or related field. Advanced degree preferred.

· At least five years of progressively responsible experience in communication, media relations and/or knowledge management, preferably within international organizations.

· Proven experience developing and implementing communication and outreach strategies.

· Strong background in content creation, media engagement, and digital communications.

· Experience in agriculture, climate change, or environmental sustainability communications preferred.

· Ability to synthesize scientific content into engaging, accessible communication.

· Proven background coordinating the production of high-quality digital content such as such as briefs, imagery, videos, web articles, infographics, etc.

· Excellent writing and editing skills in English (Arabic desirable).

· Strong organizational, coordination, and project management skills.

· Ability to work effectively and with diverse teams under tight deadlines and with high autonomy.

· Ability to think strategically combined with the ability and willingness to do hands-on work.

· A personable and supportive team-oriented candidate.

· An upbeat and enthusiastic attitude.

· Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail.

· Strong work ethic and integrity.

· Knowledge of the regions in which ICARDA operates.

· Experience with Adobe InDesign is desirable.

· Able to assess the quality of photographic and video materials.

Benefits

Terms of appointment, salary, and benefits

This is a nationally recruited position open for residents in UAE for which ICARDA offers an attractive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, five months’ maternity leave, 15 days’ paternity leave. The successful candidate will be offered an initial one-year contract, renewable subject to the continued need for the position and satisfactory performance, until the end of the project on 31 July 2028. The first year will be a probationary period.

Please be advised that ICARDA accepts applications only in English, as per the organization's standard communication language. Applications in other languages will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.