(RFP500256) Assistant II, Digital Communications & Events (Rome, Italy)

(RFP500256) Assistant II, Digital Communications & Events (Rome, Italy)

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) deliver research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national, and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Based in Rome, Italy and under the joint supervision of the Digital Communication Team Leader and the Global Engagement and Executive Communications Senior Officer, the Assistant II, Digital Communications and Events will support the creation and implementation of social media plans and campaigns, content creation for blogs, articles, talking points and other products or internal/external initiatives, and monitoring of social media channels. In addition, he/she will support planning, execution, and communications of events for the Alliance and CGIAR. This includes engagement in large-scale strategic events and/or processes such as those related to international Frameworks and UN Conventions (UNFCCC, UNCBD, UNCCD, CFS, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Develop social media content, messages, and plans, and contribute to the creation of templates—especially for Instagram and CGIAR-wide campaigns.
• Identify social media trends and potential collaborations where the Alliance can contribute.
• Contribute ideas and scripts to the Alliancers initiative.
• Develop the communication strategy and monthly social media plan for the Director General.
• Support the production of multimedia content for internal and external events and campaigns at HQ.
• Support the creation and weekly updating of the institutional event calendar and related planner.
• Assist with planning, managing, executing, and digitally promoting events (in-person and virtual), including seminars and webinars.
• Support content creation and the drafting of speaking points, presentations, think pieces, op-eds, briefs, and background materials for events and meetings.
• Cover high-level events and summarize key takeaways through social media and blogs.
• Liaise with the Accelerate for Impact Platform and the Impact Sustainable Finance teams.
• Assist with other communications and external engagement tasks and initiatives as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Secondary school education supplemented by office training or related courses.
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, journalism, international relations, social sciences or equivalent is highly desirable.
• Previous professional experience (preferably a minimum of 2 years) in communication in an international organization, NGO, or equivalent.
• Understanding of issues related to the food systems, environment, nutrition, and agriculture is preferred.
• Excellent writing skills and good knowledge of digital platforms for social media publishing.
• Strong computer skills, including in MS Office and Adobe Creative suite, and knowledge of social media platforms and website content management systems, including Word Press.
• Knowledge of SEO, web traffic metrics, and content production. Knowledge of HTML and web publishing.
• Strong interpersonal, communications and teamwork skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different cultural and national backgrounds.
• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required, and fluency in Italian, Spanish, French and other UN languages is an asset.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others, to demonstrate flexibility in fulfilling assignments, and to be proactive in planning, researching, and pitching communications opportunities.
• Ability to convey complex and technical content in engaging, succinct, and clear multimedia formats for digital platforms.

Terms of Employment

This is a locally recruited position based in Rome, Italy at the Alliance Headquarters. All benefits are denominated and paid in Euro. The salary is level 5, on a scale of 14 levels, with level 14 being the highest. The salary range starts from Euro 39,370 per annum. The Alliance offers an attractive remuneration package that includes a competitive salary, leave provisions, medical and life insurance, and non-contributory retirement plan. The contract will be for a period of 2 years, subject to a probationary period of 6 months, and is renewable based on performance and availability of funds.

Please note that eligible applicants must have the legal status to live and work in Italy at the time of application:

• Be Italian nationals holding a valid passport or identity card.
• Or be EU citizens holding a valid passport or identity card and confirmation of registration from the Registrar’s Office (Anagrafe).

Applications

Please apply online through the website (https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers), including reference number RFP500256 in the Cover Letter (CL) no later than 28 April 2025, attaching a curriculum vitae, cover letter, both in English, and contact information (e.g. names, email address) of at least three references.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Closing date for applications: 28 April 2025

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