Knowledge Sharing Advisor

Job Summary

The Knowledge Sharing Advisor is a member of the Regional Director’s office working collaboratively with the Regional Director and the Regional Advisor to promote the Centre’s knowledge sharing objectives, through strategic positioning and knowledge translation for uptake and use, and the communications objectives in the region.

This role works across the region to position key outcomes, learnings, and program developments that support IDRC’s corporate strategy and increase the visibility of the Centre and its research partners. 

The incumbent is expected to be tactful and diplomatic when dealing with employees and external stakeholders and to act with integrity and respect and in compliance with the employment philosophy, the corporate Code of Conduct, and the IDRC Leadership Charter. 

Primary Duties and/or Responsibilities

Knowledge Sharing and Strategic Positioning

• Provides advice and supports the Regional Director to articulate strategic positioning outcomes at the regional level, and strategies to contribute to corporate-level positioning outcomes
• Monitors Program’s plans and approaches for knowledge sharing to identify synergies across the region towards more impact and effectiveness  
• Participates in the development and implementation of regional plans for knowledge sharing, strategic positioning, and communications
• Coordinates the Regional Office contribution to attaining knowledge sharing objectives by increasing visibility and reach, as well as demonstrating the relevance of IDRC’s work with key stakeholders 
• Collaborates with grantees and other stakeholders to highlight relevant research initiatives, networks, or partnerships that showcase the impact of IDRC-supported research and uptake 
• Contributes to the identification of key regional stakeholders to expand the scope of IDRC-supported research, leveraging more opportunities for grantees and the Centre
• Shares information about knowledge sharing activities and key events with Ottawa-based colleagues as well as across all the Regional Offices
• Acts as a communications expert and public relations advisor within the region to increase the public visibility of the Centre and its research partners 
• Develops strategic communications products intended for the media, both in print and digital to share the results of research funded by the Centre, including press releases, articles, blogs, and leaflets
• Assesses activities and initiatives that could benefit from strategic outreach

Outreach and Engagement  

• Supports and contributes to various activities to implement the knowledge sharing and communications strategies for the region 
• Develops and manages events that highlight IDRC's research outcomes to specific groups and organizations to be aware of IDRC-supported research and its contribution to development outcomes 
• Develops materials that integrate knowledge about strategic audiences and networks with which the Centre must engage to implement Strategy 2030
• Participates in communities of practice and collaborates with colleagues in other organizations to jointly profile research outcomes and emerging approaches to knowledge sharing
• Represents IDRC at various events to promote outreach and stakeholder relations 
• Coordinates from the Regional Director’s office and in close collaboration with Ottawa counterparts and relevant program officers and other colleagues, the organization of visits to project sites by Canadian government and non-government stakeholders, including official visits
• Provides communications and media support for official visits and other engagements
• Maintains regional web presence and social media posts and initiates relevant media campaigns
• Prepares newsletters and periodic outreach materials to communicate about IDRC programming and priorities in the region
• Scans media sources to identify potential opportunities and risks for the Centre or its programming 
• Coordinates relations with journalists and the media in general, responds to their information requests, and initiates and proactively manages media partnerships 
• Coordinates the organization of IDRC communications activities to promote research results uptake and encourage support to locally relevant scientific research and innovation    

   
Regional Intelligence and Strategic Insights

• Contributes to identifying key regional events that are strategic from a visibility and knowledge sharing perspective for IDRC to be engaged and to develop appropriate engagement strategies
• Contributes to regional intelligence on key stakeholders in the region (such as regional organizations, donors, thought leaders, and Canadian government stakeholders) and how best to engage them
• Analyzes communication and media trends to support strategic engagement and interactive sharing of information
• Identifies and analyzes media content and shares internally the most relevant information on news from research and development communities and from research-for-development leaders active in the region  
• Coordinates the organization of IDRC communications activities to promote important research results or to encourage scientific research and the spirit of innovation in the region    

Coordination and Support

• Supports the internal communications of IDRC initiatives, approaches, and priorities
• May be required in some regional offices to assist in the production and dissemination of IDRC materials in additional languages where these are of particular strategic value
• Develops on an as needed basis tailored country reports on ongoing projects to share with internal and external audiences  
• Participates actively in selected meetings to help identify important emerging trends and information on priority themes to share internally 
• Supports response to requests for information
• Supports corporate priorities and initiatives such as Culture and Values; Environment, Social and Governance; and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and helps ensure they are reflected in Regional Office activities
• Supports continuous improvement and change initiatives

Education

A degree in the social sciences, communications, or journalism with relevant experience in international development research, knowledge translation and / or communications. A Master’s degree is an asset. 

Experience

This position requires at least five (5) years of relevant experience in the field of knowledge sharing, communications, international development and/or research management.

Competencies

• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to discern regional trends and identify and analyze program issues related to knowledge sharing and communications
• Ability to design activities and communication products and promote them well
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Attention to both strategic orientations and detail to develop and verify the quality of knowledge sharing and communication products and initiatives
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team with other stakeholders while showing an innovative and enterprising spirit
• Ability to work under pressure and with minimal supervision, while meeting deadlines
• Ability to work well with information technologies including the use of social media and multimedia production
• Ability to maintain good interpersonal relations characterized by collegiality, tact, and diplomacy, and with due consideration of gender equality, diversity and inclusion, with all internal and external collaborators, including representatives from the media

Language 

The linguistic requirements of these positions vary for each Regional Office:

• ARO (New Delhi) — English is essential at an intermediate level and fluency in Hindi is an asset
• MERO (Amman) — Bilingual (English and French) is essential at an intermediate level and fluency in Arabic is an asset
• ESARO (Nairobi) — English essential at an intermediate level and fluency in French is an asset.  Fluency in Kiswahili or another African language is an asset. 
• LACRO (Montevideo) — English at an intermediate level is essential and fluency in Spanish is essential 
• WARO (Dakar) - Bilingual (English and French) at an advanced level and fluency in Wolof or other African language is an asset