Communications Officer - World Bank - Yangon, Myanmar

Job #: 121971

Job Title: Communications Officer

Job Family: Communications

Job Type: Professional & Technical

Grade: GF

Location: Yangon

Recruitment Type: Local Hire

Language Requirement: English [Essential]; Myanmar [Essential]

Closing Date: 11-Oct-2012

Background / General description:

The Communications Officer’s main accountability for developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy that will support the successful re-engagement of the World Bank in Myanmar.  The strategy – developed with the Country Director and Country Manager will include specific plans for pro-actively managing communications with domestic and international media, CSOs, government, the private sector and other key stakeholders.  The goal is to promote information sharing and dialogue about the World Bank Group, its programs, and related development issues in Myanmar; establish knowledge sharing partnerships; package information for various audiences and platforms; provide support in the promotion and implementation of the World Bank’s Access to Information policy; and monitor socioeconomic and political developments through local media, Parliament, academia, and civil society networks.
Communications Officer will be a core member of the Communications Team working on the East Asia and Pacific Region.  The incumbent will work under the joint supervision of the EXT Communications Manager and the Senior Communications Officer, Team leader for the Southeast Asia Communications Team based in Bangkok.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.

 Duties and Accountabilities:

•    Responsible for planning, designing, executing and monitoring and evaluating the impact of communications strategies, activities, and campaigns about the Bank's work.  Also contributes ideas with regard to the World Bank overall strategy in Myanmar.
•    Determines the types of information and communications activities that are best suited to addressing issues or needs.  Accordingly, writes and/or oversees the preparation, production and dissemination of both routine and complex outreach products (e.g., backgrounders, media packets, news releases, articles, radio/TV broadcasts, powerpoint presentations, brochures, Q&As, websites, social media, speeches, briefing notes, etc.) that promote the strategic and timely flow of information and major issues about the Bank, its policies, its projects, and reports to key audiences in Myanmar.
•    Initiates and sustains effective professional relationships with key internal and/or external constituencies (including the media, civil society, NGOs, academia, businesses, government agencies, parliamentarians, etc.). Identifies opportunities for and forges strategic partnerships both inside and outside the Bank to improve dialogue and outreach and to strengthen the Bank's overall effectiveness and understanding about the Bank.
•    Monitors and analyzes current events, including media monitoring.  Advises the Country Manager and the Myanmar Country team and clients on trends, news developments, or changing/unexpected circumstances that may impact the Bank and its work, and helps to determine appropriate strategic responses to address them.
•    With the support of country office staff, oversees planning, coordination, scheduling and logistics, often across multiple teams, for press briefings, major conferences and seminars,public or broadcast appearances, and other communications-related activities sponsored by the Bank.  Assign work and provide guidance to others charged with developing various communications products for specific campaigns.
•    Assists in identifying possible collaboration partners for the establishment of Depository Libraries and Public Information Corners as well as Access to Information (AI) and Open Development (OD) outreach activities.
•    Assists in promoting, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the Bank’s Access to Information policy.  Supports staff in ensuring timely submission of various types of documents as required by the Access to Information policy. 
•    Works independently, seeking guidance on complex projects/issues from Senior Communications Officer based in Bangkok.
•    Oversees facilitation of translations produced by CMU.

Selection Criteria:

•    Masters degree in Communications or Journalism, or in areas relevant to the World Bank’s mission (e.g., economics, sociology, political sciences) if combined with work experience in communications
•    Minimum 5-7 years of demonstrated work experience in communications
•    Thorough knowledge of and practical experience in full range of communications approaches essential to planning, executing, and monitoring communications strategies – e.g., campaign management, media operations, social marketing, opinion research, audience outreach, message targeting, and etc.
•    Basic proven planning and organizational skills.  Strong conceptual and research/analytical skills, with the ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations.
•    Excellent oral and written communication and presentational skills.  Spoken and written fluency required in English and Myanmar language

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