Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

ILRI Jobs. Looking for a communications job in Kenya? International Livestock Research Institute is hiring a Publishing Manager II to oversee publishing operations, manage editorial and production processes. The role is based in Nairobi and experience in a busy editorial or communications department is required.

Responsibilities or duties

Strategic publications and thought leadership

• Help manage and support the planning, production and delivery of ILRI’s strategic publications, including the livestock flagship report and other thought leadership briefs, ensuring they are delivered to a high standard and on schedule
• Coordinate with communications and advocacy colleagues to ensure strategic publications are packaged and launched for maximum visibility and influence with target audiences
• Review and realign (where necessary) ILRI’s overall publication portfolio to ensure it is strategically aligned with ILRI objectives
• Engage with research programs and scientists to identify, plan and pipeline candidate flagship and thought leadership content, ensuring strategic publications reflect ILRI’s priority research and advocacy messages

Publications management and oversight

• Oversee a publishing pipeline that is fit for purpose for ILRI and supervise publication staff, providing regular performance feedback and support designed to facilitate professional development, learning, innovation, and effective teamwork
• Manage ILRI publishing processes, policies and guidelines to ensure they are efficient, effective and fit for purpose
• Manage and maintain relations with external consultants and service providers (editors, designers, graphic artists, photographers, printers, translators, and videographers), ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality products on behalf of ILRI and its programs
• Ensure quality control of publications and other outputs by doing final branding and consistency checks before products are made openly accessible.
• Engage with research programs to ensure ILRI’s editorial and publishing services are delivered to the highest standards and appropriate planning is done
• Stay abreast of innovations in the editing and publishing fields to enhance the quality of products
• Copy edit, edit, and proofread publications to agreed standards and guidelines
• In close collaboration with other communications staff, support the unit and programs, where required, by producing written and other communications products for ILRI blogs on research products and events

Knowledge management

• Coordinate publishing with CGSpace and curation team to ensure ILRI publications are effectively curated on ILRI and CGIAR platforms.
• Contribute to the ILRI-wide CAKM, sharing and communicating work updates and lessons, participate in CAKM review and planning activities
• Perform any other related duties as may be required

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Qualifications

• Masters’ or Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, International Relations, Political Science, or relevant field
• Relevant professional certification
• Seven years relevant experience with masters or ten years relevant experience with bachelors
• Experience working in a busy editorial or communications department, editing and copying materials for publication, preferably with experience managing processes and people, and/or knowledge of international development issues
• Ability to communicate complex research results in a concise and engaging fashion
• Ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks; keen attention to detail
• Ability to work independently on agreed priorities and deliverables
• Ability to read, understand and assimilate complex technical information to produce clear, well-written summaries
• skills in desktop publishing, HTML, photography and photo editing
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and well within teams

• Help manage and support the planning, production and delivery of ILRI’s strategic publications, including the livestock flagship report and other thought leadership briefs, ensuring they are delivered to a high standard and on schedule
• Coordinate with communications and advocacy colleagues to ensure strategic publications are packaged and launched for maximum visibility and influence with target audiences
• Review and realign (where necessary) ILRI’s overall publication portfolio to ensure it is strategically aligned with ILRI objectives
• Engage with research programs and scientists to identify, plan and pipeline candidate flagship and thought leadership content, ensuring strategic publications reflect ILRI’s priority research and advocacy messages
• Oversee a publishing pipeline that is fit for purpose for ILRI and supervise publication staff, providing regular performance feedback and support designed to facilitate professional development, learning, innovation, and effective teamwork
• Manage ILRI publishing processes, policies and guidelines to ensure they are efficient, effective and fit for purpose
• Manage and maintain relations with external consultants and service providers (editors, designers, graphic artists, photographers, printers, translators, and videographers), ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality products on behalf of ILRI and its programs
• Ensure quality control of publications and other outputs by doing final branding and consistency checks before products are made openly accessible.
• Engage with research programs to ensure ILRI’s editorial and publishing services are delivered to the highest standards and appropriate planning is done
• Stay abreast of innovations in the editing and publishing fields to enhance the quality of products
• Copy edit, edit, and proofread publications to agreed standards and guidelines
• In close collaboration with other communications staff, support the unit and programs, where required, by producing written and other communications products for ILRI blogs on research products and events
• Coordinate publishing with CGSpace and curation team to ensure ILRI publications are effectively curated on ILRI and CGIAR platforms.
• Contribute to the ILRI-wide CAKM, sharing and communicating work updates and lessons, participate in CAKM review and planning activities
• Perform any other related duties as may be required

• skills in desktop publishing, HTML, photography and photo editing
• Ability to communicate complex research results in a concise and engaging fashion
• Ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks; keen attention to detail
• Ability to work independently on agreed priorities and deliverables
• Ability to read, understand and assimilate complex technical information to produce clear, well-written summaries
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and well within teams

• Masters’ or Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, International Relations, Political Science, or relevant field
• Relevant professional certification
• Seven years relevant experience with masters or ten years relevant experience with bachelors
• Experience working in a busy editorial or communications department, editing and copying materials for publication, preferably with experience managing processes and people, and/or knowledge of international development issues