Organization: International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 24 Mar 2017
*Visiting Researcher-Communications*
The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) works to reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human nutrition in the tropics, through research aimed at increasing the eco- efficiency of agriculture. CIAT is a member of the CGIAR (www.cgiar.org](http://www.cgiar.org)), a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. CIAT’s research focuses on increasing productivity of key tropical crops, reversing soil and land degradation, and using information to foster better decisions about issues such as climate change and environmental management. Headquartered near Cali, Colombia, CIAT has regional offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Hanoi, Vietnam, and sub-regional offices in Managua, Nicaragua.
*The Position*
CIAT is looking for a visiting researcher who will be part of the Partnerships and Communications team for 12 months. The position will be based at CIAT's headquarters in Palmira, Colombia, where the successful applicant will be required to work closely with local staff and the communications team.
*Do you have a way with words? Passionate about storytelling?*
Can you talk about technical science in a way that would get your grandmother excited?
Can you switch effortlessly between writing a blog, a news story, and an op-ed?
If so, CIAT’s communications team has a space for you, at our headquarters in Colombia.
We’re a small team, but punch well above our weight. We’re constantly in the international media; our blogs get shared thousands of times; Al Gore and Apple execs retweet our stuff. We have great coffee.
Think journalism, mixed with multimedia, marketing, and strategy. That’s how we roll. We need someone like you to roll with us.
You’ll learn a lot. From the latest innovations in gene editing to climate change modelling and more. You’ll be blown away by beans, captivated by cassava, fascinated by forages and riveted by rice. CIAT is a diverse group of professionals united by one passion: sustainable agriculture.
You’ll be working with scientists who are leaders in their fields, to raise awareness of their research. You’ll be blogging, writing news and helping with media campaigns. You can get involved in pictures, video, animations, infographics and podcasts if you’re up to it. The skills you bring will help define the role; but we’ll also make sure you sharpen up your storytelling prowess. We might even let you fly our drone.
You’ll need to be a native English speaker capable of deciphering complex science and turning it into exciting content, often on the fly. You’ll need a well-honed news sense and an eye for a great story. Based at our campus near Cali, you’ll also need to have the superhuman ability to start work at 7:30am (don't worry; there’s a free bus). But you’ll be in very good company, with 600 colleagues, and an additional 300 at our regional hubs in Africa, Asia and Central America.
You’ll already have some experience in journalism, and a little bit of Spanish – but the latter isn’t essential; you’ll be working in English, developing exciting and timely stories for English-speaking audiences.
And you’ll get to spend 12 months in what The Economist described as Country of the Year 2016 – Colombia, with its vibrant nightlife, unfathomable diversity, incredibly warm people and stunning, underexplored terrain.
We’ll provide a monthly salary, return flights to Colombia, private medical insurance, and pay for your lunch.
*Requirements:*
* Native English speaker
* Journalism experience
* Completed undergraduate studies
* Thrives under pressure
If you are Colombian, you need to be registered to do a Master’s or Postgraduate degree.
Please send a short CV, and covering letter outlining your reasons for applying and why you think you would be a good fit. Please be sure to include links to previous articles published.
How to apply:
Contact
Neil Palmer (n.palmer@cgiar.org)
Senior Communicator
We invite you to learn more about us at: http://www.ciat.cgiar.org
