Job title: Research Communications Manager

Job Type: Fixed-Term until 31st March 2025, Full time, hybrid role with 2 days a week in the London office

Salary: Competitive + benefits

Location: London, with some international travel and hybrid working

Background on the role:

The Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme brings together world-leading experts and local researchers to examine conflict affected borderlands, how conflicts connect across borders, and the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour. Funded by UK aid, XCEPT offers actionable research to inform policies and programmes that support peace.

XCEPT is led by Chemonics International and The Asia Foundation, working with lead research partners Chatham House, Conciliation Resources, King’s College London, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, and Rift Valley Institute, as well as specialist data partners Satellite Applications Catapult.

The programme also includes the XCEPT Research Fund, managed by Chemonics, to enable responsive research on emerging issues and promote local expertise through targeted awards.

Research Communications Manager role overview:

XCEPT is seeking a creative, passionate and collaborative research communications expert to help ensure that critical conflict and peacebuilding research informs policy responses to conflict.

XCEPT’s communications team works closely with leading researchers to turn evidence into a range of compelling publications, uptake and communications activities to reach diverse target audiences of policymakers, development practitioners, academics, journalists, and other stakeholders. Relishing engagement with seasoned academics and complex ideas on pressing foreign policy issues, the Research Communications Manager will identify shared themes from across XCEPT’s workstreams and partners and conceptualise appropriate and effective communications campaigns and activities that weave these together within and across a range of formats and channels. Leading this ideas generation and leveraging deep, proven experience translating dense research into policy and impact, the post-holder will supervise and work closely with the XCEPT Digital Communications and Knowledge Management Officer to develop videos, podcasts, data visualisations, animations, and social media products. The communications team will also work closely with XCEPT’s technical team to develop and promote private and public panels and events that bring together XCEPT researchers and external research and policy communities. The Research Communications Manager should be experienced with the requirements of research publications, supporting the development and management of peer review and publications processes that ensure high quality and consistency across XCEPT outputs.

The Research Communications Manager should have considerable experience working with and in between researchers, policymakers and journalists and should have a good understanding of the UK’s international relations, foreign politics landscape, as well as international conflict and peacebuilding issues.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Manage research communications, uptake and publications for the XCEPT programme;

• Identify shared themes from across the XCEPT programme’s different workstreams and partners, and weave these together within appropriate and effective external communications campaigns and activities that engage key high-profile audiences of conflict and peacebuilding policymakers, development practitioners and academics in XCEPT’s work;

• Help XCEPT to position itself as a “thought leader” by leading and managing the process of conceptualising and implementing public and private events, meetings and briefings to disseminate XCEPT research and analysis and inform decision-makers and other stakeholders;

• Supervise the Digital Communications and Knowledge Management Officer on the development of communications materials to expand the programme’s research communications on social media platforms and for targeted outreach to stakeholders;

• Act as the primary point of contact for XCEPT partners in relation to communications and events, working with them to identify content ideas and pathways for content development;

• Develop and manage, in consultation with the XCEPT programme leadership, the peer review and publication processes for XCEPT research outputs, shepherding outputs through these processes and managing expert peer reviewers and external consultants such as copy editors, ensuring that XCEPT is delivering high quality and academically robust publications;

• With the support of the Digital Communications and Knowledge Management Officer, develop, direct and supervise the pool of editorial support consultants – e.g., graphic designers, copyeditors, and animators – contracted to deliver XCEPT publications and outputs, and ensure there is a consistently high standard of quality for all XCEPT communications and research outputs (such as publications, events, and videos);

• Maintain an awareness of the policy event landscape, identifying and creating opportunities for XCEPT researchers to share their findings to key audiences;

• Engage mainstream and specialist press journalists in XCEPT’s work;

• Other duties as assigned by the XCEPT Deputy Director.

Key skills and experience required:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the principal duties.

• Master's Degree or equivalent in a relevant field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience, is preferred;

• Demonstrated experience engaging with policymakers and working with academic institutions or think tanks in the field of research or analysis is highly preferable;

• Experience in communicating research and developing effective strategies for research uptake is required;

• Excellent writing skills, with a demonstrated ability to edit research outputs and consolidate findings into concise and engaging summaries and commentaries;

• Experience in the requirements of research publications, including peer review processes, research ethics, referencing and citation protocols, and effective communication and presentation of research;

• Experience in event organisation, particularly for research related events;

• Professional work experience and staff supervisory experience within PR, journalism, marketing and/or communications is preferred;

• Proven ability to develop communications objectives and plans that deliver measurable results.

• Experience in developing and implementing digital strategies and communications campaigns across a range of channels.

• Working knowledge and administration of popular social media outlets (e.g., Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube) preferred;

• Programme coordination experience, particularly in relation to conflict and research is preferred;

• Ability to multi-task, with strong attention to detail, organisation, and time management;

• Ability to solve complex problems and work as part of a team to find solutions;

• Graphic design and editing experience preferred;

• Strong communication skills and inter-personal competencies for building professional relationships;

• English fluency required.

What we can offer:

Chemonics’ culture of collaboration and creativity is a place where everyone can grow and thrive. We believe in giving our employees the tools and resources to keep them healthy, financially rewarded, and continuously developed, supporting everyone in the pursuit of greatness. Our package offering consists of the following:

• We offer a competitive starting salary and benefits

• Annual leave 25 days + bank holidays, increasing to 30 days + bank holidays with service

• Pension scheme

• Private medical cover, with additional dependants’ cover offering and life insurance

• Excellent family-friendly benefits (Maternity/Paternity/emergency childcare schemes)

• Enhanced sick pay and insurance cover

• Learning and development training offerings and funding

• EAP and well-being benefits

Apply by 28nd May 2023. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Chemonics is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.