Senior Policy and Communications Manager, LEAD at Krea University

Location: New Delhi / Chennai 

Type of Employment: Full-time

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience 

About LEAD at Krea University: 

LEAD is an action-oriented research centre of IFMR Society (a not-for-profit society registered under the Societies Act), leverages the power of research, innovation and co-creation to solve complex and pressing challenges in development. LEAD specialises in developing in-depth granular understanding of socio-economic contexts and harnessing actionable insights that have a wide range of applications in industry, policy, and academia. LEAD is a collaborative hub that brings experts from diverse disciplines and sectors together to develop innovative solutions by harnessing innovation, technology and analytics.

About the Role: 

We are seeking an experienced Senior Policy and Communications Manager to assist the Associate Director in managing strategic communication efforts with a strong focus on policy writing, synthesising inputs from diverse stakeholders, and delivering impactful messaging to a range of audiences. This role requires exceptional writing abilities, a keen understanding of policy issues, and the capacity to translate complex information into clear, compelling narratives for varied stakeholders. 

The candidate will also support the research team in developing documents such as reports, formulating policy recommendations from research findings, and producing other support documents such as policy briefs, fact sheets, learning outputs and evidence briefs. The ideal candidate should have experience in managing policy-related working groups, facilitating policy dialogues, developing partnerships with policymaking bodies and producing high-quality knowledge outputs. The candidate will be responsible for managing a team of advocacy and communication associates and a portfolio of interventions related to policy advocacy, communication and outreach. 

Responsibilities:

Policy Writing and Analysis: 

• Research, draft, and refine policy briefs, high-level summaries, position papers, and recommendations tailored to decision-makers, funders, and partners;
• Analyse inputs from research teams, partners, and stakeholders to synthesise coherent and impactful messaging; 
• Lead the process of consolidating research findings for evidence-based policy-making and dissemination of learnings in coordination with the relevant teams; 
• Stay abreast of policy developments, trends, and best practices to align communication strategies with organisational goals.

Content Development and Strategy: 

• Create high-quality, audience-specific communication materials/collaterals such as op-eds, articles, fact sheets, newsletters, reports, presentations, and digital content for social media; 
• Simplify complex research findings and technical information into accessible formats for internal and external audience and contribute to the larger ecosystem;
• Develop narrative frameworks and communication strategies to highlight the organisational impact and thought leadership. 

Qualifications: 

• A Master’s degree in Public Policy, Gender, Economics, Development or a related field; 
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of the global and regional development space in India; 
• At least 8-10 years of relevant work experience in the public policy arena is preferred; 
• Demonstrated ability to write for diverse audiences, including policymakers, practitioners, funders, and the general public; 
• Ability to translate complex, technical information into user-friendly content; 
• Strong capability to synthesise and analyse information from various sources and present clear, concise outputs;
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and adhere to timelines with a creative and problem-solving outlook; 
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, able to express complex technical issues in plain language; 
• Organised, detail-oriented, and analytical, with the ability to work independently or collaboratively and an entrepreneurial approach to tasks.

Application Instructions:

Deadline: Applications will be open till the position is filled. To apply, please collate your resume, a cover letter and writing sample in a single PDF and apply in the form here. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Note: Due to the large volume of applications we receive, we are unable to contact each candidate individually regarding the status of their application. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purposes.