The Ladders
Communications Officer
The Ladders, St Louis, Missouri, United States,
The OrganizationAgriculture has the power to sustain us all, but that power is dependent on equitable access to the tools and products needed to increase productivity and support food security as climate change, population growth, and gender inequality pose increasing threats.
Bill & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One) is a new nonprofit dedicated to ensuring high-quality, cutting-edge crop innovations are available and accessible to those that need them most.
As a wholly owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Ag One drives to empower the small-scale producers of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia by amplifying the translation of cutting-edge crop science research into affordable products for the public good. Gates Ag One pioneers new development pathways for the most exciting crop science happening today. Through catalytic public-private sector partnerships and the careful stewardship of innovation, the organization harnesses the developed world's commercial engines to research that prioritizes low-income countries and their most important food sources. This results in increased yields from game-changing seeds that promote food production and income where factors such as population growth and climate change pose mounting challenges - agriculture that benefits farmers, society, and the environment.
Your Role
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement, the Communications Officer (CO) will be a key member of the communications team. The CO is responsible for supporting the development and execution of highly effective communication strategies in support of Gates Ag One's mission and to advance awareness and impact of the organization and its partners. The CO will work across Gates Ag One's functional teams, as well as collaboratively with the foundation and external partners and other organizations, to develop communications assets including for Gates Ag One's website, social media platforms, event presentations, and other collateral using video, print, online, and in-person approaches. The CO will have a passion for proactive engagement with brand and reputation in earned media, and contribute to strategic efforts to anticipate, mitigate, and react to reputational risk issues globally. This position reports to the Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement.
This is a full-time role with benefits located in our St. Louis, MO office, where employees are working a hybrid schedule. Employer provided relocation is available for a hired candidate not residing in the St. Louis, MO MSA.
What You'll DoCreate strategic plans for external communications to support goals and improve organizational outcomes.Develop a range of communications products for target audiences, including press releases, brochures, messages, videos, newsletters, website content, social media etc.Support the organization of external events, conferences, seminars, press briefings, interviews, etc.; prepare briefing materials for leadership.Manage the organization's social media.Develop and monitor metrics for impact assessment of communications and outreach materials.Work closely with Gates Ag One grantees and partners on brand alignment and the distribution of scientific and other communications materials.Maintain and update portfolio of outreach materials, ensuring that content is aligned with Gates Ag One brand, program requirements and quality standards.Collaborate with internal and external partners to incorporate new information and work towards appropriate decisions and reach desired outcomes for communications plans, assets and messaging.Support inclusive culture through modeling behaviors and actions.Identify and respond to issues in a timely fashion, including with the foundation and partners.Be available to work off-hours, when needed, to prepare for and respond to crisis situations.Ability to travel internationally on a quarterly basis.Your Experience
Bachelor's or advanced degree with 7+ years of related and direct experience in external communications, public relations or media relations.Exceptional written and oral communication skills.Familiarity of brand development and campaign execution, with an understanding of design.Understanding and application of analytical and research tools to measure and improve communication strategies and tactics.Experience with external communications in an international/global context, preferably for a development-focused organization.Proven capacity to effectively plan, organize, and prioritize work in a fast-paced environment with multiple and competing demands, requiring the ability to see the critical path, measure and mitigate risk, and make trade-offs.Ability to build trusting and effective relationships with colleagues, leadership, and external partners.Other Attributes
Energetic and collaborative, able to work effectively in a matrixed environment with a "one team" mentality.Comfortable working with agility, efficiency, and tact in a dynamic environment, and able to adapt and thrive in a small team, start-up environment.Sense of humor, positive, professional attitude, especially in stressful and time-sensitive situations.Demonstrated interest in continuous learning from colleagues and industry best practices.
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $137,500.00 to $160,400.00 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission and new hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary range between the minimum and the midpoint salary range. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate's job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.
#LI-AG1
Hiring Requirements
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Candidate Accommodations
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We're committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve-in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs-and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.
All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.
Transparency in Coverage (Machine-readable files)
The Transparency in Coverage Final Rules require group health plans to disclose on a public website information regarding in-network provider rates and historical out-of-network allowed amounts and billed charges for covered items and services in two separate machine-readable files (MRFs). The MRFs for the benefit package options under the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Welfare Benefits Plan are linked below:
https://sawus2prdticmrfrgawa.z5.web.core.windows.net/.
*The plan reserves the right to change or terminate benefits or the plan(s) at any time.
Bill & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One) is a new nonprofit dedicated to ensuring high-quality, cutting-edge crop innovations are available and accessible to those that need them most.
As a wholly owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Ag One drives to empower the small-scale producers of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia by amplifying the translation of cutting-edge crop science research into affordable products for the public good. Gates Ag One pioneers new development pathways for the most exciting crop science happening today. Through catalytic public-private sector partnerships and the careful stewardship of innovation, the organization harnesses the developed world's commercial engines to research that prioritizes low-income countries and their most important food sources. This results in increased yields from game-changing seeds that promote food production and income where factors such as population growth and climate change pose mounting challenges - agriculture that benefits farmers, society, and the environment.
Your Role
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement, the Communications Officer (CO) will be a key member of the communications team. The CO is responsible for supporting the development and execution of highly effective communication strategies in support of Gates Ag One's mission and to advance awareness and impact of the organization and its partners. The CO will work across Gates Ag One's functional teams, as well as collaboratively with the foundation and external partners and other organizations, to develop communications assets including for Gates Ag One's website, social media platforms, event presentations, and other collateral using video, print, online, and in-person approaches. The CO will have a passion for proactive engagement with brand and reputation in earned media, and contribute to strategic efforts to anticipate, mitigate, and react to reputational risk issues globally. This position reports to the Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement.
This is a full-time role with benefits located in our St. Louis, MO office, where employees are working a hybrid schedule. Employer provided relocation is available for a hired candidate not residing in the St. Louis, MO MSA.
What You'll DoCreate strategic plans for external communications to support goals and improve organizational outcomes.Develop a range of communications products for target audiences, including press releases, brochures, messages, videos, newsletters, website content, social media etc.Support the organization of external events, conferences, seminars, press briefings, interviews, etc.; prepare briefing materials for leadership.Manage the organization's social media.Develop and monitor metrics for impact assessment of communications and outreach materials.Work closely with Gates Ag One grantees and partners on brand alignment and the distribution of scientific and other communications materials.Maintain and update portfolio of outreach materials, ensuring that content is aligned with Gates Ag One brand, program requirements and quality standards.Collaborate with internal and external partners to incorporate new information and work towards appropriate decisions and reach desired outcomes for communications plans, assets and messaging.Support inclusive culture through modeling behaviors and actions.Identify and respond to issues in a timely fashion, including with the foundation and partners.Be available to work off-hours, when needed, to prepare for and respond to crisis situations.Ability to travel internationally on a quarterly basis.Your Experience
Bachelor's or advanced degree with 7+ years of related and direct experience in external communications, public relations or media relations.Exceptional written and oral communication skills.Familiarity of brand development and campaign execution, with an understanding of design.Understanding and application of analytical and research tools to measure and improve communication strategies and tactics.Experience with external communications in an international/global context, preferably for a development-focused organization.Proven capacity to effectively plan, organize, and prioritize work in a fast-paced environment with multiple and competing demands, requiring the ability to see the critical path, measure and mitigate risk, and make trade-offs.Ability to build trusting and effective relationships with colleagues, leadership, and external partners.Other Attributes
Energetic and collaborative, able to work effectively in a matrixed environment with a "one team" mentality.Comfortable working with agility, efficiency, and tact in a dynamic environment, and able to adapt and thrive in a small team, start-up environment.Sense of humor, positive, professional attitude, especially in stressful and time-sensitive situations.Demonstrated interest in continuous learning from colleagues and industry best practices.
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $137,500.00 to $160,400.00 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission and new hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary range between the minimum and the midpoint salary range. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate's job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.
#LI-AG1
Hiring Requirements
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Candidate Accommodations
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We're committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve-in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs-and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.
All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.
Transparency in Coverage (Machine-readable files)
The Transparency in Coverage Final Rules require group health plans to disclose on a public website information regarding in-network provider rates and historical out-of-network allowed amounts and billed charges for covered items and services in two separate machine-readable files (MRFs). The MRFs for the benefit package options under the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Welfare Benefits Plan are linked below:
https://sawus2prdticmrfrgawa.z5.web.core.windows.net/.
*The plan reserves the right to change or terminate benefits or the plan(s) at any time.