The main role of the Research Communicator will be to ‘broker’ research and to provide communications support in order to increase the visibility and impact of ISS research. The successful candidate will work closely with a wide range of colleagues from across the Institute including researchers and professional support staff, as well as external partners to ensure that the research ISS produces is accessible and engages with policymakers, academics, NGOs, the media and others who are at the heart of the change we wish to see.

The successful candidate will combine a critical social science perspective with excellent interpersonal, writing and communications skills. The successful candidate is expected to have an understanding of the role that research may play in informing media debates and policy issues relating to global development challenges. The research communicator will be required to support a wide range of projects from single research outputs that need to be communicated to non-academic audiences to larger programmes which may require more strategic support. A key part of the role will be to identify relevant audiences for ISS research, advise on how best to engage with them and constantly be looking out for policy engagement opportunities.  Day to day the work will encompass liaising with the media, producing research summaries which are accessible outside academia, writing web copy, using social media, organizing  events and working on and commissioning communications products such as flyers, data visualizations, multimedia and briefings.  As this is a new post at ISS, the Research Communicator will initially need to work together with relevant ISS stakeholders, including ISS Rector and Deputy Rector Research Affairs, to develop a clear focus for the first year.

The position will be located in the Projects and Research Support team of the institute. She/he will also liaise closely with the Journey Leader Engagement as well as the Communications and Marketing Department and academic staff members.

Key responsibilities

• Review ISS research and assess its policy relevance and interest to a wide range of ISS stakeholders including Dutch and international, academia, policymakers, private sector actors, civil-society organizations (CSOs) and other representatives

• ‘Broker’ existing ISS academic knowledge by making this knowledge available and accessible to relevant audiences including policymakers and the media

• Facilitate and ensure knowledge exchange between researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders in the Netherlands and abroad.

• Commission, write and edit content including blogs, publications and news stories

• Commission, produce and edit video, audio and other digital content

• Plan, support and participate in knowledge exchange and policy engagement events

• Manage social media platforms and activity

• Provide support on communication and impact sections of funding proposals

• Preferably a MA/MSc or PhD in a relevant discipline (for example economics, development studies, political science, or human geography)

• A critical social science perspective

• Proven capacity to engage with academia, policymakers, civil-society and other relevant stakeholders

• Strong analytical skills

• Strong all-round communication skills, especially writing and editing

• Ability to summarise complex research information in clear non-specialist language

• Ability to identify engagement opportunities and mobilize relevant resources to capitalize on them

• Ability to analyse and make use of various communication strategies including website and social media

• Be fluent in Dutch and English (speaking, reading, writing)

• Affinity with and knowledge of the role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in development and/or lobby and advocacy is an asset

The successful candidate is expected to start as soon as possible and will be based at ISS in The Hague. A part-time or full-time, one year contract with Erasmus University Rotterdam will be offered. The contract can be extended in case of a positive assessment

In accordance with the conditions applied at Erasmus University Rotterdam as indicated in the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO NU) of the Dutch universities, the salary is dependent on the candidate’s experience and is set at CAO NU scale 10 with a minimum of  € 2.709,- and a maximum of € 4.274,- gross per month, on a fulltime basis. In addition, EUR pays an 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year payment of 8.3% and offers excellent secondary benefits.

 The International Institute of Social Studies is committed to building and sustaining a community based on inclusiveness, equity and diversity and believes this will contribute to our mission and vision of being the best institute in our field.  ISS is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from candidates of all genders, ethnicities and nationalities. Given the current composition of the ISS academic staff and priorities relating to staff diversity, the Institute has a preference for applicants originating from the Global South and also encourages applications from minority candidates.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

The Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), named after Rotterdam-born humanist and theologian Erasmus, is a research university with a strong international orientation and a pronounced social focus, both in its education and research activities. The expertise of Erasmus University Rotterdam is concentrated on the disciplines Economics, Medicine and Health Sciences, Law, Social Sciences, History and Arts, Business Administration, Philosophy and Development Studies. In addition to the initial degree programmes and scientific research, the University offers specific postgraduate study programmes and courses. Erasmus University has around 25,000 students and approximately 2,800 staff members of more than 100 nationalities.

The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)

The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) is a leading academic centre for international development studies. While based in The Hague, the ISS is part of Erasmus University Rotterdam. ISS was established in 1952 as a post-graduate institute of policy-oriented critical social science and development oriented research. ISS offers a PhD in Development Studies, a 15,5 months MA in Development Studies, a joint MA in Public Policy (Mundus MAPP), a MPA in Governance delivered in Suriname, and several post-graduate Diploma courses.

ISS brings together a highly diverse international community of scholars and students from both the global South and the global North, usually originating from over 50 different countries. The Institute brings together people, ideas and insights in a multi-disciplinary setting which nurtures, fosters and promotes critical thinking and conducts innovative research into fundamental social problems. The strong partnerships with organizations and individuals in developing countries make up a network where we co-create knowledge so that teaching and research remain socially relevant. Key to the ISS philosophy and practices is the wish to make a contribution to achieving social justice and equity on a global level.