Communications Specialist (internationally recruited)

The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) enables governments, empowers people, and strengthens institutions to realize justice and promote peace and sustainable development. IDLO is the only global intergovernmental organization exclusively devoted to promoting the rule of law and access to justice.

With its Headquarters in Rome, Italy, a Branch Office in The Hague, and United Nations Liaison Offices in New York and Geneva, IDLO carries out policy advocacy, research and learning, as well as rule of law and justice programmes in countries through some 15 Country Offices operating in every region of the world.

The Department of External Relations and Partnerships is responsible for the planning, coordination, and implementation of IDLO’s external relations agenda, communications and strategic engagement building through strategies and activities to promote, protect and enhance IDLO’s mission and brand.

The Department actively promotes and advocates for IDLO’s strategic priorities with governments, the United Nations system, other intergovernmental organizations, civil society, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, academia, and other potential partners at national, regional, and international levels. It collaborates with all entities within IDLO to promote the Organization’s policy advocacy priorities. It supports IDLO’s programmes and programme development teams and country offices to ensure that communications, partnership engagements, resource mobilization and other outreach activities are coherent and integrated in IDLO’s activities around the world. It builds and maintains innovative and productive partnerships, ensures best practices in communication and resource mobilization, and supports the governance mechanisms of the Organization.

THE POSITION

The Communications Specialist will be part of the Communications Unit headed by the Chief of Communications within the department of External Relations and Partnerships (EXP). Under the supervision of the Chief of Communications, and working in collaboration with other team members, the Communications Specialist will have the following responsibilities:

1) Strategic Content Development and Institutional Communications:

• Draft, develop, and edit high-quality policy-relevant content, including impact stories by country offices, that effectively communicate the results, impact, and value of IDLO’s work to key stakeholders.
• Develop compelling narratives with country offices and teams, translating complex programme information into clear, engaging, and audience-focused content.
• Support the development of flagship institutional communications products, including the Annual Report, the Director-General’s Letter to Partners, and other strategic materials, ensuring coherence, accuracy, and alignment with IDLO’s priorities and messaging.
• Adapt and repurpose written and multimedia content across digital, print, and social media channels to maximize reach and engagement.
• Manage translation workflows for publications and content in multiple languages, ensuring quality and consistency.
• Create and implement social media content strategies, campaigns, and editorial plans aligned with IDLO’s strategic priorities, brand, and audience engagement goals.

 2) Website content production and maintenance:

• Generate, prepare, edit and publish web content for IDLO’s website as required.
• Support website development and manage external contractors undertaking work on website upgrades, development, maintenance, Search Engine Optimization, content strategy and implementation of new environments.

3) Implement communication and stakeholder engagement strategies:

• Identify opportunities to enhance IDLO’s external visibility and shape its positioning; implement content strategies and campaigns aligned with institutional priorities; and customize written content for channels, such as the IDLO website and its social media channels.
• Advise and guide IDLO offices and teams on communication matters to help them showcase programme and organizational impact among target audiences, and to ensure alignment with IDLO’s strategic priorities.
• Coordinate communications projects across HQ and/or country offices, including planning documents and timelines, managing workflows, and following up with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely and coherent delivery.

4) Outreach and promotion of IDLO’s products:

• Coordinate and implement dissemination and outreach strategies for IDLO’s publications, promotional materials to relevant audiences.
• Develop/ update editorial and publications guidelines.
• Prepare specific communication plans identifying the needs in terms of branding, communication assets, content, publications, mailers etc.
• Support major events providing communication briefings to relevant constituencies on progress.
• Supervise the work of external suppliers pertinent to events, conferences etc. 

5) Branding, Design and Multimedia Content:

• Support and contribute to a comprehensive review and refresh of IDLO’s brand strategy and visual identity, including the development, implementation, and promotion of updated brand standards, guidelines, and practices across the Organization.
• Support the Chief of Communications in overseeing external creative resources, such as graphic designers, and other communication services;
• Oversee digital asset management system to store, sort, search and access multi-media content about IDLO’s work;
• Respond to routine and ad‑hoc communications requests including for small design and editing projects, as needed.
• Support country offices to generate multi-media content that may form the basis of a range of communications products.

Education and Work Experience

• Master’s degree in Journalism, Digital Communications or Public Relations. Candidates with bachelor’s degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.
• Minimum 07 (seven) years of experience in communications, in publishing or public information, preferably at an international organization or international non-governmental organization.
• Excellent writing skills and track record in producing quality content. Experience in writing about rule of law or human rights an advantage.
• Experience in digital and social communications, publishing and managing digital content.
• Aptitude for storytelling and developing human-interest or feature content.
• Demonstrated experience in editing and rewriting content.
• Experience at producing regular reports using Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics, Google Analytics or similar tools. 

Languages

• Excellent proficiency of spoken and written English is required.
• Additional language/s (French, Spanish, Arabic) would be highly desirable with the ability to think and write strategically across linguistic, cultural, and political contexts. 

Specific knowledge, skills and behavioral competencies

• Strong skills working in diverse / multicultural teams.  
• Ability to work with colleagues in offices outside of headquarters to identify story ideas.
• Team-oriented; problem-solver; relationship-builder; and robust inter-personal skills.
• Commitment to IDLO's values and mandate.
• Knowledge of rule of law and human rights issues is desirable.
• Able and willing to travel to country operations.
• Keen sense of ethics, integrity, and commitment to IDLO's values and mandate.

For this internationally recruited employee position, IDLO shall offer the selected candidate an Affiliate contract of 24 months, with the possibility of an extension subject to performance and availability of funding.

IDLO shall offer a yearly basic salary of EUR €60,430.- and a benefits package including provident fund contribution (14%), medical insurance and leave entitlements. Relocation and installation support are also available for internationally recruited employees in accordance with IDLO Employee Regulations and Rules.

Salaries and benefits paid by IDLO to employees are exempt from taxation in Italy. IDLO employees are responsible for compliance with income tax laws of their country of nationality or residence and/or of any other relevant fiscal jurisdiction.

IDLO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for IDLO vacancies.

IDLO does not tolerate sexual exploitation or abuse, any kind of harassment, including harassment of a sexual nature, or discrimination. As such, IDLO will conduct careful reference and background checks of all selected candidates as part of its selection process.

In the interest of making the most effective use of resources, only short-listed candidates will be contacted during the selection process.

Application deadline: 06 August 2026 (23:59hrs Rome time).