Sr. Communications Associate Director s Office

About the Director's Office at IIHS

The Director's Office supports the IIHS Director in establishing a world-class interdisciplinary

University and in managing: the development of the IIHS Schools and Labs, and the Academic,

Research, Practice and Capacity Development Programmes, to meet global benchmarks; IIHS

global and national networks; and the creation of strategic and cutting-edge research and

policy outputs for international and Indian public, research and private-sector partners and

institutions.

In keeping with IIHS mission and the wide range of research and practice areas of the

Director (see: https://iihs.academia.edu/AromarRevi and http://bit.ly/2EftTpQ), the Office works across a wide range of themes including: sustainable development, urban development, governance, technology, infrastructure, public policy and urban science.

Job Description

IIHS seeks a versatile communications professional with 6–8 years of experience, preferably with substantial experience in institutional communications within the development, research, policy, higher education or social impact sectors in India.

The position will work closely with the Lead – Director's Office to support the planning, development, coordination, and execution of IIHS institutional communications, translating institutional priorities, programmes, research, events, and developments into clear and compelling content and communications products for different audiences.

The role will involve working across the institution, particularly with the Communications & Design (C&D) team, Schools, Programmes, Labs, and Functional teams, IIHS University, and other institutional stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will be a strong writer and editor, highly organised and comfortable working across multiple formats and stakeholders. They should be able to move easily between strategic context and detailed execution — from developing a project one-pager or website copy to coordinating a film, newsletter, event, or institutional deck.

Activities and Tasks

Responsibilities would include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Institutional websites and digital properties:
• Support the Lead – Director's Office in the ongoing development, management and improvement of IIHS digital properties, including:
• Supporting content updates and editorial management across the IIHS institutional website, IIHS University website, Campus website and relevant microsites;
• Working with Schools, Programmes, Labs, and Functional teams to identify, develop, edit and update content on all websites;
• Ensuring that institutional developments, people, research, programmes, events and other relevant activities are reflected on the websites in a timely manner;
• Coordinating with the C&D team, web developers, and other vendors on website updates, maintenance and improvements;
• Supporting the development of the new IIHS Campus website, including content development, information architecture, page outlines and coordination with relevant stakeholders within IIHS;
• Helping improve the dynamism, relevance, and usability of the University website by identifying stories, activities and institutional knowledge that should be surfaced;
• Tracking website updates, pending requirements, and turnaround times;
• Ensuring alignment and consistency across all websites;
• Content development and editorial support:
• Researching, writing, editing and packaging institutional content for different audiences and platforms;
• Developing project one-pagers, profiles, Programme, School, Lab descriptions, institutional briefs, and other communications materials as required;
• Working with internal teams to translate complex research, academic, and practice-based work into accessible and engaging communications;
• Supporting the development and adaptation of people profiles and other content that can be repurposed across digital and print formats;
• Maintaining high standards of accuracy, clarity, tone, and consistency across institutional communications;
• Identifying opportunities to turn institutional work into stories, features, articles, and other content formats;
• Institutional collateral, brochures and presentations:
• Coordinating the development and updating of institutional brochures, decks, presentations and other collateral as needed;
• Supporting the creation of concise, visually compelling presentations for different audiences and purposes;
• Maintaining an organised repository of institutional presentations and collateral;
• Tracking versions, approvals and updates to ensure that outdated material is retired and current material is easily accessible;
• Supporting the development of collateral for IIHS, IIHS University, Schools, Labs, Programmes and the Campus;
• Newsletters and audience communications;
• Supporting the planning and execution of IIHS newsletter and email communications, including:
• Supporting the production of newsletters, including developing, editing, and commissioning content for newsletters;
• Coordinating inputs from multiple institutional teams and ensuring timely delivery;
• Supporting the development of audience-specific messaging and content;
• Helping consolidate and maintain institutional contact databases;
• Supporting segmentation of audiences such as students, employers, partners, prospective faculty, researchers and other institutional networks;
• Tracking newsletter performance and maintaining records of communications;
• Films, video and short-form content:
• Coordinating the development of institutional films, short videos, reels, and other audiovisual content;
• Working with internal teams and external production partners to develop briefs, scripts, storyboards, and production plans;
• Coordinating production timelines, reviews, and approvals;
• Supporting the repurposing of longer-form audiovisual content into shorter digital formats;
• Maintaining an organised archive of institutional video assets;
• Supporting the clean-up and curation of the IIHS YouTube presence;
• Events and institutional programming:
• Supporting communications and content requirements for events;
• Developing event briefs, scripts, programme copy, speaker information, promotional material, and other communications outputs;
• Coordinating with relevant internal teams on event communications;
• Supporting the development of the University's emerging public-facing events programme, including film, books, music, dance, theatre, and poetry;
• Documenting events and identifying opportunities for post-event content and amplification;
• Supporting the development of event-related digital and audiovisual content;
• Communications tracking, coordination and processes:
• Maintaining trackers for institutional communications projects, content requests, and deliverables;
• Following up with internal stakeholders to ensure timely receipt of information and approvals;
• Supporting the Lead – Director's Office in institutionalising communications processes and workflows;
• Tracking website, collateral, newsletter, film, and event requirements across teams;
• Maintaining archives of institutional communications assets;
• Monitoring relevant external communications by partners, peer institutions, and other organisations;
• Supporting the development and maintenance of an institutional communications dashboard;
• Support to the Director's Office:
• Supporting the Lead – Director's Office with content and communications requirements emerging from the Director's Office;
• Assisting in preparing briefing notes, correspondence, presentations, speeches, talking points, and other communications materials as required;
• Supporting communications around the Director's institutional engagements, events, publications, and public-facing activities;
• Coordinating with internal teams to gather information and inputs required by the Director's Office;
• Maintaining appropriate levels of confidentiality and discretion when working with sensitive institutional information;
• Cross-institutional coordination:
• Building effective working relationships with colleagues across IIHS, including academics, researchers, programme teams, Schools, Labs, University teams, operations, and C&D
• Working with subject experts to understand and accurately represent complex institutional work;
• Coordinating with external consultants, freelancers, designers, filmmakers, web developers, and other vendors as required;
• Helping establish clear briefs, timelines, and deliverables for communications projects;
• Institutional:
• Providing support to other IIHS activities including academics, research, training, practice, operations and others;
• Participating in all activities of Institution-Building at IIHS; carrying out tasks as assigned by IIHS; and traveling on IIHS work within or outside the country as and when needed.

Structure and Reporting

The Senior Associate will report to the Lead – Director's Office at IIHS. The candidate will work closely with the Lead and the Director, as required and will be required to collaborate effectively with the Communications & Design team and teams across IIHS, including the University, Schools, Labs, Research, Practice, Programmes and other institutional functions.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate should have:

• 6–8 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in institutional communications, strategic communications, development, research, policy, higher education, or the social sector in India;
• A postgraduate or undergraduate degree in Communications, Journalism, Media Studies, English, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field;
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing institutional communications across multiple audiences with experience in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva and/or other design tools;
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills, with the ability to simplify complex ideas without losing nuance;
• Experience developing content for websites, newsletters, presentations, brochures and digital platforms; and working with Wordpress and content management systems;
• Experience working with senior leadership and/or multiple internal stakeholders;
• Strong project management and coordination skills, with an ability to manage several assignments simultaneously;
• Experience working with designers, developers, filmmakers, agencies, or other creative vendors;
• Comfort working in a complex, interdisciplinary organisation where information and ownership may sit across multiple teams and where this is some degree of ambiguity;
• Good understanding of digital communications and content management;
• Familiarity with social media platforms and digital analytics;
• Familiarity with AI-enabled tools for research, writing, editing, content development, and productivity would be an advantage.
• Skills and Attributes:
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Strong editorial judgement;
• Curious, intellectually engaged and willing to learn;
• Highly organised and dependable;
• Strong attention to detail;
• Ability to independently take ownership of projects;
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and disciplines;
• Comfortable managing ambiguity and competing priorities;
• Good interpersonal skills and stakeholder sensitivity;
• Ability to work quickly without compromising quality;
• High level of professionalism, discretion and integrity.

This offer is on an exclusive basis, which implies that other professional assignments (whether compensated or not) that bear a potential conflict of interest with IIHS cannot be undertaken.

The search will remain open until the position is filled.

Location

This position is based in Bengaluru and may entail travel to other locations in India.

Review and Assessment

The role and performance of the incumbent shall be subject to normal review and assessment systems at IIHS.

Diversity Policy

IIHS is an equal opportunity employer that encourages women, people with disabilities and those from economically and socially excluded communities with the requisite skills and qualifications to apply for positions.

Contact

Please write to us at [Confidential Information] if you need any clarifications while filling the online application form.