Background
CGIAR’s Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES) implements CGIAR’s multi-year, independent evaluation plan as approved by the System Council, and provides operational support as the secretariat for the Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) and the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA).
IAES is developing a roster of professional science and technical writers and editors, to support IAES, ISDC and SPIA with the writing or editing of briefs, technical notes, strategic and synthesis studies, evaluation reports and reviews, guidelines, workplans, meeting and workshop reports, fact sheets, blogs, white papers, and similar materials.
We produce publications, knowledge management and communication products that make evidence-based advice and recommendations accessible to internal and external CGIAR stakeholders, including policymakers. CGIAR’s mission is to deliver science and innovation that advance the transformation of food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis.
Role
The technical writer and/or editor supports the IAES’s workstreams, related to independent evaluation, ISDC and SPIA. This is a remotely based role, with preferred working hours availability to align with CET/Rome, Italy. The technical writer and/or editor is a project-bound role focused on ensuring the delivery of clean, clear, and accurate written products.
Key Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the workstream leads or other designated professionals, specific responsibilities will vary depending on whether the task order requires editors or writers, and would entail some of the following responsibilities:
Copyediting and proofreading briefs, technical notes, strategic and synthesis studies, evaluation reports and reviews, guidelines, workplans, meeting and workshop reports, fact sheets, white papers, blogs, and similar materials, which may include
Checking for grammar and language style, in accordance with IAES style guide
Identifying and suggesting rewrites of complex concepts for non-scientific audiences
Cross check references and follow citation style consistently
Identify and offer suggestions on how to re-write unclear sentences
Translate complex scientific information into an understandable reading material, ensuring evidence-basis is not diluted
Gathering information from subject-matter experts to develop, organize, and write materials as stated above, aligned with IAES style guide, and using any prescribed templates/formats
Synthesizing and drafting blogs or similar type of materials based on the input from subject matter experts
Responsibilities are otherwise spelled out in specific Task Orders.
Qualifications and competencies
Essential qualifications and competencies
Advanced copyediting and copywriting skills for scientific and technical reports, including evaluation reports and related knowledge management products
Detail oriented (i.e., use of style guide, assigned templates)
Ability to organise workload and follow agreed timelines
Proven ability to quickly learn and understand complex subject matters related to CGIAR’s mission and the IAES, ISDC and SPIA mandates
Excellent written communication skills
Use of Microsoft products, including SharePoint for document sharing, (MS Word is the usual program used)
Ability to interact with scientists, researchers, subject-matter experts, and evaluators as needed to assure evidence-based intent is maintained in written/edited products
Desired qualifications and competencies
Bachelor’s degree, preferably journalism, [science] communications or English language. However, all education will be considered along with applied experience
5 or more years of experience as a technical writer or editor
We welcome multilingual translators to our roster. To perform in this capacity, full fluency in French or Spanish with credentials to write/edit in that language
Terms of employment
Terms and conditions: Technical writers/editors are hired as consultants on temporary, project-based contracts. The quoted daily rate should be commensurate with experience and industry standards. The consultant is to use their own equipment. IAES uses a Microsoft Windows operating environment.
Individuals selected for the roster must agree to abide by the applicable code of conduct, conflict of interest and confidentiality policies. Selection for the roster is not a guarantee of contract. The roster will be valid for three years. Applicants may be subjected to a short (1-hour) skills assessment.
How to submit an expression of interest:
Please submit the following as separate documents:
1)CV
2) a cover letter expressing interest, presenting your candidature, and containing your daily rate in USD. This rate will be applied for the full period that the consultant is on the roster (daily rate can be renegotiated if the roster membership is extended).
3) one short writing sample (one of two pages) of previous work, and
4) Two professional references.
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) must be received no later than 31 July 2023, with applications being reviewed and included in the roster on a rolling basis through the stated deadline. Only electronically submitted proposals will be considered. Late proposals will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.
Please note: these consultancies are not designed for work of a continuing nature, or to lead to a staff position and as such, there should be no expectation of continued employment at the end of the contract.
Email applications to: iaes@cgiar.org
Please clearly state in the subject line if the application is for TECHNICAL EDITOR, or TECHNICAL WRITER, or TECHNICAL EDITOR/WRITER and flag any multilingual editorial skills.
