CIVICUS Research and Communications Officer Job 2026 – Apply by 23 February 2026

Research and Communications Officer Job at CIVICUS is now open for applications from qualified professionals in research, communications, and media engagement.

CIVICUS is currently accepting applications for the position of Research and Communications Officer, an exciting opportunity for communications and research professionals passionate about defending civic freedoms and strengthening civil society worldwide. This role provides a unique chance to support global advocacy through research, media engagement, social media strategy, and the production of high impact publications.

The position supports key CIVICUS initiatives including CIVICUS Lens and the State of Civil Society Report, contributing to evidence-based reporting and global communications that promote people power and civic space.

Application Deadline: 23 February 2026 (11:59pm SAST)

About CIVICUS

CIVICUS exists to defend people power. It is a growing global alliance of over 15,000 members across 189 countries, working to monitor violations of civic freedoms, call out perpetrators, and strengthen the ability of people to organise. CIVICUS is committed to promoting excluded voices, especially from the Global South, while supporting a more accountable, innovative, and effective civil society worldwide.

About the Role

The Research and Communications Officer provides both research and communications support to the CIVICUS Lens initiative and the State of Civil Society Report.

In the research capacity, the officer conducts interviews with civil society sources, transcribes and edits interviews, and performs desk research to gather and verify information. In the communications capacity, the officer supports the development and execution of media and social media strategies, including pitching op-eds and monitoring the editorial process of CIVICUS publications.

The officer is also responsible for producing engaging visual content such as infographics and social media kits, managing the publications database, tracking social media performance, and supporting webinars and launch events. Additionally, the role involves managing multilingual content production by coordinating with designers, translators, and editors.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Conduct, transcribe and edit interviews with civil society sources
• Perform desk research to gather and verify information
• Support the CIVICUS Lens initiative and the State of Civil Society Report
• Design and implement media and social media strategies
• Pitch op-eds to journalists and manage editorial flow for research outputs
• Produce visual content such as infographics and social media kits
• Maintain and update the publications database
• Monitor social media performance and engagement
• Organise webinars and launch events
• Coordinate multilingual content production with translators, designers, and editors

Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Political Science, International Relations or Development Studies
• Proficiency in English
• Competence in French and/or Spanish (intermediate level)
• Minimum of 3 years relevant professional experience
• Familiarity with international civil society networks and inter-governmental institutions
• Understanding of the global media landscape
• Understanding of social media platform dynamics
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience with social media messaging and distribution
• Ability to translate complex issues into accessible pitches and develop audience-friendly messaging
• Basic design skills (Canva, Piktochart)
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within a diverse multicultural virtual team
• Strong organisational skills, ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and deliver under pressure with high attention to detail

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application online.

Applications must include:

• A full CV including educational and professional qualifications, full employment history, key responsibilities and relevant achievements
• A covering note of no more than one page outlining motivation for applying for the role

Candidates can apply through the official application portal:

Apply here

Application Deadline

The closing deadline for applications is:

23 February 2026 at 11:59pm SAST

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within two weeks after the closing date to schedule interviews. Due to the high volume of applications, CIVICUS may only contact applicants who are shortlisted for the next stage. All applicants will be updated once the position has been filled.

CIVICUS reserves the right to withdraw the vacancy at any time.

Final Note

This opportunity is ideal for professionals with strong research, communications, and media skills who are passionate about civil society, global advocacy, and strengthening civic freedoms. If you meet the requirements, consider applying before the deadline.

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