Resources

Position

BACKGROUND

The North America Office of IUCN works with regional Members, global institutions, and the U.S. donor community to further conservation worldwide. Its primary role is to engage with the U.S. Government and leading policy and financial institutions to foster dialogue and action on nature-based solutions to some of humanity's greatest challenges. IUCN’s North America Office also hosts outposts Secretariat staff and projects from many global thematic programs including those related to ecosystem-based adaptation, forest landscape restoration, gender, governance and rights, and biodiversity assessments.

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will be charged with delivering high-impact programmatic and project communications and knowledge management for the IUCN North America Office and assigned global projects and initiatives hosted by this office, particularly on Nature-based Solutions and ecosystem and landscape restoration.

This position includes both internal and external outreach and communications. It involves content creation, strategic planning, and management of publications processes and consultants, all directed to increasing the impact and visibility of the IUCN North America programme and the global projects assigned to this position.

 

Strategy and content development

• - Develop and implement communication strategies, communication campaigns, knowledge uptake plans, targeted outreach frameworks and other approaches to ensure that the design, delivery and impact of projects are underpinned by the generation and utilization of high-quality communication and knowledge products, creation of social media for the North America Region

• - Lead communications components of IUCN key multi-partners projects, IUCN-led projects, partnerships and initiatives

• - Develop content for high-quality knowledge products

• - Transform lessons learned, experience and best practices into industry-standard, evidence-based information, peer-reviewed science and knowledge products and outreach materials

 

Coordination of knowledge product delivery

• - Building and maintaining effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and teams to ensure content writing requests are fulfilled in line with IUCN policy and positioning and consistent with IUCN’s programme across Centres

• - Research and draft documents for international policy work and assigned projects (including management of assigned budgets and contracts with consultants as needed.

• - Manage the design, production and dissemination of high-quality and evidence-based outreach and marketing materials in a variety of formats

• - Design, produce, advise on and maintain digital assets and products including but not limited to web stories, newsletters, videos, podcasts, project web pages, story maps, social media assets, etc and embrace innovations in the digital communications field

• - Design, layout, perform editing and promotion of on-line and print assets and products including, but not limited to issues briefs, policy and other briefs, brochures, banners, flyers and selected reports

• - Assist staff with the IUCN publications process, and manage contracts for outreach, publications, website, video and other services.

 

Online platforms and presence

• - Design, manage and promote physical and virtual meeting spaces for key events.

• - Maintain the online presence of assigned programmes and projects by developing and maintaining up-to-date high-quality website content and managing existing web portals and social media

• - Manage media channels and expand their reach by engaging key audiences, promoting regular interactions, and track efficacy

• - Monitoring and analyzing any benchmarks or metrics regarding the IUCN DC office and broader IUCN reputation and being able to make recommendations for improvement

 

Communications liaison and capacity building

• - Participate in the IUCN Communications job family, including in liaison with the Global Communications Unit including on media relations, influencing and contributing to IUCN's global communications and media engagement

• - Build collaborative relationships with knowledge and communications staff of other international and regional organisations working on issues pertinent to the assigned thematic focus

• - As appropriate, support the IUCN North America Office and the projects hosted by it by planning and conducting training workshops, seminars, meetings and learning events

• - Liaise with national and regional IUCN teams to address capacity needs and requirements

• - Support and develop innovative solutions to communications, internal systems and knowledge uptake pathways

• - Organise technical workshops, policy outreach and capacity-building events in a strategic and cost-effective manner so that the impact on practitioners, scientists and policymakers is maximised.

• - Produce relevant outcomes workshop/event documents, draft think pieces and develop and/or review policy papers for various events and international processes.

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in a small organisation such as IUCN, staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them but which are not part of their regular job description. Where any task becomes a regular part of an employee's responsibilities, the job description will be changed in consultation with the employee and the Human Resources Management Group.

*This position is to be based in Washington DC, there is no relocation allowance for this position,*

 

REQUIREMENTS

• - Demonstrated high quality and impactful writing skills (English essential, other languages a bonus)

• - Experience in strategy development for boosting visibility and impact

• - Master’s degree in a relevant subject (e.g. communications, journalism, public relations, etc)

• - At least 1 year of relevant work or research experience in a relevant field if holding a Master’s Degree, or at least 3 years with a Bachelor’s degree

• - Proven experience in working in the environmental field.

• - Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail

• - Excellent written and spoken English is essential for this position. Knowledge of written and spoken French and/or Spanish is a strong advantage

• - A strong aptitude and ability to communicate both informally (interpersonal skills and networking) and formally

• - Ability to deliver quality products within and juggle agreed deadlines

• - Experience working in a cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment

• - The position is based in Washington DC.

 

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button. Here is the link: https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=10052&lang=en

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published on the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/