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Young Professional, Communications and Events - Water and Wetlands Team
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BACKGROUND
The IUCN Water and Wetlands Team is based at IUCN Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. IUCN’s Water and Wetlands Team brings together an extensive network of IUCN Members, experts, government and private sector partners to develop sustainable solutions to preserve water resources. The mission of the IUCN Water and Wetlands Team is to be a trusted partner for evidence-based and adaptive change in water resource management that benefits nature and people.
To support this mission, we are seeking a Young Professional eager to grow their skills in communication and event management within an international context. The role will focus on three core areas; digital communications, conference and event support as well as project-specific communications.
The team manages two key websites—waterandnature.org and iucn.org/water—as well as the newly acquired S2S Platform (effective 1 January 2025) and its associated LinkedIn pages. This position involves drafting, creating, managing, and optimizing content across these platforms while ensuring alignment with IUCN’s overall strategy and standards. Collaboration with headquarters, regional offices, and partners is essential to delivering high-quality, accessible, and engaging content.
The role also provides critical support in the planning and coordination of international and regional events. In 2025, key priorities include World Water Week (August), the IUCN World Conservation Congress (October) in Abu Dhabi, and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Conference of the Parties (COP15)
Additionally, the role will contribute to drafting and implementing project communication plans, developing creative communications products (e.g., infographics, videos, articles), and ensuring the quality of project publications for initiatives such as BRIDGE on transboundary water governance and SUSTAIN on integrated water and land management.
This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to IUCN's impactful work on water and wetlands, engaging with other communicators across IUCN, while enhancing visibility, engagement, and outreach across IUCNs diverse portfolio of programs and international initiatives.
To support this mission, we are seeking a Young Professional eager to grow their skills in communication and event management within an international context. The role will focus on three core areas; digital communications, conference and event support as well as project-specific communications.
The team manages two key websites—waterandnature.org and iucn.org/water—as well as the newly acquired S2S Platform (effective 1 January 2025) and its associated LinkedIn pages. This position involves drafting, creating, managing, and optimizing content across these platforms while ensuring alignment with IUCN’s overall strategy and standards. Collaboration with headquarters, regional offices, and partners is essential to delivering high-quality, accessible, and engaging content.
The role also provides critical support in the planning and coordination of international and regional events. In 2025, key priorities include World Water Week (August), the IUCN World Conservation Congress (October) in Abu Dhabi, and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Conference of the Parties (COP15)
Additionally, the role will contribute to drafting and implementing project communication plans, developing creative communications products (e.g., infographics, videos, articles), and ensuring the quality of project publications for initiatives such as BRIDGE on transboundary water governance and SUSTAIN on integrated water and land management.
This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to IUCN's impactful work on water and wetlands, engaging with other communicators across IUCN, while enhancing visibility, engagement, and outreach across IUCNs diverse portfolio of programs and international initiatives.
JOB DESCRIPTION
A YP, also called Young Professional, is in place to provide a first professional experience in an international setting for young professionals (up to 35 years old) holding a Bachelor’s Degree. IUCN will ask for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years of experience for this type of contract.
IUCN is committed to providing all YPs with a quality experience that involves meaningful work and activities with the opportunity to learn and gain practical work experience in an international setting.
YPs will be provided with clearly defined Terms of Reference (TORs). They will be adequately supervised by a suitable identified Senior Unit/Programme/Group staff member, who will monitor their progress, ensure that they contribute effectively and resolve any concerns they may have throughout their assignment with IUCN.
Digital communications (20%)
1. Liaise with HQ and regional communications, technical and policy colleagues to create content; write, edit and upload articles, blogs or case studies to IUCN’s corporate water webpages www.iucn.org/water and the Water & Nature website: www.waterandnature.org.
2. Ensure all content, including text, images and multimedia is current and accurate, update news etc. Optimise content for readability and accessibility
3. Draft and coordinate Water and Wetlands Team communication strategy and content calendar, including communication for the S2S Platform
4. Assist with creative social media developments, including visual story features and social media monitoring of LinkedIn and other accounts, both for the Water and Wetlands Team pages, but also for the S2S Platform.
Conference and Event support (40%)
1. Support the coordination of development of content, events, sessions and pavilions for international conferences; World Water Week 2025 (August 2025), IUCN World Conservation Congress (October 2025) among others;
- Coordinate recurring planning meetings, keep track of event submissions, responses
- Support Water and Wetlands Team contribution to Congress; communication products, pavilion support etc.
- Prepare and implement communication plans for the various events – including flyers and communications on LinkedIN and other media
2. Assist in the logistical, administrative and financial tasks associated with the conference management
Project communications (40%)
1. Assist with drafting and implementation of project communication plans and content calendars for IUCN Water’s key initiatives; BRIDGE, SUSTAIN and others.
2. Support the development of communication products such as infographics, videos, and articles for the above-mentioned initiatives,
3. Support drafting, revision, and quality assurance of project publications such as brochures, case studies, policy briefings, and new reports
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 a staff member’s responsibilities, the job description will be changed in consultation with the manager, the staff member and the Human Resources Management Group. Anyone of the three may initiate the consultation.
IUCN is committed to providing all YPs with a quality experience that involves meaningful work and activities with the opportunity to learn and gain practical work experience in an international setting.
YPs will be provided with clearly defined Terms of Reference (TORs). They will be adequately supervised by a suitable identified Senior Unit/Programme/Group staff member, who will monitor their progress, ensure that they contribute effectively and resolve any concerns they may have throughout their assignment with IUCN.
Digital communications (20%)
1. Liaise with HQ and regional communications, technical and policy colleagues to create content; write, edit and upload articles, blogs or case studies to IUCN’s corporate water webpages www.iucn.org/water and the Water & Nature website: www.waterandnature.org.
2. Ensure all content, including text, images and multimedia is current and accurate, update news etc. Optimise content for readability and accessibility
3. Draft and coordinate Water and Wetlands Team communication strategy and content calendar, including communication for the S2S Platform
4. Assist with creative social media developments, including visual story features and social media monitoring of LinkedIn and other accounts, both for the Water and Wetlands Team pages, but also for the S2S Platform.
Conference and Event support (40%)
1. Support the coordination of development of content, events, sessions and pavilions for international conferences; World Water Week 2025 (August 2025), IUCN World Conservation Congress (October 2025) among others;
- Coordinate recurring planning meetings, keep track of event submissions, responses
- Support Water and Wetlands Team contribution to Congress; communication products, pavilion support etc.
- Prepare and implement communication plans for the various events – including flyers and communications on LinkedIN and other media
2. Assist in the logistical, administrative and financial tasks associated with the conference management
Project communications (40%)
1. Assist with drafting and implementation of project communication plans and content calendars for IUCN Water’s key initiatives; BRIDGE, SUSTAIN and others.
2. Support the development of communication products such as infographics, videos, and articles for the above-mentioned initiatives,
3. Support drafting, revision, and quality assurance of project publications such as brochures, case studies, policy briefings, and new reports
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 a staff member’s responsibilities, the job description will be changed in consultation with the manager, the staff member and the Human Resources Management Group. Anyone of the three may initiate the consultation.
REQUIREMENTS
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• In order to be eligible for the Young Professional Programme, candidates must: a) Hold a Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent); b) Have a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years’ relevant experience after obtaining their Bachelor’s Degree; c) Be under 35 years of age at the moment they apply for the Young Professional position; d) Be fluent in one of the three IUCN languages (English, Spanish and French). Education: University degree in communications, digital media, event management, or a related field, with a demonstrated interest in nature conservation, sustainable water management, and governance. Desired Experience & Technical Skills: • Familiarity with Content Management Systems (CMS) such as WordPress and Drupal, with experience in updating, maintaining, and optimizing website content. • Strong writing and editing skills for digital platforms, ensuring clarity, readability, and alignment with organizational standards. • Experience in managing and creating content for professional social media platforms, particularly LinkedIn. • Basic graphic design skills using tools like Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or similar. • Experience in creating or supporting the development of visual content such as infographics, videos, or multimedia presentations. • Event coordination experience, including organizing meetings, tracking submissions, and managing logistical and communication tasks for large-scale events. Other desired Skills: • Project coordination: Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and effectively communicate with team members and stakeholders across various locations. • Attention to detail: Ability to identify and address inconsistencies or errors in content, design, and event logistics, ensuring alignment with organizational guidelines. • Adaptability: Willingness to learn new tools, adapt to emerging tasks, and work in a dynamic, fast-paced international environment. • Cultural Awareness: Sensitivity and understanding of working in an international, multicultural context. |
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is CHF 60'000, subject to deductions for social security contributions and second-pillar pension, and before tax. While this is an indicative amount effective as of the current date, changes may occur as per IUCN's compensation practices without prior notice. The same applies to other organisations hosted by IUCN.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
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 in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
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