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Event Communications Manager

Vacancy #:   6406
Unit:   Global Communications Unit
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland
Reporting to:   Senior Global Communications Manager
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   P2
Expected start date:   01 April 2024
Type of contract:   Max-term (20 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date:   21 May 2023
BACKGROUND
The Event Communications Manager will manage communications for IUCN’s highest profile international events – the IUCN World Conservation Congress and the IUCN Leaders Forum.

Every four years, the IUCN Congress brings world leaders and decision makers from governments, civil society, indigenous peoples’ organisations and business together with leading scientists and thousands of experts to debate and act on the latest ways to conserve nature and harness its solutions to global challenges.

Each year, the IUCN Leaders Forum brings together a select group of high-level representatives from the private sector and other major stakeholder groups to discuss and debate current issues in the international agenda.

The incumbent report to the Senior Global Communications Manager in the Global Communications Unit and work closely with the Global Convenings and Events Unit, as well as with external contractors, partners, IUCN Members, communicators and leadership across the Union to develop and coordinate effective communications and promotions before, during and after the events. The position requires a broad range of communications talent, including the ability to maximise the impact of communications resources, cater messages and delivery to a wide range of audiences and demands, and to prioritise strategic and day-to-day activities under tight deadlines. This is a big job and an excellent opportunity for a talented communications professional looking to demonstrate her or his capacity to play a central role in large, complex, deadline-driven communications projects from the early stages through final reporting. The position requires someone who can see the big picture and set priorities accordingly and who is willing and capable of doing what it takes to get the job done. This will range from helping to develop strategies and identifying actionable tactics, to establishing timelines and overseeing and taking part in the creation and editing of content, while simultaneously liaising with various stakeholders and coordinating and managing resources and external contractors. The position will require someone who is very much a self-starter and who can work independently to broad guidelines without being managed too closely.

About IUCN and the IUCN World Conservation Congress

IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of some 15,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
As IUCN’s flagship event, the Congress attracts thousands of participants from across the world. The event has two components – the Forum and the Members’ Assembly. The Forum is the largest knowledge marketplace for conservation and sustainable development science, practice and innovation. Over 1000 sessions address the economic, social, scientific and technical aspects of issues ranging from wildlife to oceans, protected areas to sustainable business, and climate change to human rights.
During the Members’ Assembly, IUCN’s 1,400+ Member organisations collectively decide on actions to address the most pressing and often controversial conservation and sustainable development challenges. IUCN’s membership includes some of the most influential government and civil society organisations from more than 160 countries, giving the decisions taken at the IUCN Congress a powerful mandate.
The next Congress will take place in 2025.

About the IUCN Leaders Forum

The IUCN Leaders Forum is an annual event, gathering leaders and changemakers from around the world, in-person, to discuss innovative solutions to critical global challenges, make bold commitments, build partnerships and catalyse action for impactful change in nature conservation and sustainability. The event aims to be a “Davos-for-Nature” with three primary objectives:
– Convene influential and innovative leaders (government, private sector, civil society, sub-national authorities, other) with the aim of creating alliances and new partnerships, identifying innovative solutions, and advancing the international policy agenda;
– Offer a platform to discuss emerging issues and help shape future market forces with key stakeholders, in a safe space;
– Create a networking opportunity between corporates and changemakers who are implementing environmental action projects and can report back on their progress at the next annual Leaders Forum.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Detailed responsibilities of the Event Communications Manager are as follows:

• Manage and advise Global Communications Unit leadership on preparations and execution of these two flagship events.
• Responsible for the production of all IUCN corporate event communications and marketing materials in the lead up to the events. For the Congress, these are in three official languages (English, French and Spanish) and include websites content, multimedia, email campaigns, printed and other materials.
• Managing staff, consultants and translators so that every communications asset meets a specific purpose and is on message, on time and of top quality for maximum impact.
• Act as liaison between the Global Communications Team, the Global Convenings and Events Unit and the Host Country communications representative(s) as well as between the Global Communications Team and IUCN Centres, regional offices and other focal points regarding the events.
• Help create the at-event communications plans and put them into action so that participants have the information they need at the events, external target audiences see the outcomes of the events as they happen and IUCN captures the photos, videos and highlights of the events for follow-up communications.
• Play a central role in the expanded event communications team recruited from around IUCN in the run-up to and during the Leaders Forum and Congress.
• Coordinate, prepare for and implement post-event communications to retain participant engagement, capture and promote outcomes of the events, and to promote future events.
• Keep relevant internal audiences updated on the progress, requests and status of events communications, including budget updates as required, monitoring and analytics and final “lessons learnt” and other reporting.
• Participate in the events and assist the Global Communications Unit team across a wide variety of communications activities as required throughout duration of the contract.

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in an 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.
REQUIREMENTS
  • English: Native level proficiency required. French and/or Spanish, a plus

• Excellent writing skills in English

• Degree in Marketing/Public Relations/Communications/Journalism or a relevant field, preferably Master

• At least 5 to 8 years’ experience making big things happen in a similar role

• Proven success in event marketing or communications campaigns desirable

• Experience managing a small communications team

• Hands-on experience with web and social media management, newsletter production and video production highly desirable

• Able to work effectively with a variety of teams and respectfully in a multi-cultural work environment

• Experience working with external consultants and contractors and to see projects to completion through complex production and approval processes

• Used to working with different IT systems and portals

• Open-minded and positive, with a good sense of humour

• Pro-active, dynamic and results-focused

• Able to prioritize, with excellent time management skills

• Flexible and willing to take on a wide variety of responsibilities, including administrative tasks

• Able to work outside of normal working hours, as required

• Able to travel to the events
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is between CHF 100'355 and CHF 125'444, 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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