The Global Forest and Climate Change Programme (GFCCP) is a global thematic programme of the IUCN Secretariat and supports the forest-related activities of the Union. The GFCCPs work is centred on 3 mutually supporting themes of Climate Change Mitigation, Forest Landscape Restoration and Locally Controlled Forests, and is predicated on 2 reporting lines: (1) results on the ground and (2) knowledge, policy and environmental governance. This position is located within the latter and is aimed at achieving a rigorous, integrated, strategic approach to knowledge and communications - at once programmatic while also servicing projects in a coherent way. The Manager, Knowledge and Communications will provide a critical function in meeting this need.

IUCN is seeking an experienced manager to further develop and oversee a high impact strategic communications strategy and programmatic knowledge system. This will ensure effective and efficient pathways for sharing of information and for transforming lessons, findings and analysis into desired impact upon policy and practice. The Manager, Knowledge and Communications will also devise approaches to ensure a programmatic culture of up-to-date, cutting edge knowledge-oriented work, which will in turn contribute to IUCN’s flagship knowledge products and reinforce its reputation of producing credible knowledge.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. HIGH QUALITY KNOWLEDGE GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT
• Design and lead the implementation of a programmatic knowledge system and ensure content is of high quality, timely, strategic, and contributes something new to the field
• Manage the transformation of lessons and experience into a scheduled and targeted portfolio of communications and knowledge tools, products and campaigns for identified priority audiences
• Plan, research as needed, write and approve publications
• Further develop and manage the system for peer-review of GFCCP knowledge products and encourage the placement of results into the peer-reviewed scientific literature
• Manage contributions to IUCN’s Nature Based Solutions work and the 6 institutional knowledge products
• Facilitate information sharing across the programme pillars and – in collaboration with other programme staff – create opportunities and mechanisms for vertical and horizontal exchanges information across the programme and within projects.

2. HIGH IMPACT COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA ENGAGEMENT
• Define and execute strategic communications strategies that support programmatic priorities and optimize uptake pathways and impact
• Plan, write and manage the production of high quality communications materials
• Provide advice to the GFCCP’s leadership on strategic content-based positioning, internal and external communications solutions, and emerging trends and opportunities on priority themes
• Enhance the GFCCP’s visibility, including through the organization of events, the cultivation of networks of professional relationships and online means

3. EFFECTIVE AND STRATEGIC TEAM BUILDING, LEADING AND MANAGING AND PARTNER ENGAGEMENT
• Manage and motivate assigned staff through effective leadership, communication, coaching, development, facilitation and evaluation
• Provide guidance and support to IUCN’s regional and country team members working on knowledge and communications, and ensure effective involvement of IUCN members and Commissions, to enhance the delivery of coherent activities
• Build capacity and maintain networks and partnerships, including with colleagues participating in implementation, institutional collaborators such as those working on programme monitoring or Science & Knowledge, and external existing or potential collaborators, for example through the Collaborative Partnership on Forests
• Contribute to the development and use of targets, indicators and tools to evaluate the success of communications and knowledge dissemination approaches across a range of media to build a culture of learning and high performance and support continuous improvement and alignment with the GFCCP and broader IUCN programme