IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,300 Member organisations and the input of more than 10,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/.

Placed within the IUCN Centre for Science and Data and the Knowledge management and Library Team, the Communications Officer will deliver the communication work for the Protected and Conserved Areas Team and contribute towards broader communication goals for the Programme Group. The Centre for Science and Data aims to uphold and curate knowledge in order to enhance conservation assurance schemes and help IUCN lead on knowledge management. As such, the Communications Officer will be responsible for designing and implementing the Protected and Conserved Areas (PCA) Team and PCA projects’ communications activities, in close collaboration with the PCA team in the Head office and regional offices worldwide.

The IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas Team has a long heritage in the Union, with a headquarters-based core team and regional staff, and a closely coordinated programme of activities with the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). The PCA Team is part of the Centre for Conservation Action. This work is supported by a number of donors and partners, including the European Development Fund of the European Union, through the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States in the BIOPAMA Programme, the German International Climate Initiative through investments to achieve the objectives of the Convention on Biodiversity, the European Commission through the BEST programme and by several private organisations, including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

The Communications Officer is expected to contribute to and implement a wide range of communications strategies and activities, according to the needs of each project, and in line with the PCA Team and the Centre for Conservation Action communications strategy. The deliverables of the communications officer contribute to the successful PCA Team and Centre communications. The Communications Officer is expected to work independently on a variety of activities, with minimum supervision, to translate communications strategies into concrete actions and deliverables, and drive their implementation.

Communications functions and responsibilities include:

Develop and implement communications strategies and workplans for the Team and its projects.

Provide brand and communications quality control, ensure adherence to the communications guidelines and protocols.

Produce high quality communications products in a range of formats including: publications, brochures, policy briefs, web stories, press releases, multimedia content, social media content.

Oversee and manage production processes (including external contractors), where needed.

Provide communication support for events, including managing media relations, co-managing virtual platforms, producing audio-visual material as needed and developing content for the communications channels and platforms.


SPECIFIC DUTIES

Guide, edit and coordinate the development, editing and production of the PCA Team and projects’ knowledge products (e.g., reports, factsheets, thematic briefs, publications), including to align with IUCN style guide(s) and/or relevant partner, donor or project brands.

Support updating and implementation of the PCA Team and projects’ communications strategy, including toward identifying and taking advantage of key events and opportunities for strategic communications.

Manage and maintain PCA Team and projects’ specific websites and social media channels (as identified in each case), including content production, daily upkeep, and manage the relationship with the development agency;

Develop and manage the communications assets of the PCA Team and specific projects (photo library, brand guidelines, communications calendars and other resources) and ensure the compliance in the implementation of communications products.

Plan, develop and produce PCA team and projects specific newsletter issues, and regularly analyse its KPIs to improve its performance.

Plan and create content to support the PCA Team and projects’ communications objectives at events (e.g. IUCN Congresses).

Lead and support the implementation of Team and projects’ specific events (online and in person, as needed).

Support Team’s and projects’ efforts to influence key policy decisions, including the CBD process, through policy and communications campaigns.

Support the PCA Team to comply with relevant project donor communications and branding requirements and priorities, develop communications plans, and promote relevant messages, including for strategic events.

Manage the relationship with external consultants/communications service providers (e.g. projects websites, design and branding agencies etc).

Coordinate and implement the knowledge management and capitalisation activities, as needed.

Ensure a good coordination for delivering communications products with partners (project partners, IUCN regional offices, donors as needed, and third parties, including beneficiaries of IUCN grants).

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position.

However, in an organization 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, their line manager and the Human Resources Management Group.