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Senior Global Communications Manager

Vacancy #:   6602
Unit:   Global Communications Unit
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland
Reporting to:   Director - Global Communications
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   SP
Expected start date:   01 March 2024
Type of contract:   Max-term (24 months)
Closing date:   09 October 2023
BACKGROUND
This position plays a critical role in implementing IUCN’s corporate communications strategy through its non-media corporate communications channels, brand oversight and coordination of various communications efforts across the Union and with external partners. Channels under the responsibility of this position include the IUCN website, IUCN corporate social media platforms and communications around major IUCN events such as the IUCN World Conservation Congress. It is also the point for maintaining IUCN’s brand cohesion and providing strategic advice on updates to IUCN’s various sub-brands.

The position requires liaising with IUCN and unit leadership to develop cohesive communications strategies and coordinated implementation, advising on and responding to internal enquiries not related to media and leading or overseeing communications task forces as needed. It also plays a lead role in supporting the Director of Communications in developing, adjusting and adhering to the unit budget and designated communications budgets for major events and partnerships.
JOB DESCRIPTION
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Operations

Digital communications
• Senior advisor to Director of Communications, include filling in for Director when necessary
• Oversee all IUCN digital (non-press) corporate communications channels to ensure corporate strategy is applied and effective across channels
• Identify actionable communications opportunities to enhance IUCN’s ability to reach organisational, unit-level and communications objectives
• Project management lead for video, digital and print communications products including preparing requests for proposals, managing and negotiating contracts for providers and overseeing the development process from inception to final delivery
• Oversee photo and video management
• Work together with colleagues responsible for content production within the unit to ensure cohesive content promotion through IUCN’s channels
• Lead development of communications KPIs, performance monitoring tools and reporting methods and provide strategic insights to Director based on performance trends and metrics
• Identify reputational or other communications or unit-related risks and help develop measures to prevent, mitigate or respond to them
• Provide strategic guidance on non-media communications to unit management and communicators to maximise opportunities, increase efficiency and maintain consistency with IUCN corporate strategic objectives
• Support Communications Director in preparing, updating and overseeing relevant policies

Brand oversight
• Oversee IUCN corporate branding, logo use, brand consistency and “look and feel” across all communications outputs
• Advise units on sub-brand strategy to ensure coherence with corporate brand

Event communications
• Support Director of Communications on preparations for major events.
• Oversee permanent and temporary communications staff and budgets, maintain key partnerships
• With Event Communications Manager, provide branding and promotion advice to IUCN units participating in external events such as UNFCCC COPs or other high-profile events where IUCN has a presence

Staff Management

• Manage direct reports (Communications Officer for digital and social media, IUCN Webmaster, Event Communications Manager) to ensure professional development, healthy working environment and work-life balance and delivery of individual and unit objectives
• Plan, adapt and manage work plans for direct reports to ensure consistency with overall unit objectives, leverage complementary roles within the team and play to the strengths of individual team members in order to deliver optimal results within the constraints of limited budget, time and capacity
• Act as liaison with IUCN programme, regional and commission communicators for non-media related projects and issues, including strategic coordination

Budget and Administrative
• Advise and support Director on unit operational budget management
• Together with Senior Communications Manager - content and editorial, track unit operational budget day-to-day income and expenses, including oversight of all relevant contracts and time management system transactions with IUCN units and any project income, including guiding unit staff through procedures and ensuring all income and expenses align with priorities set by the Director
• Provide guidance to ensure unit processes adhere to IUCN operational and audit procedures
• Perform other tasks and assignments as required by the Director

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
  • Experience and Education
• At least 12 years of experience in professional communications, with demonstrated success in managing cross-cultural teams and increasing levels of responsibility
• Master’s level university degree, in communications, international relations, public affairs, political science, or other relevant field, or bachelor’s degree with three additional years of relevant experience
• Proven success in developing and executing innovative communications strategies, including direct experience in digital, brand management and event communications
• Experience managing communications budgets and external contractors for quality delivery and maximum impact within budget
• Experience in event marketing a plus
• Knowledge and understanding of nature conservation and sustainability issues
• Demonstrated success working in a multi-cultural international setting


• Communications and Management Skills
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, including the ability to identify practical yet impactful ways communications can help the organisation and its subsets reach various objectives
• Proven ability to coordinate and motivate diverse teams across varied locations and skills toward common and complementary goals
• Ability to develop cohesive communications strategies across multiple channels, with complementary tactics playing to the strategic strength of each channel and its role in overall strategies
• Strong command of website, social media and other digital strategy and best practices; advanced PowerPoint skills a plus
• Demonstrated understanding of key performance metrics for digital communications and how to use these metrics to enhance communications impact
• Ability to assess risks and identify immediate and potential communications crises, develop and analyse options at the pace required and coordinate responses across appropriate channels
• Proven project management skills, especially in managing complex internal processes and external communications contractors
• Outstanding writing and editing skills; ability to write short, sharp text for website sections and similar
• Keen eye for effective video and visual design a plus


• Languages
• English – native level; French and/or Spanish would be an advantage.


• Soft Skills
• Excellent decision-making, prioritization and coordination skills
• Teamwork, team building, motivation and management skills
• Ability to deliver top quality, work fast, under pressure and within tight deadlines and multiple priorities at once
• Strong diplomatic and communication skills and an ability to work and communicate effectively across all aspects of the organisation, with external or partner organisations and within a broad range of cultural environments
• Confidence in interacting with high level leaders and other officials, within and outside of IUCN
• Agile with the ability to anticipate changing priorities and adapt to meet urgent and emerging demands
SALARY
The gross annual salary for this position is between CHF 123'265 and CHF 154'081, 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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