Communications Assistant

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 270 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.

We are currently looking for a Communications Assistant to join our Economic Law and Policy (ELP) Program. ELP is devoted to supporting the elaboration and improvement of economic governance frameworks and tools that support the achievement of sustainable development objectives. ELP does so through developing research outputs, providing training and capacity support to the relevant stakeholder groups, organizing conferences and dialogues, and various other approaches. Our staff and associates include lawyers, economists, policy analysts, and journalists, among others, who are located across various countries and world regions. The program encompasses several workstreams, including investment law and policy; international trade; food and agriculture; sustainability standards; mining, taxation, and sustainable finance; procurement; and infrastructure.

About the Position

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced communications professional with a talent for making complex ideas accessible to wider audiences and a passion for making an impact through digital communications.

We are looking for a candidate who is an organized multitasker with strong writing and editing skills, expertise in digital and social media, and a keen interest in sustainable development issues, including multilateral processes on economic governance that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Responsibilities

Creative Content

• Draft and support the production of a wide array of written communications materials, including press releases, articles, video scripts and storyboards, social media posts, newsletters, and other supporting content that make IISD’s work accessible to both expert and non-expert audiences.
• Help to implement strategic communications plans for a broad range of projects, reports, and events.
• Ensure brand coherence and compliance with existing IISD communications practices.
• Track current events related to specific workstreams and communicate these to colleagues, identifying opportunities for further work and/or public engagement.
• Regularly share program work and collaborate with IISD’s core communications team to ensure alignment on key messaging and amplification of programmatic expertise in broader, organization-wide communications activities. Contribute to a shared editorial calendar.

Public Engagement and Social Media

• Maintain and update lists of newsletter subscribers within platforms such as MailChimp.
• Conduct event-related outreach and post-event follow-up (i.e., uploading webinar recordings to YouTube, sending thank-you emails, etc.).
• Assist in the daily management of social media accounts, ensuring posts are relevant, timely, engaging, and targeted to the needs and interests of key audiences.
• Draft content for social media and report results on a regular basis. Follow trending topics and hashtags.

Media Outreach

• Engage with journalists and influencers with the aim of securing targeted coverage for IISD research and initiatives in key outlets. Maintain and update databases of media contacts.
• Conduct media monitoring on a regular basis for assigned areas of work. Provide reports on media coverage and digital performance using Agility PR, Google Analytics, and other available platforms.

Digital Strategy

• Review program-relevant web pages on IISD sites and micro-sites for timeliness and updates as needed.
• Working within content management systems such as Drupal or WordPress, upload and edit content for websites, adhering to IISD guidelines.
• Use analytics software to monitor, assess, and report on website traffic and engagement with our digital content, advising where appropriate on what is seeing traction or where we can improve.
• In collaboration with IISD’s design team, support the production of digital content, including social media cards, posters, videos, invitations, simple infographics, presentations, and other conference or workshop materials. Retouch and resize images as needed.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• 1–3 years of relevant professional experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations, public policy, or a related discipline.
• A high level of computer literacy: must be able to work in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and be familiar with virtual event software, such as Zoom and MS Teams. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud applications is an asset.
• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills. Other languages (especially French and Spanish) are an asset.
• Demonstrated interest in issues related to sustainable development, especially economic issues, is an asset.
• Experience and comfort working with online content management systems and website monitoring tools (especially WordPress, Drupal, and Google Analytics).
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Self-starter, able to work independently as well as within a team.

Location: Remote, but must be based in Germany, Portugal, or the United Kingdom.

Salary:  Salary commensurate with experience and location

Type of Employment: Full-time

Start date: Immediate opportunity

Application deadline: August 29, 2024 at 4 PM CST or until the position is filled

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for locations where they expect to be based without any sponsorship from IISD.

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR.

• A CV (no longer than two pages)
• A one-page letter of motivation
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional)

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year.

Selected candidates will be asked to submit a written test and interviewed by IISD.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+, to apply for this position. Preference will be given to the equity-deserving groups during the hiring process. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants’ advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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