Communications Officer, National Adaptation Plan Global Network

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 250 people come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in more than 100 countries.

About IISD Resilience and the NAP Global Network

IISD’s Resilience Program is a multidisciplinary team of policy researchers who work with governments, civil society, communities, and businesses to help them manage climate- and conflict-related risks. Its work focuses on planning, people, and nature—preparing for a different or uncertain future, making sure different genders and social groups influence and benefit from investments in resilience, and harnessing the role of ecosystems to help communities manage risks.

The Resilience Program hosts the secretariat for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network, an initiative focused on accelerating adaptation planning and action in developing countries. The NAP Global Network strives to achieve this goal by a) enhancing national-level action through short- and longer-term technical support on adaptation planning; b) facilitating South–South peer learning and exchange; and c) generating, synthesizing, and sharing knowledge on NAP processes. Established in 2014, the NAP Global Network connects more than 2,000 participants from over 155 countries with financial support from an expanding base of donors.

The Position

The Communications Officer will help implement the communications strategy for the NAP Global Network.

The Communications Officer will be adept in the use of digital media and have a talent for making complex ideas accessible while also being an excellent planner, organizer, and multitasker with a keen interest in international affairs and sustainable development.

Responsibilities

Creative Content

• Inform, manage, and implement communications plans for a broad range of projects, reports, campaigns, and events.
• Cooperate with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring timelines are adhered to, along with monitoring and evaluation, and reporting on impacts of communications plans.
• Regularly share program work and collaborate with IISD’s core communications team to ensure alignment on key messaging.
• Track current events related to climate change adaptation and communicate these to colleagues, identifying opportunities for engagement.

Public Engagement and Social Media

• Help to inform and execute an e-mail outreach strategy.
• Conduct event-related outreach and oversee post-event follow-up (i.e., uploading webinar recordings to YouTube, sending thank-you e-mails, etc.).
• Inform the social media strategy and manage the NAP Global Network’s social media accounts, ensuring posts are relevant, timely, engaging, and targeted. This includes drafting and/or editing posts, organizing promotions, tracking trending topics and hashtags, and regularly monitoring peer accounts.

Media Outreach

• Engage with journalists and influencers, with a focus on relationship-building, to secure targeted coverage for our research and initiatives in key outlets; build media lists; maintain and update databases of media contacts.
• Draft, edit, and disseminate press releases, media briefings, and e-mail pitches to reporters and editors; draft and place op-eds, letters to the editor, etc.
• Conduct media monitoring on a regular basis for assigned areas of work; provide reports on media coverage and digital performance.

Digital Strategy

• Work within content management systems such as Drupal or WordPress; upload and edit content for websites, adhering to IISD guidelines; review program-relevant pages on IISD websites for accuracy and update as needed.
• Work closely with IISD’s digital experts; use analytics software to monitor, assess, and report on website traffic and engagement with our digital content, advising where appropriate on opportunities to improve.
• In collaboration with IISD’s design team, manage the production of digital content, including social media cards, posters, invitations, infographics, presentations, and other materials; retouch and resize images as needed.

Internal Processes

• Ensure brand coherence and compliance with existing IISD communications practices.
• Manage internal processes related to the development and dissemination of communications products, including coordinating feedback from internal and external stakeholders, approvals, and copy editing.
• Maintain strong relationships with program staff to gain a deeper understanding of their research and policy objectives. Provide editorial guidance to IISD’s experts so they have the necessary skills to communicate their work.

Qualifications

Qualifications (Essential)

• A university-level degree in journalism, communications, public relations, or another related social science discipline. Alternatively, a degree in international relations, public policy, economics, or a related discipline combined with communications-related experience can also be considered.
• Ability to travel internationally for communications support as needed (potentially 1–2 times a year).

Knowledge and Experience (Essential)

• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in journalism, public relations, or organizational communications.
• Experience working with think tanks or other research-intensive organizations is an asset, especially focusing on international development, climate change, and/or sustainable development, particularly in the Global South.
• Experience with communication planning and strategy, involving the development and execution of key messages, social media campaigns, and media outreach, is an asset.
• Experience and comfort working with online content management systems and website monitoring, especially WordPress and Google Analytics 4.
• Knowledge of climate change adaptation, environmental peacebuilding, and nature-based solutions is considered a strong asset.
• Computer literacy, including proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Sharepoint, etc.) and knowledge of media monitoring platforms and e-mail marketing systems.

Skills (Essential)

• Strong writing and editing skills for different purposes, including social media posts, long-form articles, op-eds, report summaries, and promotional material.
• Photography and video editing skills are considered strong assets.
• Experience working with Adobe Creative Cloud apps, such as InDesign, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro, is considered a strong asset.
• Experience with Zoom, MS Teams, and other meeting platforms is an asset.
• Ability to understand and clearly communicate complicated information around the major themes within the Resilience Program.
• Fluent in written and spoken English; French and Spanish language skills are a strong asset.

Behavioural Competencies (Essential)

• Results-focused, able to work quickly and accurately to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of the results.
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to work comfortably across different cultures, be inclusive and positive, and communicate effectively.
• Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Strong attention to detail, especially in written work.
• Ability to work independently and with a team.

Location:  Ottawa or Toronto (hybrid or remote work also considered)

Term: Full-time

Salary: $52,900–$62,900 (based on experience)

Start date: As soon as possible

Closing date: October 22, 2023

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR. Please include the following:

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

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Canada.

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

IISD has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy that requires employees who are required or choose to be at an office or participate in in-person team events or in-person meetings/events to be fully vaccinated. Anyone unable to be fully vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or disability that prevents them from being fully vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation.

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.