Senior Communications Officer, International Energy Transition

About the IISD

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 300 experts 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.

This position is based within the IISD Energy Program (www.iisd.org/energy), a diverse and dynamic team of more than 40 experts based in IISD’s Geneva, Winnipeg, and Ottawa offices, as well as remotely in India, Indonesia, South Africa, and other countries.

At an international level, our work program delivers cutting-edge research and practical policy support for energy policy reforms in developed and developing countries, including shifting public financial flows from fossil fuels to clean energy, and implementing commitments to go beyond fossil fuels in a socially just way.

At the national level our approach is hands-on, through country-level research and outreach in Canada, India, Indonesia, and South Africa.

About the Position

The world is only at the early stages of transitioning away from fossil fuels — yet this transition is now unstoppable. The question isn’t if it will happen, but how to ensure it is just, orderly, and economically sound.

IISD’s Energy Program is shaping that “how” across three interconnected tracks:

• Finance & Economic Development — shifting public finance, development planning, and investment incentives away from fossil fuels toward clean energy and resilient economies.
• Energy Systems — supporting governments and institutions to transition away from fossil fuels, enhance their energy security, and scale affordable, secure clean power.
• Climate Mitigation — ensuring transitions deliver the emissions reductions required for global security and a 1.5°C-aligned future.

Our work combines trusted policy analysis with high-level engagement across international forums, processes, and institutions (UNFCCC, Energy Ministerials, IMF/WB Annuals, CFMCA), and leading reform coalitions such as COFFIS. We bring evidence into rooms where billion-dollar decisions are made — and drive collaboration to unlock political will.

We are seeking a Senior Communications Officer who wants to operate at the intersection of policy influence and global storytelling — helping to accelerate the world’s move away from fossil fuels with clarity, credibility, and impact.

The successful candidate can also expect to regularly collaborate with a large range of external stakeholders, including other civil society organizations and networks, governments, and media.

Their key areas of responsibility will include but not be limited to:

Creative Content

• Plan, prioritize, and coordinate production of a wide array of communications materials, including press releases, articles, social media posts, newsletters, and other outputs. This includes drafting and editing content.
• In consultation with the Energy Program’s Communications Manager, create and lead implementation of communications strategies and plans for major projects, high-profile or politically sensitive work, and/or secretariats. This may include flagship reports and/or global campaigns.
• In collaboration with IISD’s design team, manage the production of digital content, including social media cards, posters, videos, invitations, simple infographics, presentations, and other conference or workshop materials.

Leadership

• Play an active role in shaping new communications strategies at the program or institute level.
• Proactively work with IISD Energy’s Director, International Strategy, and Communications Manager to ensure strategic prioritization of creative content for key impact opportunities, and support researchers and advocacy colleagues in making their messages resonate with key audiences.
• Implement a proactive planning process that optimizes communication workflows and supports engagement with key media, partners, and networks, seeking timely inputs from the IISD Energy’s international team.
• Regularly share IISD Energy’s international projects pipeline 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.
• Proactively monitor media landscape and public and policy discourse related to the transition away from fossil fuels. Identify opportunities for high-impact communications and/or expanded thought leadership leveraging IISD Energy expertise.

Newsletters, Events, and Social Media

• Oversee the production of IISD Energy’s Carbon Minefields newsletter and support the production of IISD Energy’s monthly newsletter by coordinating the drafting of editorials and ensuring the content is engaging and timely.
• Contribute content for all applicable social media accounts, ensuring posts are relevant, timely, engaging, and targeted to the needs and interests of key audiences. This may include drafting and/or editing posts, organizing promotions, tracking trending topics/hashtags, and regularly monitoring the feeds of peer organizations to identify opportunities for cross-promotion.

Media Outreach

• Establish trusted relationships with journalists to secure targeted coverage for IISD 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 email pitches for reporters and editors. Draft or support other staff in writing and placing op-eds.
• Lead or facilitate media training for IISD experts in advance of speaking to the press.

About the Successful Applicant

We’re looking for a strong communicator and a structured strategist — someone who can both deconstruct and synthesize technical research and turn it into compelling, accessible content. The ideal candidate will also help shape content ideas and formats, enabling the research team to communicate proactively and stay ahead of emerging conversations.

They will have significant experience with leading international media, whether as a journalist or through successfully driving high-impact coverage for civil society, government, or international organizations. They will be adept at shaping narratives and developing communication strategies that translate complex policy and research into clear, compelling messages for government audiences and the broader public.

In addition, they will bring strong editorial instincts, excellent project-management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across teams to deliver timely, high-quality communications products.

The successful applicant will have:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g., communications, journalism, political science, economics, environmental or development studies, etc.).

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant and progressive work experience in journalism or communications/media relations.

• Experience in public policy, finance, climate or energy-related communications or journalism is a must.

• Confident and engaging communication skills, including an understanding of different communications approaches for policy-oriented and public audiences.

• Excellent oral and writing skills in English and a track record of written products in English. The ability to work (read, write, speak) in other languages will be considered an advantage.

• Excellent organizational, planning, and project management skills.

• Experience working in or with emerging and developing market economies will be considered a strong advantage.

For more details on what we are looking for in our candidates, please refer to the IISD competencies on our website.

Location: Berlin, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, The Hague, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Winnipeg, or Lisbon.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for locations where they expect to be based. We strongly encourage candidates from the Global South to apply.

Starting Salary: Competitive and depends on location

Type of engagement: 80-100% FTE staff position, depending on location

Application deadline: December 10, 2025 23:59 CEST

Start date: Immediate opportunity

Application procedure: 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 (optional)
• All submissions must be in English.

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

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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