Communications Officer

The Position

The Communications Officer will help implement the communications strategy for the overall Resilience Program, focusing primarily on the portfolios of nature-based climate solutions, ecosystem-based adaptation, adaptation in Canada, and our activities on environment, conflict, and peacebuilding. They will lead the communications work of the Nature for Climate Adaptation Initiative (NCAI) and occasionally contribute to the communications activities related to the National Adaptation Plan (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—particularly for the NCAI and other nature and peacebuilding work.
• Cooperating with internal and external stakeholders, they will ensure that communications timelines are adhered to, along with monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the impact of these communications plans.
• In consultation with the Resilience team’s communications manager, help shape new communications strategies for those projects that fall under the communications officer’s areas of responsibility.
• Regularly share program work and collaborate with IISD’s core communications team to ensure alignment on key messaging and amplify programmatic expertise in broader, organization-wide communications activities. Contribute to the shared editorial calendar.
• Communicate with IISD’s donors to show how their support has made an impact.
• Track current events related to specific workstreams and communicate these to colleagues, identifying opportunities for further work and/or public engagement.

Public Engagement and Social Media

• Help inform and execute an email outreach strategy.
• Conduct event-related outreach and oversee post-event follow-up (i.e., uploading webinar recordings to YouTube, sending thank-you emails, etc.). This includes events for the NCAI.
• Inform the social media strategy and manage the Resilience Program’s Twitter account, ensuring posts are relevant, timely, engaging, and targeted to the needs and interests of key audiences. This includes drafting and/or editing posts, organizing promotions, tracking trending topics and hashtags, and regularly monitoring the feeds of partner organizations to identify opportunities for cross-promotion.

Media Outreach

• Engage with journalists and influencers, with a focus on relationship-building, to secure targeted coverage for IISD research and initiatives in key media outlets in target geographies and policy areas. Build and maintain media lists.
• 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, letters to the editor, etc.
• Facilitate media training for IISD experts in advance of speaking to the press.
• Conduct media monitoring on a regular basis for assigned areas of work. Provide reports on media coverage and digital performance using Cision, Google Analytics, and other available platforms.

Digital Strategy

• Working within content management systems such as Drupal or WordPress, upload and edit content for websites, adhering to IISD guidelines. This includes the NCAI website.
• Drafting and assisting program staff in developing articles, blog posts, stories, infographics, and videos that make IISD's work accessible to non-expert audiences.
• Review program-relevant pages on IISD websites and micro-sites for timeliness and update as needed.
• Working closely with IISD’s deputy communications director and other relevant colleagues, 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 Twitter cards, posters, invitations, simple infographics, presentations, and other conference or workshop materials. Retouch and resize images as needed.
• Assist in finding and selecting images to communicate IISD’s work in publications, infographics, videos, websites, and other materials/platforms.

Internal Processes

• Ensure brand coherence and compliance with existing and new 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 in order to translate their work into key messages and strategies that resonate with priority audiences. Provide editorial guidance to IISD’s experts so they have the necessary skills to communicate their work through different channels and act as public ambassadors for IISD.
• Continuously discover and share new industry best practices to maximize efficiency.

Qualifications

Qualifications (Essential)

• A university-level degree in journalism, communications, public relations, or other 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 5 years of relevant professional experience in policy-focused 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, Microsoft 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: Winnipeg (hybrid or remote work also considered)

Term: Full-time

Salary: $48,100 – $57,200 (based on experience)

Start date: As soon as possible

Closing date: May 19, 2023, at 4:00 PM EST

All submissions must be in English.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR.  Please apply to only one posting, as this role is posted to multiple cities.

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

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 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 2SLGBTQ+ to apply for the position.