Posted on November, 29 2024

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime.

All around the world, people are waking up to the deepening crisis of nature loss. A growing realisation that nature is our life-support system. And that nobody will be spared from the impacts of its loss. Here at WWF, we are helping to tackle this enormous global challenge. Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from HR and finance to advocacy and conservation science. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us create a better future for people and wildlife.

What we do

We are an independent conservation organisation, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to business and government, we are part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. Together, we seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainable.

1 MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT

• Enable the WWF mission through driving a strong, inspiring, compelling, and strategic communications approach to ensure and support conservation impact in line with the strategic priorities of WWF International.
• To drive strategic communications to the Network, Governing bodies, International Secretariat and leadership in support of WWF International strategic priorities.
• To drive the strategic alignment on articulating consistent external positions on emerging issues across the Network.
• To ensure a coherent ‘One WWF, One Voice’ by integrating and supporting the communications, media and brand functions across WWF International and supporting these services to the network (offices in over 90 countries).
• To engage targeted audiences across the globe to accelerate conservation impact, influence decision-makers and to build the WWF brand.
• To facilitate and coordinate the development and alignment to a global communications strategy.
• To provide common technology platforms Network-wide to enable communication with key audiences.
• To provide a Centre of Excellence to the Network and convene the Communications Community in terms of communications practice.

2 MAJOR FUNCTIONS

• Manages and supports global brand reputation through strategic communication, monitoring, and management of sensitive and complex issues.
• Active response: works with colleagues across the WWF Network and Communications Community to coordinate and align messaging, to coordinate and align messaging at pace, responding quickly and accurately to developing issue and evaluating outcomes and results.
• Proactive reputation building: working with teams to identify opportunities to deepen understanding of WWF’s work, as well as the wider complexities and challenges of conservation work.

3 Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing the life cycle and coordination of communications actions to address and resolve assigned issues, including developing and implementing stakeholder plans, materials and guidance.
• Act swiftly during issues or crises that may develop (personnel, technological, organizational, natural disasters, misinformation et al), producing communications responses to support the organizational management of such issues.
• Stakeholder communication focused on communicating and collaborating with internal teams, including senior leadership, legal, operations and communications, to ensure unified messaging.
• Reputational analysis and reporting involving monitoring external issues and developments of global importance which stand to affect WWF’s operating environments, providing insights for stakeholder opportunities and emerging issues.
• Provide support and guidance to the Network offices to build issues management capacity, manage risk, and ensure maximum message alignment in line with agreed communications priorities.
• Manage a library of issues management content including existing and evolving cases and network positions to ensure sustained accuracy and as a chief reference tool.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders (such as the key conservation ‘Practice’ areas, corporate partnerships team, key programme leads and relevant communication focal points) to support the development of stakeholder strategies that reflect and respond to risk, and work towards our objectives using news and creative thought leadership content.
• Provide input into communications strategies and implement as required by the Heads of Media, Digital and Network Comms teams.

4 PROFILE

Required Qualifications:

Proven success in developing and implementing innovative issues management responses, including direct experience in media and stakeholder communications.

Knowledge and experience of the not-for-profit sector.

Bachelor’s degree or relevant professional experience in communications, either in-house or consultancy setting.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Proven success record in stakeholder, media relations and issues management strategies, as well as good knowledge in social media and digital influence arenas.
• Experience of working in complex / international / highly matrixed operations.
• Proficiency in driving consensus and problem-solving with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to craft clear, concise, accurate and persuasive messages whether to address misinformation or inform proactive reputation building.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills – capable of writing high quality statements, comments, briefings, letters and other written materials (essential).
• Excellent written and spoken English. Fluency in other languages that are widely used at an international level is an advantage, particularly Spanish or French.
• A strong team player, capable of collaborating cross-functionally and within an evolving environment.
• Ability to work as part of a team in a multicultural environment and prepared to undertake occasional international travel.
• Comfort and ability in managing a portfolio of multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Active listening, strategic thinking, creativity, tenacity, flexibility.
• Proficiency and curiosity in new technologies, formats and new trends in communications, journalism and public relations.
• Interest in conservation and environmental issues.
• Embraces the WWF mission and values of the organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.

5 WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

Executive Director Communications & Marketing, Head of Media Relations, Head of Network Communications, members of the Communications Community across the WWF Network, and relevant wider teams (Conservation, Compliance, Legal, Governance, Resource Mobilization, Country Office Management and programme staff).

External:

External partners and donors, media, communication agencies, and wider external stakeholder relationships as relevant e.g. other NGOs, thought leaders, event organizers, public/private organizations.

HOW TO APPLY

Only one single document can be uploaded through our platform. Upload your covering letter and CV as one file. We will not accept applications without CV and Covering Letter.

Deadline for applications: by 5 January 2025

Work permit restrictions may apply.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce. WWF promotes affirmative action to assure equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In the administration of its employment policies and practices, WWF does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, matriculation, political affiliation.