IUCN HQ Library serves as the unique repository of IUCN publications and reports and also holds a wealth of conservation-related material in its physical collections.

Thanks to a grant from the Arcadia Fund, IUCN aims to expand the digitization of our collection to increase the free, worldwide access to the conservation knowledge produced by IUCN.

Knowledge is at the centre of IUCN activities, the organisation holds a great wealth of theoretical and practical knowledge, which it uses to advise on how society should sustainably use natural resources and biodiversity. The Knowledge Management, Learning and Library Services Unit supports a strategic approach to knowledge management inside IUCN, with the aim to leverage that knowledge to influence current and future leaders to achieve the objective of a society which values and protects nature.

Part of its responsibilities is to ensure communication about IUCN’s Centre for Science and Knowledge (CSK) to give visibility to its achievements and to the knowledge developed through its activities.

The salary range for this position is between £31,000 to £35,000 p.a. depending on experience and skills.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITIION

The Programme Communications Officer supports the development and implementation of CSK communications strategies. He/she will coordinate communication actions for specific projects or initiatives, operate IUCN thematic unit’s digital media channels and other communication media, and produce strong content to enhance CSK’s position. The role therefore requires expertise in communication strategy development, and excellent storytelling and digital communication skills to produce and feature high quality content for impact.

Duties

Strategic Communication

• Accompany CSK teams to streamline a strategic approach in their communication.
• Develop strategic communication plans, and propose solutions for efficient implementation of those plans, building on knowledge of the conservation world, IUCN and other relevant networks and stakeholder groups.
• Coordinate communication actions, ensuring it is rolled out in timely fashion and meeting the needs of specific, prioritised target audiences.
• Serve as focal point for the Global Communication Unit (corporate communications), IUCN Regional Offices, IUCN Members, partners and press and media, for communication matters related to CSK.
• Collaborate with the Global Communication Unit to support the strategic objectives of IUCN corporate communications.
• Support CSK’s communication at major events, including the preparation and coordination for exhibitions.

Implementation of Strategic Communication Plans

• Work across CSK to source content and identify the most relevant or effective products, initiatives, or other content to profile.
• Use the content collected to draft compelling stories to be shared on CSK’s and IUCN’s corporate communication channels.
• Develop associated communication products in support of the implementation of the communication plans, such as web stories, policy briefs, blog stories, videos, social media packages, invitations, infographics, graphic design briefs.
• Create email campaigns or individual emails for internal and external audiences.
• Maintain relevant websites/pages and web knowledge platforms to ensure consistent, strategic and timely messaging on key themes

Social Media Engagement

• Coordinate, maintain and ensure quality of social media activity on assigned social media networks.
• Develop, implement, and help refine the targeted social media strategy for dedicated accounts and explore new ways for IUCN to reach its target audiences effectively through social media.
• Track press and social media coverage on assigned issues and develop mechanisms to assess impact.
• Monitor and evaluate the use and influence of knowledge products on target audience groups through digital software including Altmetrics, Hootsuite, and others.

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in a small organisation such as IUCN, staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them, but which are not part of their regular job description. Where any task becomes a regular part of an employee’s responsibilities, the job description will be changed in consultation with the employee and the Human Resources Management Group.