Communications Specialist II, Climate Program

Job Summary
In this role as a Communications Specialist, your primary responsibility is to devise and implement communications strategies that further in-country efforts to enhance climate action and raise ambition with a special focus on African countries and help build a global narrative that highlights the momentum and opportunity behind climate action. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Strategic Communications, a key part of this responsibility is to ensure that communications are strategically aligned with engagement and research efforts. 

This position is remote due to Covid-19, but you will be based at WRI’s office in Washington, DC once restrictions have lifted.

Job Responsibilities
Writing & Editing (40%)

• Draft and edit communications products including op-eds, blogs, newsletters, social media and website content, briefings
• Edit research products to ensure narrative coherence and broader programmatic alignment
• Support NCE Global Commissioners, and other high-level champions, on other communications requests

Messaging (30%)

• Lead country and region-specific messaging for high-level champions, soliciting inputs from key experts
• Ensure messaging is aligned and up to date across relevant projects and product

Project Management (15%)

• Ensure relevant projects and discreet team efforts are on track and delivering collectively identified products and actions
• Set and manage key meetings in a way that usefully advances priorities

Communications Strategy (10%)

• Lead Climate Program’s communications strategy and implementation for the regional Africa program

Fundraising (5%)

• Give inputs into funder proposals and reports to ensure that communications activities are well recognized and funded
• Provide editing assistance for coherence and succinctness of key funding proposals

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a related field or with substantial professional work to demonstrate the relevance of that experience
• Two+ years of communications experience, ideally within a nonprofit or international organization
• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills
• Detail-oriented and highly organized
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under pressure with tight deadlines
• Flexible and capable of working with minimal direction and supervision
• Strong computer skills and experience in Microsoft suite, database management, cloud- and web-based communications
• Commitment to WRI’s mission and values
• Experience in and understanding of Africa context preferred
• US work authorization is required for this position. We are unable to provide work sponsorship for this opportunity.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. 

Potential Salary: $53,000 – $68,000. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

Program Overview
The Global Climate Program seeks to identify barriers, develop the tools, and advise policy makers in the pursuit of advancing transformative solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Stabilizing the global climate is the greatest challenge of the 21st century, but there are approaches and technologies available now to overcome this global challenge. WRI’s Global Climate Program engages businesses, policymakers and civil society at the local, national and international levels to help communities adapt to the unavoidable impacts of human-induced climate change and mitigate the severity of future impacts. This is pursued through collective international action, national climate policies, business and economic approaches, and more. The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, and its flagship project The New Climate Economy (NCE), were set up to help governments, businesses, and society to make better-informed decisions on how to achieve economic prosperity and development while also addressing climate change. The Global Commission is made up of 28 former heads of government, former finance ministers, and leaders in the fields of economics and business from around the world. Commissioners guide the NCE work and actively engage with a range of government and business leaders to disseminate the messages widely through the media and high-profile events.

WRI Overview 

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. 

We are passionate. We value our diversity of interests, skills and backgrounds. We have a flexible work environment. And we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of people. Our shared ideals are at the core of our approach. They include: integrity, innovation, urgency, independence and respect. 

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges, and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.  

We have been growing rapidly: our staff has doubled in size over the past 5 years and our operating budget is now $150 million. Founded in 1982, WRI has a global staff of 1,000+ people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.   

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.