Senior Communications Associate, Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration

Institution Overview

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, non-profit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. Our work focuses on building sustainable and livable cities and working towards a low carbon economy. Through research, analysis, and recommendations, World Resources Institute puts ideas into action to build transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-being.

WRI India has the capacity to convene key stakeholders, and forge strategic partnerships with governments, business, foundations, civil society organizations, institutes and NGOs, to scale-up solutions that can bring game-changing results for the sustainable management of natural resources in India.

Position Overview:

WRI India’s Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration program aims to inform India’s transition towards sustainable food and land use systems. Our work focuses on developing strategies around protecting, maintaining and restoring forest and agricultural landscapes to secure livelihoods of 700 million people directly dependent on forests and agriculture and strengthen India’s environmental well-being. WRI India is seeking an exceptional candidate for our work to support our vision. In this role, the candidate will enhance restoration and food and land use communications to audiences worldwide. You will design and implement communications that increase the influence of our research, analysis and engagement with decision-makers who are shaping the restoration and food and land use sector in India. As a key member of the team, you will work closely with a broader set of communications professionals working in different locations.

Working closely with members of the WRI India’s Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration Programme, you will help bring out compelling stories and messages drawn from our work that show how India’s transition towards sustainable food and land use systems goes together with equitable and rapid, poverty-reducing growth. These might be in the form of blogs, op-eds or narratives designed for social media platforms. 

Your work will be to further develop and communicate the Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration Programme’s strategy to inform, assist and catalyze India’s transition towards sustainable food and land use systems is just, considers social inclusion and gender aspects, and implementation of landscape restoration interventions that creates livelihoods and green jobs, for socio-economic development in rural and remote India.

We seek a communications professional with excellent writing and messaging skills, a strong knowledge of video and audio scripting and production, and a willingness and ability to travel within the country, as needed. A history of working successfully with national and local environmental and development organizations and international institutions is strongly preferred.

Incorporating a deep understanding of India’s development opportunities and extensive professional communications experience in such activities as strategy design and implementation, online communications, social media and digital marketing, event design and media relations is essential.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead implementation of a communications plan to raise the visibility of WRI India’s Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration program efforts locally, nationally, and internationally. A successful candidate will be a self-starter who will identify communications opportunities, develop content, and ensure timely dissemination across appropriate channels.
• Write and edit communication materials such as op-eds, blog posts, press releases, advisories, statements, and targeted emails.
• Prepare high quality briefing materials and talking points on key themes of our areas of focus.
• Support the work of the WRI India communications team to cross-promote content, ensure the right use of templates and design in keeping with WRI’s brand guidelines.
• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar and calendar of events relevant to the program; create graphics, infographics, and other digital content and create and maintain a repository of images that can be used across a variety of communications and research products.
• Work with the core communications team to create, curate and update a social media calendar that effectively highlights the work done by the Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration team.
• Proactively work with the core communications team to extend WRI India’s reach with media outlets that cover India, including through traditional and social media platforms.
• Work with the design team to ensure timely production and delivery of communication materials.
• Write scripts for videos and podcasts and coordinate with creators for their production.
• Establish, track and evaluate metrics of success, and adapt strategies to grow and improve outreach results over time
• Increase recognition among thought leaders and decision makers that nature based solutions like landscape restoration, sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices and approaches are effective means for reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, and achieving just and resilient societies
• Develop and maintain media lists (traditional as well as new media + social media influencers)
• Work with the core communications team to write and deliver media pitches to editors and reporters working in text and broadcast, including radio and TV.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of full-time relevant professional experience working in journalism, public relations, communications or policy on topics including landscape restoration, sustainable agricultural process, climate change, development, climate, or broader environmental issues.
• Articulate, versatile, highly skilled writer with professional writing experience and strong oral communications skills
• Proven ability to lead the planning, coordination, and execution of communications products, influence strategies, and audience targeting
• Evidence of sector-specific knowledge and experience related to landscape restoration, climate change, sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, water, gender, is preferred
• Master’s degree in journalism, communications, developmental studies, or a related field
• Understanding of Indian policy issues at the nexus of environment and development well as the institutional dynamics and key players in research, government, private sector, civil society and media.
• Robust list of established media contacts and networks in India (English and Regional Media) and leading international media outlets covering India
• Proven ability to lead coordination and delivery of communications strategies, messaging, audience targeting, media pitching and other outreach
• An understanding of the various social media platforms used by WRI India (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin) and the ability to create content based on platform-specific requirements.
• Demonstrable experience preparing written materials in English with a clear sense of how to communicate to diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in one or more Indian languages
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced office environment, both independently and as part of a global team across time zones
• Excellent inter-personal communication skills, including the ability to encourage collaboration with other programs, international offices, and partners
• Highly motivated, proactive work style and excellent organizational skills
• A proven track record of implementing effective communications that achieve results and amplify impact
• Strong commitment to WRI’s mission and values
• Ability to think creatively and collaboratively about all elements of communications work
• Adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and able to manage multiple deadlines and deliver high quality work products.

Duration: One year, term hire

Location: Delhi

Start date: At the earliest 

To Apply :

Only Qualified applicants should apply online at https://jobs.jobvite.com/wri/jobs. All applications must be submitted online through this career portal in order to be formally considered. 

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purpose. Finalized candidate will be required to take a writing/analytical test.

We believe in equal employment, it is our policy to recruit, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to caste, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual preference, parental status, or disability.

Learn more about our organization at www.wri.org.