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.
Location: Rome, Italy
Contract type: Fixed term
Duration: 2 years
Background
WWF has identified the Mediterranean region as a global priority place where ecological integrity must be conserved to contribute to a more secure and sustainable future for all. Together with 5 WWF offices in the region, WWF Mediterranean has launched the Mediterranean Initiative, a common strategy aiming at scaling WWF conservation efforts in the basin.
The level of protection of the Mediterranean Sea is largely inadequate. In particular, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are too few, not ecologically representative of the Mediterranean biodiversity and not effectively managed. The Mediterranean is also a critical source of food security, well-being and livelihoods for millions of fishermen and local people. Small-scale fisheries (SSF) directly employ over 137 thousand fishers and generate jobs for another 150 thousand people. They represent more than 50% of the whole fishing sector in the region. At the same time, 85% of Mediterranean fish stocks are overfished, while certain species of high economic and commercial value are in an alarming state due to over-exploitation. The WWF’s Mediterranean Marine Initiative is engaging actors involved in protection and management of marine resources towards a threshold where marine biodiversity conservation becomes a political, economic and social priority and MPAs and co-management approach to fisheries become tools of choice to ensure sustainable management of marine ecosystems.
The Mediterranean Marine Initiative supports several MPAs and fishers communities in 10 Mediterranean countries (Albania, Algeria, Croatia, France, Italy, Greece, Libya, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey) to become effective and fully operational, including committed and engaged stakeholders organised in co-management systems, management plans, and financing mechanisms to secure long-term operations and sustainability. The Unit also supports local NGOs, fishery organisations, and MPA authorities to ensure that political commitment is maintained, that management, monitoring and enforcement are appropriate, and that adequate funding and staff is allocated to manage coastal and marine resources.
The Communications Officer will implement communications activities across the WWF marine project portfolio. He/she will produce communications tools and coordinate their implementation across national offices targeting a diversity of audiences (external international institutions, governments, investors, local authorities, fishermen, local communities, donors and partners, and internal WWF network offices) to gain support for Mediterranean Sea conservation and sustainability models implementation.
He/She will also support the Regional Team at WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative in ensuring the program meets deadlines and project objectives, and in developing project proposals and running internal and external events.
Main communication responsibilities:
- Supports the development and the implementation of communications strategies and activities.
- Produces communications products and actions according to the projects’ objectives: this includes developing media releases and social media material, following the development of publications (content and layout); updating the programme website; producing or following the production of video materials and the organisation of public events.
- Cross-checks messages and contents with the relevant WWF experts and ensures they are understood and appropriate for key target groups.
- Monitors media coverage; collects press coverage and social media analytics; analyses quantitative and qualitative results.
- Writes feature articles and short stories for the project’s web sites, newsletter and other media.
- Supports the production of the communications tools by collecting contents (e.g. figures, facts, news, stories, people for interviews, footage and pictures).
- Coordinates the collection of communication materials (products and monitoring data) for donor reporting.
Additional coordination responsibilities:
- Support the Regional Team in running efficiently including meeting deadlines, weekly updates, scheduling of MMI calls, CEO Board preparation.
- Organise and update the internal team drive.
- Support the preparation and development of project proposals including ESSF procedures.
- Organise/run local and international events.
Required skills and competencies:
- A University degree in communications/public relations/journalism or related field.
- At least 3 years of relevant work experience in communications or related fields.
- Working knowledge written and verbal (proficient – level C) of English.
- Good knowledge of another official language from the Mediterranean region is an advantage.
- Strong organisational skills.
- Capacity to translate sophisticated conservation, science and policy projects into compelling communications opportunities.
- Good experience in main communications fields – especially media, social media, visual communications (photos and videos) and campaigning.
- Capacity to manage tasks within multiple projects at the same time, while delivering on results.
- Ability to work proactively and efficiently with tight deadlines, while maintaining good work relationships in the face of conflicting demands.
- Result-oriented person with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to work in an international environment and engage with individuals and organisations from a variety of disciplines and cultural backgrounds.
- Identifies and aligns with the core values of the WWF organisation: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration.
How to apply
Please send your CV and cover letter in a single PDF file to applications@wwfmedpo.org , indicating in the subject “Application – Communication Officer, Mediterranean Marine Initiative”.
Deadline for applications: by 21 May 2023
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.
