Communications manager

Organization

Degrees Initiative

Department

Not Specified

Organization URL

Job Location Type

TELECOMMUTE

Job Location

Remote

Applicant Location Requirements

United Kingdom    

Application Deadline

August 10, 2024

The Degrees Initiative seeks a Communications Manager to be a part of a dynamic, expanding NGO working on climate change and development.

The Degrees Initiative is a UK-based NGO that builds the capacity of developing countries to evaluate solar radiation modification (SRM), a controversial proposal for reducing some impacts of climate change by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. Degrees is neutral on whether SRM should ever be used, but we believe that developing countries should be empowered to conduct their own research and to play a central role in SRM discussions. The initiative has been working in different forms for over a decade and our work receives worldwide coverage and widespread acclaim.

We seek a Communications Manager to work closely with the Degrees team, the researchers we support in the Global South, and our stakeholders around the world to further raise our profile – initially focusing on the specialist SRM expert community but over time expanding to the broader climate science and policy arena.

The right candidate will manage a multifaceted comms operation that will:

  • Promote the work and achievements of Degrees, especially by raising our public profile in the media;
  • Support and promote the Global South researchers whom we fund and their SRM research projects;
  • Promote an understanding of why Global South experts must be at the centre of SRM discussions;
  • Support the organisation’s engagement with diverse stakeholders across the globe;
  • Manage the Communications and Programmes Officer.

This role will not suit someone looking for structure and predictability but should be fun and interesting for a self-starter who enjoys shaping events in a rapidly evolving field.

Main responsibilities
Degrees is in expansion mode and operates in a controversial field, so the work will be varied and challenging. Within any given week the comms manager might have to, with the support of the Communications and Programmes Officer:

  • Support the CEO and Chief of Staff in planning communications and relevant stakeholder engagement;
  • Plan, create, and promote engaging content such as news articles, quarterly newsletters, videos, graphics, press releases, and social media — sometimes in response to internal and external developments;
    In particular, deliver strategic promotional and communications outputs for the forthcoming Degrees Global Forum taking place in South Africa in May 2025;
  • Monitor, engage, and develop relationships with journalists and commentators who write about SRM;
  • Track developments in the SRM public discourse;
  • Liaise with Degrees-funded researchers to promote them and their work, including sharing innovative stories about them, helping place their public-facing writings, producing briefing materials, and arranging and sometimes facilitating training activities;
  • Support the production of other communicative content, including the charity’s annual report, reports for existing funders, and other fundraising materials;
  • Engage and collaborate with stakeholders, including partner organisations;
  • Help prepare statements and presentations for the CEO;
  • Develop procedures and messaging for responding to developments and possible communication challenges;
  • Oversee communication infrastructure, including our website, newsletter, and social media accounts;
  • In particular, oversee a redevelopment of our website;
  • Track and report communication analytics.
Special Requirements
Candidate profile We do not expect candidates to have expertise in SRM or experience working on the topic — they will get to work with some of the world’s leading SRM experts as part of the day-to-day and they will be able to learn on the job. The ideal candidate will have: – Ten or more years of experience in a science communications and/or public policy environment, producing a stream of accurate and compelling content targeted at specialist audiences; – Excellent writing and proofreading skills, an eye for detail, and a strategic and creative mindset; – Experience with a wide range of communications products and channels, as well as relevant digital skills (e.g. WordPress, Canva, MailChimp, photography); – Knowledge of climate science and policy; – An ability to plan and manage oversee the work of colleagues and partners, potentially under tight time constraints; – A collaborative approach to teamwork (previous line management experience is desirable); – Experience in mapping, tracking, and analysing the media and stakeholder landscapes around a given issue; – Willingness to work in a controversial and fast-evolving field, grounded in our values of impartiality, commitment to mitigation, inclusiveness, and academic excellence; – An ability to explain difficult concepts with patience and understanding; – Strong interpersonal skills, including across different cultures and geographies; – Readiness and eagerness to learn fast and hit the ground running.

Apply online or via email

jobs@degrees.ngo