Communications Manager – Media

JOB DESCRIPTION

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES

• As Communications Manager – Media you will take the organisational lead on proactively generating positive media coverage around the globally critical issue of trade in wild species. It will be your role to develop strong relationships with journalists working in this sector, and work with colleagues internally to put together compelling story ideas to pitch to media outlets across the world, in support of the 2030 strategy.
• You will be an expert storyteller, able to spot stories within complex projects. You will use your proven experience of working across the breadth of news – from utilising the daily news agenda, to horizon scanning and spotting trends to find opportunities for TRAFFIC to tell its stories. You will take organisational responsibility for proactively using the media to raise the profile of TRAFFIC’s work enabling sustainable and legal trade in wild species, preventing biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
• You will need to work closely and sensitively with TRAFFIC staff across the world, helping them tell their stories in ways which comply with partner, donor and other stakeholder requirements.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Media

• Lead on developing and implementing TRAFFIC’s media strategy with appropriate prioritisation aligned to organisational priorities around fundraising and advocacy
• Proactively build and cultivate a network of journalists interested in illegal / unsustainable wildlife trade, with a focus on key TRAFFIC hubs and priority areas
• Be the primary contact for incoming media enquiries; prioritise and respond appropriately
• Take proactive steps to stay abreast of developments in the media landscape around nature and conservation, and be able to optimise opportunities for telling TRAFFIC’s story
• Spot stories and story opportunities within complex projects; turn these into media stories by bringing technical information to life by finding stories of impact and human interest.
• Proactively pitch these stories to appropriate outlets, providing supporting assets to enhance pickup of stories
• Identify and write clear, compelling news stories for our own website and other channels as needed, liaising with partners, donors and other stakeholders to ensure compliance
• Work with wider Communications team to develop a suite of Flagship Stories, highlighting a range of TRAFFIC’s work which can be repeatedly used in communication and fundraising materials
• Come up with creative new ways of telling our stories
• Provide media training and support to staff
• Build staff story-telling capacity
• Review news coverage and provide regular reports on media coverage from TRAFFIC’s media monitoring service Meltwater
• Work with the Director of Communications and the wider team to identify opportunities and develop the organisation’s brand.

Programme interface

• Be the primary point of contact within Comms team for particular project teams, as requested by Director of Communications, advising on communications and story-telling opportunities throughout the duration of the project
• Advise on appropriate media outreach for both TRAFFIC’s core communication strategy and for individual projects as required.
• Work closely with members of the policy, influence and analysis teams to translate technical conclusions into digestible and impactful positions and/or statements.

Communications Support

• Line-manage the Communications Assistant
• Participate in delivering the wider Communications Strategy
• Support other members of the Communications Team as needed
• Cover for the Director of Communications in her absence
• Work closely with the fundraising team to support their work

Partnership

• Maintain close collaboration with communication focal points of WWF and IUCN
• Maintain close collaboration and dialogue with communication focal points of other TRAFFIC partners, especially within the Cambridge Conservation Initiative
• Adopt a collaborative approach to working in partnership with other organisations in order to achieve TRAFFIC’s mission

REQUIREMENTS

Essential:

• Educated to degree level; a postgraduate qualification or in journalism, communications or similar is ideal
• At least five years’ experience of working as a journalist, or in a lead media function within an agency or in-house comms team
• A deep awareness and interest in the global news agenda, and how TRAFFIC can optimise emerging trends in the media landscape
• Demonstrable excellent writing and story-telling skills, including writing for a non-technical audience
• Strong computer literacy skills, including with electronic publishing, and social media channels
• Expertise in monitoring and evaluation, using media monitoring services and creating coverage reports
• A strong team player, with the ability to manage own workload efficiently
• Experience of crisis management and handling difficult media questions
• Complete fluency in English. Other languages are an advantage
• A high level of organisational skill and attention to detail
• Ability to travel internationally as needed
• A commitment to the mission and values of TRAFFIC

Source: https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=11009&lang=en