Communications and Engagement Director at World Resources Institute (WRI)

What you will do:

Position WRI Africa as a thought leader

• Help elevate the profile of WRI’s Africa Director, leaders and experts and provide strategic communication guidance to WRI’s Africa Director and other staff.
• Use communications and engagement to contribute to the success of WRI’s strategy in Africa and advance the institute’s mission and strengthen its reputation.
• Strengthen the brand identity of WRI Africa with all stakeholders and increase the visibility of our work with government partners, knowledge and implementation partners, donors, peers, and other relevant audiences.

Manage media relations

• Build and nurture long-term relationships with media and other stakeholders in large media hubs in Africa.
• Connect African reporters with WRI experts and coordinate media opportunities with the communication team worldwide, distribute WRI reports and analyses, host media briefings, and respond to breaking news.

Enhance WRI Africa’s social media presence

• Write and edit content for social media
• Design campaigns around WRI Africa work to increase visibility and engagement
• Regularly track and evaluate metrics of success and adapt strategies to grow and improve

Write/edit content for various platforms

• Draft and edit communications materials including articles and web content.
• Work with WRI research, program, and communications teams within WRI Africa to ensure our research is communicated to our key audiences in a relevant, timely, and understandable manner.

What you will need:

• Education: You have a completed Masters's degree in communications, journalism, public policy, history, politics, economics, environmental studies or a related field, with experience or established interest in sustainable development and climate action.
• Experience: Minimum of 15+ years of full-time relevant professional experience working in public relations or communications on development, climate, energy, forests, or broader environmental issues; experience as a journalist is welcome.
• International experience or prior work in a global non-profit or multilateral organization with 5+ years in a leadership position is required.
• Understanding of African policy issues at the nexus of global development and environment, as well as the institutional dynamics and key players in African research, government, business, trade associations, and media.
• You have established media contacts in leading African media outlets and a good sense of the media landscape.
• You have an understanding of Africa’s development opportunities, the political economy of the African continent, and development partners.
• You have experience preparing written materials in English with a clear sense of how to communicate to diverse audiences.
• You have experience with coordination and delivery of communications strategies, messaging, audience targeting, media pitching, and other outreach.
• Experience in successfully managing social media profiles and integrated campaigns.
• Languages: You are proficient in English. Proficiency in French is desirable.
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

Potential Salary:

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. WRI offers a competitive remuneration and benefits package.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Long-term commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure