Back Communications Director, Restoration

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days/month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position in US, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the Program:

WRI’s Restoration program helps catalyze the restoration of forests, farmland and ecosystems. Our goal is to help restore ecosystem function, economic productivity, livelihoods and hope. The Restoration program is a flagship initiative of the Food, Land and Water program at WRI and works with governments, grassroots community organizations, entrepreneurs and international partners to inspire, enable, and implement restoration on degraded landscapes, returning them to economic and environmental productivity.

Alongside partners, WRI has identified more than two billion hectares of cleared and degraded forest and agricultural lands suitable for restoration – an area roughly twice the size of China. Using this data as a foundation, we work to promote restoration of degraded lands back into natural forests, agroforestry systems, or productive agriculture. Our programmatic work centers on ensuring that restoration practitioners have access to technical assistance, financing, enabling policies and robust monitoring systems. Embracing forest and landscape restoration will allow for a world in which the amount of forest cover grows while the productivity of existing agricultural land increases. Join us in shaping an inspiring, sustainable future across Africa, Brazil, India, and beyond

Job Highlight:

Reporting to Director, Forest Restoration Initiative, you will integrate equity into your work. You will develop and execute strategies that establish WRI as a global leader in landscape restoration. Leading a small communications team, you'll translate complex research and data into compelling content that shows how restoration, conservation, and sustainable production can work together to transform landscapes. You will drive media engagement, cultivate strategic media partnerships, and strengthen our brand identity across platforms and regions.

Working closely with WRI's Restoration Director and a network of 120+ experts, you'll demonstrate restoration's critical role in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and equity challenges worldwide. This role will employ both strategic thinking and hands-on content creation to advance WRI's mission and engage diverse audiences, from local communities to global policy makers.

What will you do:

Strategic Leadership (40%): -

• Develop and implement a global communication strategy that aligns with WRI’s broader restoration objectives and enhances its reputation as a restoration leader
• Design and streamline branding strategies to ensure coherence across WRI’s restoration products and services
• Create a comprehensive digital outreach strategy to disseminate restoration data and insights effectively
• Conduct stakeholder and audience mapping to inform communication strategies
• Collaborate across WRI’s programs, offices, and Core Communications team to integrate restoration into broader narratives on nature-based solutions, carbon offsets, and sustainable landscapes
• Manage communications risks for the Restoration team, especially through media strategy

  Communications & Media Engagement (30%): -

  • Ensure WRI’s restoration data, research, and insights reach diverse global audiences through strategic comms and media
  • Collaborate with researchers and external experts to shape public opinion and influence policy on land restoration and climate adaptation
  • Lead media engagement efforts, including crafting strategies, pitching stories, and responding to media inquiries
  • Develop partnerships to promote data-driven journalism and elevate reporting on land restoration issues
  • Oversee quality and consistency across all communication materials, including social media, blog posts, op-eds, speeches, and newsletters

    Executive Communications (20%): -

    📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

    ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

    • Lead communications support for the Restoration Director, including speech writing, presentation development, and social media strategy. Develop executive messaging that aligns with WRI's broader restoration narrative
    • Manage the Director's public presence through LinkedIn and other professional platforms
    • Craft talking points and briefing materials for external events and speaking engagements

      Project Management (10%):-

      • Supervise and mentor a small team of communications professionals, managing workflow and capacity
      • Track performance metrics to evaluate the impact of communication activities and ensure continuous improvement
      • Oversee budget planning, resource allocation, and implementation of communication initiatives

        What will you need:

        • Education: You have a completed BA or BS degree in a relevant field. Relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
        • Experience: You have a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in communications, with a focus on climate change or natural resource management.
        • Experience working internationally and cross-culturally
        • Experience in designing and implementing communication strategies with measurable outcomes
        • Experience demonstrating strong project management skills, including team leadership, budget management, and strategy development
        • Ability to translate complex data into compelling narratives for diverse audiences
        • Extensive media relations experience with global media titles and a robust network within relevant sectors. African media experience is a major plus
        • Languages: Verbal and written proficiency in English. Fluency in any of WRI's other core languages is a bonus (French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.)
        • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

          Potential Salary: US salary range is between 138,000 and 166,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

          How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of 10 January 2025. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of qualified applications.

          We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter in addition to your resume.

          You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

          What we offer:

          • 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
          • Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
          • Generous leave days that increase with tenure
          • Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution

            About Us:

            Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research