Communications Specialist

Job Highlight

The Communications Specialist leads the development and implementation of ICAT’s global communications strategy, enhancing its visibility and impact through high-quality content, media engagement, and digital outreach. The role ensures consistent and strategic messaging across platforms while managing multi-channel communications, including website, social media, events, and partnerships. Acting as a key advisor to leadership and stakeholders, the incumbent translates complex technical information into clear and compelling narratives while overseeing communications projects and external support.

Role Purpose

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the ICAT Director, the Communications Specialist leads the development and delivery of communications activities to enhance the visibility, positioning and impact of ICAT. The incumbent contributes to communication planning, content creation, media engagement, digital outreach, and knowledge sharing, ensuring consistent, high-quality messaging across platforms. The role supports the ICAT Secretariat and Director, supervises a communications intern, engages external communications support and works collaboratively with teams and partners to ensure communications are strategic, integrated and aligned with ICAT’s goals.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Managing ICAT’s External communications:

Managing all ICAT external communications, including the planning of all communication products, communication aspects of event and processes to develop ICAT’s messaging;Managing and monitoring the ICAT editorial calendar to ensure there is a constant flow of news and content for ICAT’s channels;Leading the content preparation for ICAT, ensuring quality, alignment with messaging, and sound drafting;Supporting and reviewing the drafting of material to ensure that key messages and content used in outreach material, statements by the ICAT Director and presentations highlight ICAT offers, achievements and impact;Leading the preparation of outreach material, such as regular newsletters, flyers, brochures, power-point presentations, etc.;Preparing outreach activities at key global and regional events, ensuring visibility and engagement with target audiences;Leading the preparation of ICAT webinars together with the substantive lead within the ICAT Secretariat to promote ICAT, in particular its tools and methodologies;Follow-up with partners through the planning and execution of integrated multi-channel communication (website, social media, email marketing, webinars, side events to global climate conferences, etc.);Advising on appropriate communication channels, dissemination methods and media such as video, print, web/online media, traditional media, and social media, among others, to effectively communicate key messages to specific stakeholders;Developing and maintaining ICAT branding guidelines for ICAT partners ensuring these are in line with the ICAT donor agreements and UNOPS corporate requirements;Managing timely response to external information requests;Preparing media releases and liaising with media for interviews, identifying opportunities and pitching stories as needed;Liaising with communications colleagues in the United Nations, especially the UNFCCC secretariat and UNOPS, to keep aligned with system-wide communications and campaigns and exchange information;Supporting partnership and relationships management with other initiatives and organizations;Supporting donor relationship management, by developing donor outreach material, advising on the fund-raising strategy and support its implementation;

Website:

Leading the content preparation for ICAT website ensuring quality and alignment with main messaging;Ensure the ICAT website is kept up to date, and functional;Initiate upload of content to the ICAT website;Review the quality of the website and use website analytics to assess and improve the website as an ICAT channel;

Social media:

Leading the preparation and implementation of an annual social media calendar. The calendar will ensure ICAT has a range of material to maintain its social media presence;Drafting or reviewing relevant content for Twitter and LinkedIn, and social media posts;Supporting the planning, implementation and assessment of social media campaigns, often in conjunction with ICAT’s partners;Following relevant content on Twitter and LinkedIn, alerting ICAT Secretariat colleagues when required;Use social media analytics to assess and improve performance and use of channels.

Management of retainers, vendors and consultants:

Managing communications retainers and interns;Managing communications projects as needed, liaising with colleagues and coordinating with external providers, including writers and editors, to uphold high editorial and quality standards;Guiding in the scoping of copyediting and other communications-related projects, including estimating the cost and timeline.

Education Requirements

Required

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in journalism, communications, public information, business administration, management, social sciences, political science or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience ORMaster’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required

Required

Experience Requirements

Relevant experience is defined as professional experience at the international level in communications, media strategy, programme management, policy support, journalism, public information, or related fields.Experience in writing talking points for senior or high-level officials within strict deadlines is required.Experience in social media and monitoring impact is required.Experience in website management is required.

Desired

Strong journalistic writing skills from experience working in a media environment, studying, or on-the-job training is a strong advantageAbility to translate technical information and communicate it clearly is an asset