Communications Officer (m/f)

Description

• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has been working in Mozambique since 2001, and is currently implementing its second country strategy (2020-2030), whose goal is for WWF MCO to influence and ensure sound management and responsible stewardship and use of Mozambique’s unique biodiversity for the benefit of present and future generations. The strategy, underpinned by the fact that the wellbeing and prosperity of Mozambicans is dependent on nature and that, today, the rate of loss of this life-support system demands urgent and effective action, is anchored around three conservation pillars, namely: i) inclusive conservation of habitats and species; ii) sustainable and equitable livelihoods; and iii) greening the footprint of economic development. The strategy will focus on six priority landscapes and seascapes, namely, Lake Niassa & Lichinga Plateau, Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, Quirimbas Biosphere Reserve, Zambezi Delta, Primeiras & Segunda Environmental Protected Area, and Inhambane seascape
• Communication, both internal and external, is essential for the successful achievement of our goal, and WWF has set aside the objective to have an effective and efficient communication system that steers the Organization to be recognized as an influential thought leader and credible conservation organization in Mozambique by 2030. WWF is thus seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and innovative Communications Officer to support the Communications Units and provide technical support to the Conservation, Business Development & Policy and Advocacy Units. He/she will support in enhancing and protecting the reputation of WWF in Mozambique by influencing the opinions, alignment and understanding of key stakeholders by identifying and sharing communication best practices

Duties

• Under the supervision of the Communications Manager, the Communications Officer as a member of WWF Mozambique will:
• Support the effective delivery of communications for the Country Strategy (2020-30)
• Build Organizational and partner capacities in communications
• Ensure strategic stakeholder, media and public relations and engagement
• Support knowledge management for effective communications of conservation work

Delivery of communications for the Country Strategy (2020-30) (30%)

• Support the design and implementation of WWF MCO communications strategy in support of the Country Strategy, ensuring its complementarity with WWF Africa Communication & Branding Strategy targeting key audiences to build a national profile for WWF and maximize the impact and achievement of conservation programs
• In collaboration with the Conservation Leads and Communications Manager, develop and implement WWF MCO marketing strategy that leverages the unique strengths of WWF to achieve Mozambique’s ambitious targets for fundraising purposes and portfolio growth including ensuring compliance of internal policy requiring allocation for communication time or positions in projects with $1M or more over project time period, and between 3-5% of budget geared towards communication activities
• Participate in initiating, managing and implementing the results from WWF brand health, stakeholders and perception research and translate the analysis into well-structured implementation of recommendations for corporate communication and marketing initiatives
• Support the provision of technical communications to support conservation projects, developing communications projects, budgets, and preparing progress reports in a timely manner as per WWF’s reporting standards where necessary
• In collaboration with IT Unit, coordinate the delivery of the digital communications strategy to ensure that the country office and conservation projects make the best use of technology for key communications activities (e.g. content development for web sites & intranet development, social media and online marketing)
• Frequently visit project locations, beneficiaries and stakeholders for the purpose of supporting project managers and producing appropriate communications materials, stories, articles, audio visuals, presentations, radio and television programmes

Develop Organizational communications capacity (25%)

• Support the development and deployment of an engaging and compelling WWF MCO internal and external communications infrastructure and training to support WWF brand visibility in Mozambique and beyond
• Support building of an effective communications unit with the right skills and expertise to improve on established internal and external communications processes
• Ensure effectively use of communications to protect WWF MCO reputation and to successfully manage crises, which might occur and ensure consistent application of the brand guidelines across Mozambique
• In collaboration with the IT Officer, expand use of social-media platforms to foster dialogue, facilitation exchange and dissemination of information as well as the building of lasting and harmonious relationships
• In collaboration with the Social Safeguards Officer and Communications Manager, raise awareness and strengthen and ensure effective and proper usage of the Complaints and Grievances Redress Mechanisms at the office and community levels in our 6 targeted Landscapes and Seascapes

Strategic stakeholder, media and public relations and engagement (25%)

• Maintain, improve and strengthen strategic stakeholder, media and public relations and engagement
• Develop and maintain a database with contacts of journalists and establish good relations with the Media institutions, including monitoring interviews, inside and outside Mozambique, in order to increase the coverage of issues related to the conservation of biodiversity. Some specific activities may include, but not limited to, organizing field visits with journalists, facilitating the production of photos and videos about the forestry program
• Assist the WWF team in covering, organizing and facilitating events inside and outside the city of Maputo, ensuring that all branding requirements of the organization and its implementing partners are observed
• Manage press inquiries and pursue opportunities for promoting WWF’s work in Mozambique and region
• Interpret the current views and perceptions of key stakeholders in the country, and develop communications plans to positively influence their opinions and behaviors in line with WWF’s values and the delivery of MCO Strategic Plan (2020-30)
• In collaboration with the policy and advocacy unit, work to leverage celebrity endorsers/champions, increase use of advertising in public places (airports, malls etc.), and engage youth through effective implementation of a youth engagement strategy

Knowledge management for effective communications (20%)

• Produce content for use in graphic and visual material, namely factsheets, brochures, banners, roll-ups, respecting WWF branding procedures
• Strengthen the use of existing communications platforms in WWF MCO (e.g., intranet, WebEx, teleconferences) for effective internal communication and ensure maximum participation of WWF staff in key decisions and processes
• Coordinate with Departmental heads at WWF MCO in ensuring communications impact for brand building and stakeholders’ engagement
• Oversee the production of information materials including print, audio-visual, social media, website, photographs and other footage documenting WWF’s work and successes in the country
• Produce and disseminate relevant journalistic articles and press releases on topics related to biodiversity conservation, distribute and monitor their dissemination in the media throughout the country
• Support the Communications Manager maintain and up-date regularly the WWF MCO pages on WWF International’s www.panda.org website
• Work conservation and M&E teams to produce and commission, as appropriate, documentation of stories and lesson learnt editorials, features, advertisements, brochures, fact sheets, briefings, position papers, newsletter etc., on key WWF issues
• Performs other duties as may be assigned

Requisites

• Excellent interpersonal skills, written, verbal and non-verbal communication, specifically in both English and Portuguese
• Self-confident and well rounded, with the capacity to understand multiple perspectives and cultural diversity and deal with those differences diplomatically
• Track record of breaking down silos between business and support functions and working across an entire organization
• Flexibility and change orientation with ability to balance competing priorities
• Understanding of the wider strategic context, both internally and externally
• Able to demonstrate a range of communication and influencing styles to suit a wide range of stakeholders
• Demonstrates leadership in suggesting ideas and persuading others to follow
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage a number of conflicting and frequently changing priorities
• Communication skills – interpersonal, presentation and written
• Flexibility and adaptability to rapid environmental changes
• Problem analysis and resolution
• Energetic, enthusiastic and likeable

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Internal – Reports directly to the Communications Manager and works closely with the Landscape Coordinator, Heads of Units, WWF ROA Director for Communications, other Country Office teams in the region
• External – The role will interface and works closely with key partners and actors (media, governmental, private sector representatives, national and regional forums, civil society bodies) in Mozambique and donor partners (bilateral and multilateral) in Mozambique and in the region to achieve the set objectives and impact