Overview

BirdLife International – the largest nature conservation organisation in the world – is looking for a highly creative Communications Officer focusing on writing and campaigning to join the BirdLife Europe & Central Asia communications team.

  1. OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Working within a highly focused small team, the Communications Officer will work closely with the Head of Communications and colleagues, providing editorial, strategic, creative and operational support across our work in Europe and Central Asia.  The Communications team of Europe and Central Asia is part of the Global Communications Team of BirdLife International.

S/he is responsible for engaging BirdLife Europe and Central Asia’s various internal and external audiences, through imaginative creative long form/short form content creation for our diverse channels, including the website, newsletter, publications, reports, campaigns, and social media. S/he will also create and implement campaigns for our different work areas ranging from specific political campaigns to broader awareness raising campaigns geared towards mobilising citizens and fundraising campaigns to support our conservation work. The communication officer will also act as a focal contact point for our national partners across Europe and Central Asia.

With excellent native-level English language writing, copyediting and proofreading skills and sound technical ability, s/he creates high quality written and creative content.

  1. MAIN DUTIES
  • Writing and editing content created for a range of channels, including the website, newsletter, publications, reports, campaigns, and social media.
  • Creating campaign narratives and strategies, working closely with policy, fundraising and conservation experts, and other NGOs in Brussels and around Europe.
  • Raise awareness about the environmental crisis, including climate change and biodiversity loss, through different policy and conservation areas, including but not limited to, agriculture, EU nature laws, corporate social responsibility, and wildlife crime.
  • Translate technical, scientific information into easily understandable, exciting content.
  • Assist in the development of multimedia communications materials, including videos, photos, infographics, story maps – with a primarily responsibility for the language therein.
  • Provide support to BirdLife Europe and Central Asia’s Partners on communications-related activities, content creation, and broader dissemination of their activities.
  • As part of the Global Communications team his/her work will support communications efforts of global and multi-regional scope as appropriate.
  1. REQUIRED PROFILE
  • University degree in social/political sciences, communications, journalism or other relevant discipline, or equivalent experience
  • Fluent in English to a native level (additional languages are an asset)
  • Proven experience in communications and/or editing/writing with demonstrated success, preferably in the not-for-profit sector/European institutions
  • Communications ‘flair’ with the ability to think creatively, spot a good story and communicate this in the most interesting and/or effective way
  • Proven ability to write and deliver effective, audience-focused communications and campaigns
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to understand complex policy and scientific issues and to articulate these in creative ways, including using story-telling, case studies, illustrations, infographics, videos and social media
  • Good interpersonal, networking and team working skills with the ability to collaborate with colleagues across the world, BirdLife Partners and stakeholders
  • Demonstrable ability to create and follow work plans and prioritise own workload with minimum supervision.
  • Demonstrable ability to react quickly to unforeseen/unplanned communications opportunities (multiple assignments, working under pressure, responsiveness to requests, follow-up of decisions)
  • Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends and to be contacted out of office hours in particular policy occasions
  • Appreciation of cross-cultural sensitivities with the ability to exercise discretion and show sound judgement
  • Strong self-motivation and curiosity
  • Problem solving attitude and ability to resolve potential conflicts.
  • Genuine interest in environmental issues 
  1. WHAT WE OFFER

Duration: 1 year (renewable) Belgian contract

Working hours: full-time

Salary range 3000 to 3200 EUR/month and benefits

  1. HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a full CV, a comprehensive cover letter, and previously published written work (in English) setting out your reasons for applying for the post and outlining the qualifications experience, knowledge and skills that you feel you can bring to the role to: recruitment.europe@birdlife.org

Please include in the email subject: Communications Officer – Editor/Campaigner

Closing date: 21 July 2019 at midnight CET. Please consider that applications received after the closing date will be automatically discarded. 

  1. SHORTLISTING AND INTERVIEWS

Shortlisting is based on CV, cover letter and writing sample. Successful candidates will be asked to attend face-to-face interviews and may be asked to perform an additional assessment test. Travel support or possibility of remote interview may be offered to candidates from abroad.

Please note that due to the large number of expected applications only successful candidates will be contacted.

Interview days: Friday 26 July 2019.

Start day: as soon as possible. 

About us

BirdLife Europe and Central Asia is the European and Central Asian Division of BirdLife International, and is one of the six regional offices of BirdLife International, a global Partnership of autonomous, national non-governmental conservation organisations, with a large grassroots membership in 115 countries and territories.

BirdLife’s mission is to conserve wild birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, by working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources.

BirdLife has an international team of permanent staff covering conservation and science, policy and advocacy, capacity building, fundraising, communication, finance and administration supporting the 47 European and Central Asia Birdlife Partners.