The Associate Director of Communications for Deforestation and Climate designs, implements, and manages communication strategies to showcase TNC’s strategic priorities related to land use, climate action, and zero deforestation/conversion, with a cross-commodity focus but reflecting TNC strength and history around beef and soy. The Associate Director will identify and leverage opportunities for strategic communications to core change-agent audiences related to transforming commodity production systems globally, with particular focus on China, Europe and Latin America. The communications strategies and tactics will elevate a cohesive presence for TNC’s strategies around science, finance, regulatory frameworks and corporate action aimed at catalyzing deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains in order to mitigate climate change, support biodiversity, and create a more sustainable world for people and nature.

The Associate Director works directly with global communications colleagues and members of the wider Global Marketing and Communications division, while collaborating closely with TNC executives, scientists, and leaders from other parts of the organization. The Associate Director will also be responsible for building networks with relevant external communications leads to increase alignment, impact and amplification of deforestation-related efforts. Example external partners include the Tropical Forest Alliance of the World Economic Forum and the TNC-housed Nature4Climate coalition. This is currently funded for 18 months.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Associate Director of Communications for Deforestation and Climate, is an experienced strategic communications professional who will showcase TNC’s work to tackle climate change through deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains by working closely with multiple partner organizations, and by developing and coordinating communications plans and materials.

The Associate Director will develop and implement strategic communications to promote TNC’s conservation science, tools and solutions addressing deforestation caused by commodity production, ensuring they are reaching a decision-maker audience of policy-makers, corporations and investors. The strategic communications are designed to be in service of and catalytic for conservation outcomes in origination countries and biomes. The Association Director will lead the implementation communications activities ranging from thought leadership content and promotions, earned media, digital campaigns and social media, to communications in support of events, as well as partner and stakeholder communications coordination. They will establish project goals and metrics, develop project plans, budgets and schedules with input and buy-in from key stakeholders and team members, and will collaborate with project teams to successfully achieve those goals in the most compelling and cost-effective manner possible. They will also be responsible for building a network of communication partners from related third party organizations, and liaising directly with the Nature4Climate coalition on deforestation.

The Associate Director will have excellent writing and editing skills, project management experience and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously. The position would benefit from prior experience at the global level within the nature, climate change and food system communities. The Associate Director will work closely with a TNC network of experts across a number of business units, who will provide guidance on key messaging and targeted audiences.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Development and execution of strategic communications related to TNC’s work within global commodity supply chains, raising the profile of TNC’s zero conversion and climate change work to key global change-maker audiences
• Writing and production of a variety of content, including but not limited to central messaging, social media, blogs, talking points, case studies, videos and presentations
• Close coordination with internal teams and external partners to identify synergies and opportunities for collaboration and to develop ambitious, coherent plans for global events, such as UN COPs, that support broader policy, conservation, and communications goals
• Work closely with the global and regional media relations teams to identify journalists to cultivate and opportunities to pitch stories on tangible solutions and signs of progress in TNC’s work on food system transformation and climate action
• Exercise judgment to identify and solve complex problems; determining scope of work through consultation rather than directives of superiors
• Design and manage multiple projects, including directing and overseeing work of peers, staff, partners and agencies/contractors; managing budgets, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability with strong organization skills and attention to detail
• Design, plan and/or assist with new initiatives that will ensure department and organization-wide goals and strategies are achieved
• Operate well in a team, efficiently and effectively across a matrixed organization and exhibit excellent judgement in managing projects, decisions and people
• Travel less than 25%; may be on short notice; working flexible hours as needed