Communications Advisor

Vacancy #:
- 7427- Unit:
- Global Communications Unit- Organisation:
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)- Location:
- Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland- Reporting to:
- Senior Global Communications Manager- Work percentage:
- 100%- Grade:
- P2- Expected start date:
- 01 January 2026- Type of contract:
- Max-term (24 months)- Closing date:
- 26 October 2025 BACKGROUND

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, bringing together governments, civil society, scientists, and experts to conserve nature and accelerate the transition to sustainable development. Effective communication is essential to IUCN’s mission, ensuring that its projects, programmes, and knowledge products reach and inspire decision-makers, partners, and the wider public.
IUCN seeks a Communications Advisor (Project Strategy and Training), P2, to strengthen the organisation’s ability to communicate with impact. This role will focus on two key priorities: ensuring IUCN projects embed robust communications strategies from the outset, and building staff capacity across the Union through a self-service model of communications guidance and training.

The Communications Advisor will (1) provide strategic communications support to IUCN projects, ensuring communications are effectively integrated and resourced at the project design stage, and (2) develop and lead a self-service communications support model, equipping colleagues across IUCN with the skills, tools, and confidence to become more effective communicators.

Strategic Communications Support for Projects (45%):

- Provide guidance to project teams during the design and proposal development stage to ensure communications objectives, strategies, and budgets are appropriately embedded.
- Advise on the identification of target audiences, key messages, channels, and activities tailored to each project’s objectives and with IUCN’s overall communications strategy.
- Co-create communications strategies with project leads
- Support project communications leads in sourcing images, data and stories to illustrate concrete project results on the ground.
- Review and quality assure project communications plans, ensuring they are realistic, resourced, measurable, and focused on impact.
- Serve as a focal point for integrating lessons learned from past projects into new communications approaches.

Capacity Building and Self-Service Model (45%):

- Lead the design and implementation of a self-service communications model, providing IUCN colleagues with accessible guidance, toolkits, templates, and resources, in coordination with the Global Communications Unit team.
- Design and deliver communications training programmes (online and in-person) for IUCN staff, including project managers, technical experts, and regional offices.
- Establish a framework for continuous learning in communications, including knowledge-sharing sessions, webinars, and internal communities of practice.
- Develop and maintain a library of best practices, case studies, and training materials to support consistent, high-quality communications across the Union.
- Evaluate training outcomes and adapt methodologies to meet evolving needs.

Other activities (10%):

- Carry out other activities to support the communication objectives of IUCN

REQUIREMENTS
- Education: a university degree in communications, public relations, journalism, international relations, environmental studies, or a related field.
- Work Experience
- Minimum 8 years of professional experience in communications, with demonstrated experience in strategic planning, capacity building, and project-based communications.
- Experience developing communications strategies for international projects, ideally in the fields of conservation, sustainable development, or international cooperation.
- Track record in designing and delivering training or coaching programmes in communications.
- Experience in working with diverse stakeholders in a multicultural and international environment.
- Skills and Competencies
- Strong strategic thinking and planning skills with the ability to translate project goals into effective communications strategies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences.
- Experience with adult learning methodologies and training delivery.
- Familiarity with communications channels, tools, and performance measurement.
- Strong facilitation, interpersonal, and capacity-building skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams, regions, and cultures.
- Proficiency in English (required); knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an asset.
- Expected Outputs
- Project proposals consistently include impactful and resourced communications strategies.
- Increased communications capacity across IUCN through training, resources, and guidance.
- An established and functioning self-service communi