Director of Strategic Communications, New Climate Economy

The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate is a major new international project to analyse and communicate the economic risks and opportunities which arise from climate change, and to make recommendations to the world’s governments, business and finance leaders on actions that will lead to lower carbon and more climate-resilient patterns of economic growth and development. Commissioned by a group of seven countries (Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Korea, Norway, Sweden and the UK), the initiative is overseen by an International Council comprising former heads of government and finance ministers and leaders in the fields of economics, business and finance, chaired by former Mexican President Felipe Calderon. The project will report in September 2014.

The project will be conducted by a world class team of economists and policy and business analysts drawn from, and supported by, a partnership of eight leading global economic and policy institutions: the Climate Policy Initiative, Ethiopian Development Research Institute, Global Green Growth Institute, Indian Council on International Economic Relations, Stockholm Environment Institute, Tsinghua University and World Resources Institute. A range of other institutions will be invited to participate in aspects of the research program, including the World Bank and regional development banks, the International Monetary Fund, International Energy Agency and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. An advisory group of leading economists from developed and developing countries will be convened to carry out an expert review of the work.

OVERVIEW

The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate is seeking a full time Director of Strategic Communications for the New Climate Economy.  The successful applicant will join a world class team of economists and policy and business analysts. This team is drawn from, and supported by, a partnership of leading global economic and policy institutions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Strategic Communications will report to a combination of the Program Director and Research Director.

Responsibilities will likely include some combination of the following tasks:

• Developing an overall political, communications and stakeholder engagement strategy for the Project, working together with the Project’s Strategic Communications Adviser and the New Climate Economy network
• Identifying, establishing and maintaining contact with key stakeholders in a number of governments, in full cognisance of the sensitivities involved
• Identifying, establishing and maintaining contact with key stakeholders in the private sector, international institutions, think tanks/academia and civil society
• Coordinating the initial ‘stakeholder engagement dialogue’ with key economic decision-makers
• Mapping the landscape of existing activity, organisations and events in the New Climate Economy sphere
• Developing, if necessary fundraising for and implementing an ‘external engagement’ plan with the wider global public, including possible ‘hearings’ in some countries
• Developing and maintaining good relationships with key journalists in global newspapers and broadcasting outlets, and providing them with stories as appropriate during the project’s research phase
• Overseeing the development and use of the Project’s website
• Devising and implementing a detailed global communications plan for the publication and dissemination of the Project’s final report(s), including use of social media, events, etc
• Devising and implementing an ‘influencing’ plan for the final report(s), involving its direct presentation by the Chair and members of the International Council to heads of government, finance ministers, heads of international institutions, leading businesspeople and others
• Liaison throughout the Project with the communications directors of all the research partners, other associated organisations (eg World Bank, IMF, etc) and any associated communications capacity
• Hiring or contracting additional communications capacity as appropriate
• Managing the Communications Manager

REQUIREMENTS

Master’s Degree with a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience; Applicant must display exceptional analytic, synthetic, teamwork and communication skills.

SALARY 

Hiring range – Commensurate with experience

LOCATION

London or Washington DC

LENGTH

This is a one year term assignment.

HOW TO APPLY

• Interested candidates should apply by emailing recruitment@newclimateeconomy.net
• The deadline for applications is October 30 2013