The posting
(temporary position, 2 years, start asap, Geneva based)
The World Economic Forum is an independent, not-for-profit organization, headquartered in Geneva, with offices in New York, San Francisco, Beijing, and Tokyo.
We are the trusted platform for public-private cooperation where leaders come together to understand global challenges and drive action across sectors and regions. We create spaces where different stakeholders engage openly, build trust, and collaborate to help solve shared global challenges.
Context and why we are recruiting?
The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
The Forum's Centre for Nature and Climate (CNC) works towards a global transition to a nature-positive economy and healthy, resilient ecosystems. It aims to make nature and climate action a driver of growth and resilience by helping partners identify and scale effective solutions and mobilize collaboration where markets alone cannot deliver the necessary transitions.
The Forest Future Alliance (FFA) is an initiative of the Centre for Nature and Climate that brings together private-sector and philanthropic capital providers alongside for-profit innovators to support investment in forest conservation, restoration, stewardship and resilience. Through its thematic communities, partner-led Solutions Labs and Living Landscapes work, FFA enables collaboration, supports innovation and amplifies credible examples of impact.
We are seeking a Senior Associate, Communications to coordinate and deliver FFA's internal and external communications activities, helping strengthen the visibility of the alliance and communicate its priorities, initiatives and impact.
Working closely with FFA leadership, communications colleagues across the Centre for Nature and Climate and external partners, the Senior Associate will translate agreed communications priorities into engaging content, campaigns and digital communications activities. The role will independently manage defined communications workstreams, coordinate contributions from colleagues and external providers, and ensure timely, consistent and high-quality delivery.
Reporting line and how is this role embedded in the wider team?
The Senior Associate, Communications reports to the Director, Forest Future Alliance, with a matrix reporting line to the Manager, Strategic Communications in the Centre for Nature and Climate.
The role works closely with an Associate supporting FFA communications activities (approximately 50% FTE), particularly social media, newsletters and other digital communications. The Senior Associate coordinates agreed deliverables, reviews content and provides guidance to support effective delivery.
The role collaborates with FFA colleagues and other teams across the Centre for Nature and Climate, including the Tropical Forest Alliance, ACT Ocean and the Earth Systems Agenda, as well as the Forum's Global Communications Group and marketing teams.
Externally, the Senior Associate engages with communications representatives from FFA members and partners, donors, media contacts and communications agencies to coordinate content and communications activities.
What will you be responsible for?
Communications planning and coordination
- Coordinate the implementation of FFA's agreed communications strategy and narrative, translating priorities into communications activities, content plans and deliverables in collaboration with FFA leadership and relevant communications colleagues.
- Contribute to the planning and delivery of communications activities across the Earth Systems Agenda, working with ACT Ocean, FFA and relevant Centre for Nature and Climate colleagues to ensure consistent messaging and coordinated delivery.
- Support the planning and implementation of FFA's media engagement activities, coordinating with external communications consultants, the Global Communications Group and the Forum's marketing teams as appropriate.
- Work with the Centre for Nature and Climate's communications functions to align messaging, coordinate activities and identify opportunities to amplify FFA's work through existing communications channels.
- Provide communications input and recommendations to FFA colleagues and relevant Earth Systems Agenda and Centre for Nature and Climate teams on messaging, content development and communications opportunities.
- Maintain productive working relationships with communications counterparts from FFA partners, external agencies and relevant media contacts to support coordinated communications activities.
- Coordinate FFA's digital communications activities across social media, newsletters and the FFA Hub, working with the Communications Associate and relevant colleagues to ensure consistent messaging and timely delivery.
- Track communications outputs, media coverage and audience engagement, contributing to FFA's impact measurement, donor reporting and identification of opportunities to improve communications effectiveness.
External and internal communications
- Plan, coordinate and deliver communications activities around key FFA events, milestones, publications and announcements, ensuring alignment with agreed priorities, audiences and timelines.
- Develop communications materials that raise awareness of FFA's objectives, activities and progress among relevant internal and external audiences.
- Coordinate with the Forum's Media and Marketing teams to identify and implement digital and media opportunities that support FFA's communications objectives.
- Work with FFA colleagues and partner organizations, including funders, to incorporate relevant communications contributions into agreed campaigns and activities.
- Coordinate communications deliverables, timelines and external agency contributions within agreed budgets and project parameters, ensuring quality, accuracy and consistency with Forum standards.
- Provide practical guidance and editorial feedback to FFA colleagues on communications materials and messaging, supporting consistent and effective communications across the initiative.
Content development and digital communications
- Coordinate updates to FFA website content, working with relevant colleagues to ensure accurate, engaging and consistent information across the website, FFA Hub and other communications channels.
- Develop and deliver communications content across FFA's thematic areas and Living Landscapes work, including Forum Stories, articles, media releases, reports, business updates and speeches, in coordination with the Global Communications Group and relevant teams.
- Draft and refine key messages, talking points, presentations, factsheets, website content and other communications materials that support FFA's engagement with members, partners and wider audiences.
- Write and edit blogs, articles and media releases relating to priority FFA developments, coordinating contributions from internal colleagues and external consultants where appropriate.
- Ensure communications materials are accurate, accessible, aligned with the Forum's editorial standards and appropriate for their intended audiences.
- Identify opportunities to improve the quality, consistency and effectiveness of communications materials and digital content, recommending practical improvements to colleagues and relevant communications leads.
What core knowledge, skills and experience are we looking to add to our team?
Domain Knowledge and Experience
- University degree in communications, marketing, journalism, international relations or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- At least five years of relevant professional experience in communications, media engagement, content development or campaigns, preferably in an international or multistakeholder environment.
- Experience developing and delivering communications materials and activities across multiple channels and audiences.
- Strong writing, editing and editorial judgement, including experience producing articles, media releases, talking points, presentations and digital content.
- Experience collaborating with media contacts, public relations agencies, external consultants or communications professionals.
- Familiarity with environmental sustainability, nature, climate, conservation finance or related topics would be an advantage.
- Experience working with senior stakeholders and translating complex information into clear and effective communications.
- Experience using digital communications channels, including websites, newsletters and social media.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with digital communications platforms and tools.
Core Skills
- Communications delivery: Ability to independently plan and deliver defined communications activities and workstreams within agreed priorities and timelines.
- Writing and editorial judgement: Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex environmental, financial and policy topics into clear, engaging and accurate content.
- Project coordination: Ability to manage multiple deliverables, anticipate dependencies and coordinate internal and external contributors to ensure timely delivery.
- Stakeholder engagement: Ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues, partners, communications agencies and media contacts.
- Collaboration: Ability to work constructively across teams, incorporate different perspectives and contribute to consistent comm
