This is a great opportunity to join international non-profit’s London HQ, working to transform the global energy and transport systems.
The Climate Group is already having a massive impact on global electricity and vehicle markets. Working with business, we have influenced millions of vehicles to go electric and the energy demand of a large country to go renewable. But we need to do much more. The world needs to cut global emissions by half in ten years and we have a big role to play.
That is why we need you – a talented, ambitious and high performing, high potential Communications Officer to join our team. You will be driving integrated communications as a critical part of our corporate leadership initiatives, RE100, EV100 and EP100, and our broader work in the energy, transport and built environment systems. You will have flair for promotion, with a nose for a good story, a proven ability to secure media coverage, with an understanding of how to work with stakeholders in business and an ability to understand and simplify technical details. You should be able to think tactically, to create and take opportunities to deliver on our strategic objectives, including influencing hundreds more companies around the world to take action - fast. You will also enjoy a challenge and a fast-paced, energetic environment where balancing of multiple priorities with multiple colleagues, and bringing people with you to deliver on your ideas, is the everyday norm.
About The Climate Group
The Climate Group drives climate action. Fast. Our goal is a world of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with greater prosperity for all.
We focus on systems with the highest emissions and where our networks have the greatest opportunity to drive change. We do this by building large and influential networks and holding organisations accountable, turning their commitments into action.
We share what we achieve together to show more organisations what they could do. We are an international non-profit organisation, founded in 2004, with offices in London, New Delhi and New York. We are proud to be part of the We Mean Business coalition.
About the role
This International Communications team role also involves being very much part of the team for our international business campaigns. Its primary focus is using external communications to help achieve key outcomes for our energy and transport programs. This involves being evangelical about raising the profile of our rapidly growing business campaigns and running targeted initiatives to grow the memberships in target sectors and geographies. It will also involve supporting campaigns to influence policies for a faster global roll out of renewable power and electric vehicles and supporting colleagues who run the networks that are the backbone of our work.
The role carries significant responsibility. You will be leasing on mission critical actions and driving the comms agenda for significant sections of projects you work on. You will also need to balance priorities to focus on actions with the biggest outcomes and think innovatively over how to cover the others. With this responsibility comes opportunities to work with senior external and internal stakeholders and across numerous communications disciplines. You will need to at least have good experience in press/pr, social media and writing for that reflects the language of business – accurate, pithy, well evidenced. You will in turn be able to draw on a supporting team of other specialists to build experience and undertake actions web, video, digital marketing approaches, publications and critical external events. Working rapidly, an entrepreneurial spirit, excellent writing and passion for quality of outputs are a must. The need for managing multiple requests while setting and pursuing priorities means the successful candidate is likely to have demonstrable experience within an agency or internal communications team or press office.
You don’t need a background in energy, transport or climate issues but if not you must have a keen interest in growing your knowledge, quickly to the point of being readily able to deal with external stakeholders and media who work on the subject.
Your core responsibilities will include:
Campaign focused external comms and media work
- Leading on specific external communications elements of campaigns – whether that be external story development, recruitment drives or focus on specific policies and stakeholders we are trying to influence.
- Working with senior external and internal partners along to ensure timely buy-in and inputs
- Developing original ideas for stories that work across multiple channels, including media and managing press and social media work.
- Managing proactive media work and media calls in ways that ensure enquiries are dealt with effectively through to conclusion
- Involving and briefing senior management ahead of media interviews and other major speaking opportunities
- Working with partners in the US, India, Japan, Australia etc to tailor news for target geographies
- Leading on sector focused effort, including trade media and securing presence at major external events for Climate Group spokespeople.
- Being innovative in the development of angles and pitches - keeping abreast of topical news, issues and discussions, to the point you can predict trends and suggest hooks/story angles ahead.
Member related external communications
- Responsibility for the external communications aspects of our new campaign joiners.
- Planning ahead, and working with colleagues, to ensure we maximise interest and deliver on our responsibilities to our new member companies - via media work, web and social media
- Developing story arcs which take member examples and topical external issues to communicate what our programmes are achieving to multiple audiences.
- Liaising directly and managing the expectations of member companies over communications when appropriate.
- Advising and helping colleagues who develop member network content to deliver on our ethos of continuous improvement.
- Leading on social media content for RE100, EV100 and EP100; working with an agency and colleagues to ensure interesting content is developed to a high standard and data is utilised to continually improve our approaches.
- Developing, editing, and promoting written work for different external channels.
- Supporting the delivery of our responsibilities to paying members, funders and sponsors
Communications project management and inspiration
- Working with colleagues to project manage communications inputs for the production and promotion of reports and other major content outputs
- Planning ahead to develop approaches and innovative ideas that help maximise the success of major pieces of work.
- Driving our engagement of trade associations and business bodies in key sectors and geographies and securing strategic speaking opportunities at external events
- Continually considering the needs of colleagues and partners from the US, India, Japan, Australia and elsewhere in the Climate Group
- Ensuring the Climate Group’s refreshed brand and tone of voice are applied consistently
Managing cross-campaign and Climate Group opportunities
- Understanding how building the reputation of the Group and the recognition of our work in a messy external environment can be negotiated.
- Providing ad-hoc support to the wider team, e.g. helping on global events such as Climate Week NYC
- Shaping our own external presence, e.g. taking advantage of our refreshed brand, key messages and other previous work
- Assessing incoming requests, deciding or recommending approaches and ensuring timely delivery of requirements
- Professionally engaging with partners and other external stakeholders at events
Administrative support
- Maintaining an events calendar
- Working with colleagues to review external reports and advising on improvements in marketing materials
- Planning agendas for certain meetings, writing-up action points and driving those forward to help the wider team
- Supporting colleagues on the compilation of impactful presentations and pitches
Other
• Working flexible hours when required to support events and announcements across international time zones
About you
As an adaptable self-starter, you will be proactive in all you do. No two days at the Climate Group are the same and you will enjoy keeping abreast of a busy workload – juggling multiple demands and reassessing your priorities daily. You will work well independently with minimal input from your line manager, and you will work well with others as needed – bearing in mind time differences and ways of working with regional offices. You work to the highest quality, ensuring actions are completed on time and to a high standard.
Essential:
- Demonstrable experience of working with a communications team or press office
- Proactive, innovative, solutions-focused approach and ability to constantly reprioritise actions
- Excellent written and proofreading skills with a high level of attention to detail
- Excellent ability to process and build-up knowledge and expertise on communicating technical issues related to business, energy, and transport
- Excellent experience of handling media, selling-in stories and being part of a wider effort to raise an organisation’s profile
- Good understanding of integrated, multi-channel communications including different social media platforms
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a good team player, able to work independently and effectively with others
- Good cultural awareness and understanding of how communications approaches may differ depending on geography
Highly desirable:
- Demonstrable experience of working within a major business or working with major businesses
- Degree in communications/business/economics/environment/politics or another related field
- Experience of working or volunteering internationally
- Ability to communicate in languages other than English
Location
Since COVID-19, our London office has been working mostly from home but you will also have the use of an office near Borough for key meetings with colleagues. We are also in the process of moving offices to a new permanent London location.
Terms & Conditions
This is a full-time permanent postion. The salary for this position will be £28,800 per annum or more based on experience. In addition to the salary, the role holder will benefit from:
- 25 days’ holiday pro rata, plus public holidays; additional leave following three and six years’ service
- 10% non-contributory pension scheme following three months’ service
- Private healthcare and Cash Plan on completion of probation
- Life Assurance
- Wellbeing allowance
- Season ticket loan
- Bike loan
- Volunteering day on completion of probation
How to apply
Use the ‘Apply’ button to apply for this vacancy. Should you require further information or an informal discussion, please contact Marie Reynolds, Senior Communications Manager, MReynolds@theclimategroup.org.
Applications for the position should come in the form of a CV and cover letter. Please ensure that you address the points in the job description and person specification.
The expected closing date for submitting your application is Wednesday 14 October 2020. But please apply as soon as possible. First round interviews w/c Monday 12 October. Start date will be mid November 2020.
The requisite eligibility criteria, or work visa to work in the UK, are a requirement for this position and no relocation and/or sponsorship costs will be borne by the Climate Group
