Communications Advisor for Climate Change

World Bank Group
Communications Advisor for Climate Change

Developing countries have an unprecedented opportunity to end extreme poverty within a generation. Inspired by this prospect, the World Bank Group (WBG) has set two overarching goals: to end extreme poverty by 2030, and promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40 percent in every country.  To achieve this, the organization combines the strengths of the five WBG institutions: finance, global knowledge, convening services, and the ability to work with both public and private sectors. Underpinning the approach is a recently established architecture that includes 14 Global Practices (GPs) and 4 Cross-Cutting Solutions Areas (CCSAs) that, in concert with the Bank Group regional units, design customized solutions that address our clients’ most pressing development challenges.

The External and Corporate Relations Global Practices communications department (ECRGP) — established to meet the communication needs of the Global Practices and Cross Cutting Solution Areas – is looking for a dynamic and experienced senior communications professional to lead communications for the Climate Change Cross-Cutting Solutions Area, which is part of Sustainable Development Vice-Presidency.

The WBG sees tackling climate change as critical to the pursuit of its mission, given the intrinsic link between climate change and poverty. The challenges of low carbon development, of building resilience into economic growth and development and coping with the impacts of unmitigated climate change will shape the opportunities for all WBG clients now and in the next decades. The WBG has pledged a one third increase in climate financing to 28 percent by 2020, which could see annual funding total $29 billion.

The Climate Change CCSA, made up of more than 250 professionals, works across the institution and with external partners, providing technical support and intellectual leadership on many issues, with experts on climate and carbon finance, climate investment and climate change mitigation and adaptation policy and practice.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment.  Others will be appointed a Term appointment of 3-year duration.

Position Overview:

The Communications Advisor for Climate Change will manage the planning, development and implementation of effective communications and outreach strategies to support the World Bank’s climate change agenda. Working as part of the Sustainable Development

Communications team, the Communications Advisor will oversee the work of the communications staff in the Climate Change CCSA, including those who work in trust funds. S/he will report directly to the ECRGP Manager for the Sustainable Development Practice Group, and will also have a dotted line to the Senior Director of the Climate Change CCSA.

The Communications Advisor’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Devises and implements a strong communications plan for the World Bank’s Climate Change CCSA in support of and in close alignment with the broader Bank Group-wide Communications strategy
• Oversees strategy and program development for diverse and highly complex communication interventions of significance to the WB’s relations with external and internal audiences (e.g., on climate change programs, WB products, and issues campaigns). Anticipates critical communications issues; formulates the WB’s public position.
• Responsible for effective professional relationships with key external and/or internal constituencies (e.g., the media, civil society, academia, businesses, government agencies). Identifies opportunities for and forges strategic partnerships both inside and outside the WB to improve dialogue and outreach and to strengthen the WB’s overall effectiveness and reputation in the climate change arena.
• Oversees and advises on risk identification and mitigation activities in the context of the WB’s work on climate change; engages with major external and internal stakeholders. Focus includes current events, public opinion, social or political issues, and other external or internal developments related to the WB and its work on climate change.
• Oversees effective preparation, production and dissemination of communication and advocacy products about the WB’s work on climate change. Reviews, advises on, and as appropriate prepares, high-profile speeches, talking points, op-eds, and presentations.
• Responsible for effective delivery of high-profile communications activities and events involving external and/or internal audiences.
• Advises management and/or teams on trends, news developments, or changing/unexpected circumstances that may impact the WB’s work on climate change, and determines appropriate strategic responses. Ensures quality and assesses the sensitivity of review and comment on key documents, communication interventions, consultations, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Works closely with other World Bank Group corporate, Global Practices, CCSA, country and regional communications staff to align, coordinate and support communications around climate change issues, initiatives, projects or programs.
• Ensures consistency of message and events across the WBG and Climate Trust Funds relating to resilience, forest and carbon pricing and finance by creating a team of staff across the CCSA and Trust Fund communications professionals who work together to deliver results. In this role, s/he will also act as mentor to those communications staff supporting their career development in the WBG and advising on strategy and planning.

The successful candidate will have:

• A Master’s degree in communications, journalism, political science, international relations, public affairs, or other related fields, with at least 12 years of relevant professional experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility;
• Intellectual leadership, with a track record of successful communication programs to achieve development results;
• A high professional reputation and deep technical expertise in climate change and strategic communication at global and country levels;
• A deep understanding of the media landscape and stakeholder and influencer dynamics, and drivers of reputation, especially in the area of climate change;
• A sharp analytical and strategic mind, excellent political judgment and diplomatic skills, a proven ability to work across teams and issues, a strong leadership record, and high initiative, and drive for results;
• Outstanding written, presentation, and oral communications skills, with proven experience in dealing with the media, external constituencies, and expert groups.
• Experience leading teams, setting the direction, defining business strategy and goals, establishing metrics and monitoring progress on achieving results.
• State of the art knowledge in the field of communications and public affairs and the ability to address a range of issues, including taking the lead on highly visible and sensitive assignments:
• Ability to effectively manage sensitive communications challenges that may involve reputational risk to the institution and/or affect the ability of the organization to achieve its objectives
• Ability to operate effectively with all levels of staff, both as a team leader and team member.
• Proven track record of building, managing and coaching teams, and working with staff at all levels to encourage and develop talent.
• Proven ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze diverse information from varied sources and an ability to learn, adapt, and to be innovative as new communications challenges arise.

Candidates must demonstrate competencies in the following areas:

• Communication in International Development – High-level ability to communicate with internal and external partners, based on understanding their communication needs and possessing significant experience with international development topics and issues.
• Relationship Management and Political Awareness – Has significant experience and/or demonstrates ability to lead and manage relationships with critical internal and/or external high-risk constituencies to foster strategic partnerships and to strengthen the Bank’s image or mitigate reputational risk.
• Client Orientation – Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Drive for Results – Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion – Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication – Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making – Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.

Interested candidates please send a copy of your CV and a brief statement of interest to: Reni Odebiyi (modebiyi@worldbank.org).

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.