Vacancies

Communications Intern

Full-time: 36 hours per week

Location: Head office in Ede- Wageningen, Netherlands

Duration: 6 months

Preferable Start: ASAP

The role:

We’ve lost 64% of our wetlands since 1900, and much of the rest have been degraded. Nature that depends on freshwater is in a major decline. As wetland loss continues, people’s livelihoods suffer too. The demand for water, land and food increases and climate change intensifies. Wetlands are under pressure.

Do you want to be part of the only global organisation dedicated to tackling this issue? Then join us! As a Communications Intern you will be helping to communicate the urgent need to conserve wetlands. Through our website, social media, publications and events you will help raise the profile of wetlands on a global scale, ensuring our partners, governments and businesses take action for wetlands.

The main tasks are:

Maintain the Wetlands International website, including but not limited to editing and uploading content, providing support to staff across the network, troubleshooting technical issues
Support the rollout of a new website to our offices, including but not limited to uploading content, troubleshooting technical issues and liaising with the external web development company
Adding content to our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube), including writing short, impactful messages to accompany content
Compile the monthly newsletter using MailChimp
Support the Communications Officer in coordinating the editing, design and printing of publications, including liaising with external designers and printers
Support the organisation of the Global Members and Stakeholders Meeting (this event takes place every four years and brings together our members and other important stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities facing wetlands), including but not limited to promoting the event on social media
Support the Communications Officer in developing and building a global photo database
Design work including social media postcards, flyers and typesetting reports

Essential skills and experience:

A Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Media or related degree
Tech savvy (knowledge of WordPress, social media, MailChimp, Adobe Creative Suite)
Able to work independently but also a team player
Excellent time management skills and highly organised
Creative and hands-on approach
Optimistic approach to tackling challenges
Native or near-native English speaker

Please note that this internship requires you to be enrolled in higher education, and should form part your studies’ programme. If you are no longer a student you are welcome to contact us about volunteering opportunities.

How to apply

To apply, please contact [email protected]

Programme Head, Climate-smart Land Use

Job announcement

Land-use change and especially intensive agri-development is a key driver of wetland loss and degradation. Drainage of peatlands has a particularly disastrous impact in terms of GHG emissions, biodiversity loss, land degradation and desertification, subsidence and loss of water storage and productive land. However, there is growing recognition that an ecosystem approach i.e. re-establishing agro-ecosystems at landscape scale is necessary to meet future food needs, address climate challenges, and contribute to biodiversity conservation and water security. Wetlands International has a well-established and long-term leadership role on mobilising peatland knowledge, conservation and restoration (including major restoration programmes in Russia and Indonesia), extensive partnerships and a portfolio of projects – from the tropics to the Arctic. Conencting the work of different offices around the globe for maximum impact, the organisation has been working with producers and influencing policies and production methods to achieve responsible and sustainable use of wetlands e.g. for peat, palm oil, rice, soy livestock and aquaculture. and. Built upon such experiences and unique niches, Peatland Treasures is included as one of the five Streams in Wetlands International’s Strategic Intent 2015-2025, with an ambition to work closely with government, conventions, industry groups and civil society to reshape and scale up policies, plans and investments in climate-smart land use to transform whole peatland landscapes. This work offers cost-effective opportunities to contribute to Agenda 2030, including to specific targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.

We are seeking a Programme Head for Climate-smart Land Use to build on the platform and credibility we have established in this field – and to drive this work forward globally, both in terms of influence of sectoral actors and the establishment and scaling up of programmes. This will be achieved by joining a small team of Programme Heads in the Head Office of Wetlands International, who together guide and facilitate programme development and implementation on behalf of the whole network organisation. The leadership role will involve working with many offices in Wetlands International’s network and with a wide range of partners from all relevant sectors.

Overall Job Purpose

The Programme Head is responsible to develop and guide Wetlands International’s policy influence and programmes in relation to climate-smart land use, including a strong focus on peatlands, according to Wetlands International’s goals. This work involves influencing science, policy, practice, and investments in both the public and private sectors. To achieve this the Programme Head will act as part of a global leadership team in head office and coordinate with a wide array of actors and policy networks as well as with Wetlands International offices in all regions for resource mobilisation, programme development and implementation. The role includes management of a small team of technical staff in the head office.

The Programme Head is a visionary and facilitative leader with the professional insights, active networks, programme/project management experience and management competencies to lead a network-wide team and related partners to deliver concrete, innovative and tangible results related to wetlands and climate-smart land use . S/he proactively recognizes opportunities and acts upon them. S/he is a team-builder, facilitator, coach, mediator and diplomat.

Responsibilities and tasks

Provide leadership for Wetlands International’s work to promote climate-smart land use in relation to all programmes, including leading the inter-office team and coordinating implementation of the Peatland Treasures Stream of our Strategic Intent 2015-2025
As a senior member of the programme leadership with a global role, develop strategic initiatives, partnerships and programmes and mobilise (financial, technical and human) resources to contribute to achieve organisational goals
Contribute to the development of organisational strategies, positions and policies, reviewing programmatic achievements, as well as prioritisation of strategic initiatives and partnerships to deliver the Strategic Intent
Supervise and manage staff, consultants, projects, contracts and budgets according to Wetlands International policies and standards
Evaluate and report on implementation progress towards our Strategic goals for the Peatland Treasures Stream and contribute to institutional reporting and learning processes in the organisation
Nurture and maintain specialist expert networks relevant to peatlands and climate smart land use
Represent and promote Wetlands International with external partners, donors, members and networks on various levels and in a multitude of international settings
Carry out other tasks according to the organisational needs as agreed with the Head of Programmes in individual workplans

Skills and experience

Essential:

At least 5 years of professional experience of policy and practical aspects of wetlands ecosystems and climate-smart land use
At least 5 years of experience on programme/project development and implementation with a track record of successful results, working with dispersed teams and diverse partners
Proven ability to inspire, empower and motivate colleagues in and outside of Wetlands International, so as to build a high performance team
Knowledge of key issues, debates, trends and key global processes related to climate-smart land use and sustainable agriculture
Diplomat, good listener with strong interpersonal skills and comfortable working across different cultures and levels of society; confident communicator and advocate for different target audiences at all levels
Strong willingness and ability to learn, share and innovate; Proven ability to mobilise ideas through developing and coordinating teams
Education: minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant discipline
Language: excellent communications skills in English, essential: written, oral and presentation.
Commitment to Wetlands International’s mission, values and ways of working
Willingness and ability to travel regularly

Preferred:

Has an elaborate international network with relevant (international) NGOs, academics, knowledge institutes, governments, and other regional & global institutions
Knowledge of other languages (especially French, Spanish, Dutch), a plus

Job Offer:

Full-time job, 36 hours per week.

Salary scale 13-14 of Wetlands International (Euro 3.943 – Max. 5.476).

Relocation package or 30% tax deduction can be considered when eligible.

Contract duration: 1-year contract with intention of extension.

Location: Head Office in Ede- Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Start date: a.s.a.p.