Communications Lead, Global Plastic Action Partnership
(Fixed-term contract until March 2025, with the potential to renew / extend)
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 World Economic Forum is host to the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), which is a public-private collaboration platform to help translate political and corporate commitment to address plastic pollution into concrete action plans. GPAP has been established in collaboration with the governments of Canada and United Kingdom, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the World Resources Institute, as well as businesses along the plastics value chain. GPAP harnesses the convening power of the World Economic Forum to bring together governments, businesses and civil society to collaboratively identify and scale solutions to the issue of plastics waste pollution.
Why we are recruiting
The GPAP team is recruiting a Communications Lead, to drive strategy and community engagement, and to promote the initiative. With a clear and open culture, we are looking for a fast-paced strategic thinker and networker who will oversee and manage the communications requirements of GPAP, as well as its National Plastic Action Partnerships (NPAPs) on an as-needed basis to support the long-term delivery of GPAP’s work on the ground.
The GPAP Communications Lead will be appointed on a fixed term contract ending March 2025, with the possibility of an extension subject to funding renewal. To be successful in this role, the candidate will need to show a proven track record in communications, community and stakeholder engagement – internally and externally – communication plans development and delivery. The candidate will have excellent writing skills, experience in traditional and social media communications, work with digital tools, and be creative and innovative. Discretion and diplomacy are vital as the candidate will be dealing with senior stakeholders in this role.
Reporting lines and interactions
This role sits within the GPAP global secretariat, part of the Centre for Nature and Climate at the Forum office in Geneva, Switzerland.
The successful candidate will report to the Director of GPAP.
Within the Forum, the candidate will work closely with colleagues in the GPAP team and the broader Centre for Nature and Climate. Beyond the Forum, the candidate will work with other partners from the GPAP global steering board and advisory committee as well as a range of other stakeholders, including governments, multilateral and NGOs.
Main responsibilities
Strategic communications planning
Refine, further develop and manage a cohesive multistakeholder communications and community engagement strategy, internally and externally, for GPAP.
Prepare communications tools for the GPAP community outlining the objectives of GPAP and the NPAPs and expected deliverables.
Act as a communications resource for senior leaders when planning and executing GPAP’s strategy.
Develop an annual content delivery plan to ensure partners are kept abreast of GPAP’s activities and progress.
Baseline and demonstrate communication progress through outcome focused metrics and data through regular evaluation reports.
Drive collaboration with communications teams at key global partners.
Identify and remain at the forefront of the latest communication trends as well as emerging trends relating to the breadth of topics covered by the GPAP’s work, informing the GPAP’s impact communication strategy accordingly.
Develop and implement proactive strategies to build, protect, and enhance the organization's brand and reputation, monitoring public perception, managing online reputation, and identifying and addressing any risks or threats.
Media engagement and events support
Help manage relevant communications on events for Forum meetings and regional events, as well as external workshops and plastic pollution-related meetings.
Develop content (key messages, speeches, blogs, articles, media releases, external reports and business updates) in line with the Forum’s Public Engagement team, and other communications tools to promote the efforts of GPAP to its members, secretariat, steering board, funders and other relevant stakeholders.
Coordinate with the Forum Media and Marketing teams to leverage digital opportunities.
Provide guidance to Forum Media team on media content produced institutionally that is relevant to the topic of plastic pollution and GPAP’s work in order to ensure consistent messaging and minimize risk.
Create a media strategy in partnership with the central Communications and Marketing teams, handle media enquiries and create press releases with the internal Forum Media team.
Campaigns and marketing materials
Raise awareness of GPAP’s goals and progress to key stakeholders and audiences by mobilizing GPAP and its networks.
Ensure impacts are effectively packaged and disseminated to GPAP core audiences.
Deliver effective campaigns based on GPAP’s core objectives with audience insights at the centre.
Curate the online platforms for GPAP and create opportunities for the broader community’s engagement. Ensure a strong, accurate and current digital presence while using media monitoring tools to position and target GPAP through activities to desired effect.
Deliver a best-in-class Annual Impact Report in partnership with GPAP’s Impact Measurement Specialist.
Baseline and demonstrate communication progress through outcome focused metrics and data through regular evaluation reports.
Ensure high quality and efficient delivery with external consultants and service providers.
People management
Manage one or more communication and impact professionals providing leadership and supporting team members to grow and excel.
The successful candidate will be assessed on
Creation of up-to-date content for the GPAP social media channels.
Delivery of a communications strategy and action plan with regular progress monitoring.
Creation of communications materials for engagement internally and externally.
Proactive attitude and cooperation with the broader team to create opportunities and to establish and improve stakeholder engagement.
Effective collaboration with the Global Plastic Action Partnership network to ensure a coordinated, global communications campaign.
Self-motivated, high-energy and supportive individual with the ability to grow with the role.
Excellent communicator capable of motivating a team, working cross-functionally and liaising with external stakeholders as needed
Preferred requirements and experience
Degree in communication, marketing and media engagement, strategy or equivalent, with broad intellectual background.
Experience and interest in environmental sustainability. Specific experience in plastics or circular economy issues would be an asset.
At least seven years of relevant professional experience in the public, private or civil society sectors, working with different industries to build global campaigns and communications strategies touching on the public and private sectors.
Ability to work with C-suite business leaders and leading issue experts in academia, international organizations, governments and NGOs, as well as with representatives from grassroots organizations.
Experience with public relations agencies, media consultants and working with communications professionals is a strong advantage.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with an understanding of stakeholder needs. A committed, collaborative, positive and solution-oriented team player.
Proficient in MS Office; experience with digital platforms and tools would be an asset.
Ability to build and execute a social media strategy.
Experience in providing communications advice to senior leaders.
Strong editorial judgement, writing and editing skills. Journalism experience would be an asset.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English. Proficiency in other languages desirable.
Good analytical capabilities.
High standards of professionalism and integrity with a collaborative spirit and positive attitude.
Why work at the Forum:
The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!
