Communications Officer

£24,000 to £27,500 per annum (depending on experience)

BGCI is seeking a Communications Officer to highlight the important conservation work being carried out by BGCI, our members, and our partners. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Services, the Communications Officer will be responsible for developing and coordinating content for BGCI’s website and communications channels, leading the development and implementation of BGCI’s Social Media activities, supporting the development and implementation of BGCI’s media and communication outreach activities, and supporting BGCI Project’s communications and outreach activities.

About BGCI

There are an estimated 2,500 botanic gardens and arboreta in the world attracting 750 million visitors each year. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is at the centre of this network. Our members include the largest, most renowned gardens on the planet – Kew, New York, Missouri, Singapore, Sydney and Shanghai –and they also include many smaller gardens situated in the world’s plant diversity hotspots. All of these member gardens share a commitment to making sure that no plant species becomes extinct, and they have a combined workforce of many thousands of horticulturalists and scientists working towards that end.

BGCI provides support to its members in many different ways: we are an advocate for the botanic garden community, promoting the role of botanic gardens in plant conservation policy, practice and education; we connect people, co-ordinating efforts and bringing people together to exchange ideas; we are a knowledge hub, providing training, learning resources and professional support; and we provide funding and technical support to efforts aimed at saving plants.

Central to BGCI’s role in advocating for the botanic garden community are our efforts to communicate about the important conservation work being carried out by BGCI, our members, and our partners. We recently launched a landmark report, ‘State of the World’s Trees’, documenting the conservation status of the world’s 60,000 tree species. This report indicated that 30% of the world’s tree species are at risk of extinction.

Detailed Position Description

We are looking for a Communications Officer to deliver BGCI’s communications. Specific tasks will include:

Developing and coordinating content for BGCI’s communications channels (incl. websites, newsletters, publications, and others).  This will include:

•                     Working across BGCI to source content and identify relevant services, projects, and other content to profile;

•                     Managing BGCI’s websites (including institutional and project websites) and developing content including but not limited to press releases, blogs, member highlights, project overviews, case studies, and other publications;

•                     Support the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Services in developing and delivering a BGCI website strategy;

•                     Producing a range of communications products including but not limited to audio and video multi-media content including interviews and compilation from existing stock resources, infographics, enhanced photo content, and other assets as needed;

•                     Assisting with design and layout of digital and some printed content, including marketing materials and event-specific products;

•                     Creating email marketing campaigns or individual emails for external audiences (i.e. BGCI’s Cultivate newsletter); and

•                     Helping with editing and other requests as needed. 

Leading the development and implementation of BGCI’s Social Media activities.  This will include:

•                     Coordinating, maintaining and ensuring high quality social media activity on BGCI social media networks;

•                     Further developing BGCI’s presence on social media networks, including coordinating BGCI social media campaigns for major reports, specific BGCI initiatives or events or additional channels as appropriate to meet BGCI communications goals; and

•                     Identifying new opportunities to communicate across social and digital media by identifying new platforms and monitoring evolving social media trends and best practices. 

Supporting the development and implementation of BGCI’s media and communication outreach activities.  This will include:

•                     Implementing BGCI’s media strategy; coordinating and monitoring all media activity; developing and managing a spokesperson roster; arranging media interviews for experts; and effectively promoting BGCI’s activities (institutional and project) to relevant media;

•                     Supporting BGCI in its relationships with media and media contractors;

•                     Ensuring brand alignment across BGCI projects, initiatives and outreach platforms where necessary through the implementation of the revised 2021 Brand Guidelines; and

•                     Coordinating communication and outreach activities related to project outcomes, conferences, and workshops. 

Supporting BGCI Project’s communications and outreach activities including:

• BGCI’s Global Biodiversity Standard;
• BGCI’s Ukraine Disaster Fundraising Appeal;
• The Global Tree Assessment; and others 

Person Specification

BGCI is seeking to appoint a person with strong communications skills. Candidates for this post will have a proven track record working for a conservation or scientific organisation, preferably in plant conservation. The post holder will demonstrate sensitivity to complex, multicultural and multinational institutions and structures. 

Education and Experience

Essential

• Eligibility to work in the United Kingdom;
• University degree in Communications, Journalism, Digital Marketing or a field relevant to communications or BGCI’s work;

Desirable

• 3+ years relevant work experience
• Experience of working for a not-for-profit organisation
• Knowledge of botanic gardens, nature conservation, zoos, museums, or related disciplines ideally gained through direct personal experience

Skills and competencies

Essential

• Sound knowledge of social media strategy, tools and best practices;
• Strong technical skills including:

o   Proficiency with social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Vimeo;

o   Experience scheduling posts and monitoring through third party social media managing tools;

o   Familiarity with graphic design, photo, video and audio editing software; and

o   Experience with email distribution applications, customer/contact relationship management systems and web content management systems (WordPress).

•                     Outstanding writing and editing skills; strong attention to detail; ability to turn technical information into compelling stories;

•                     Highly self-motivated, directed, with keen attention to detail;

•                     Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment;

•                     Customer service-oriented individual with excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to effectively work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment; and;

•                     Fluent in English.

Desirable

•                     Command of additional languages;

•                     Existing relationship with press and media; and

•                     Knowledge of conservation approaches and methodologies. 

Application Process

Interested applicants should submit a CV and a cover letter of two pages maximum, explaining the candidate’s motivation and providing concrete evidence of why they are suitable for the position.

Please send your CV, cover letter and the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form to info@bgci.org

The Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form can be downloaded from

https://www.bgci.org/job/education-and-training-officer-botanic-gardens-conservation-international/

Closing date for applications is 19^th October 2022

BGCI is committed to putting equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our organisation. We are committed to ensuring a working environment in which all individuals are free from discrimination and in which opportunities are equal to all. We encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly those underrepresented within our sector.