Projects Communications Expert

NEPCon is a mission-driven organization working to ensure responsible use of natural resources worldwide. Our core activity areas are certification, capacity building and environmental projects in forestry, wood processing and agricultural sectors. NEPCon has nearly 100 staff, located around Europe, Russia and Asia and operates through 12 legal entities.

NEPCon has engaged in sustainability services for more than 20 years, working with well-recognised certification schemes such as FSC and PEFC. We have also developed our own schemes for carbon footprint management certification and LegalSource certification of due diligence in legal timber sourcing.

In addition, NEPCon engages in international development projects that help to achieve our mission. Our projects work to help develop sustainability standards, conduct related research, develop knowledge in related fields, and build capacity among stakeholders. Our funders include development agencies, bi-lateral agencies, private foundations, and other private organisations. We engage in projects around the globe, including Europe, Asia and Africa.

NEPCon is currently seeking a Projects Communications Expert to lead our external communications work related to several international projects that we are currently implementing - primarily related to legal sourcing of timber, as well as sustainable-sourcing of key forest-impact commodities such as soy, palm oil, and cattle. The overall responsibility of the Communications Expert is designing and implementing the communications activities that are a key component of these projects, such as awareness-raising activities, media activities, and development of other types of communications documents such as guidelines, information leaflets, etc. An important component of this work is taking the technical information that is the result of our development project work (such as data or research results), and be able to transform it into understandable materials that are useful for our external stakeholders to help ensure that our projects achieve real impact on the ground.

We are now looking for a new colleague with a passion for helping to ensure environmental sustainability, particularly for mainstreaming sustainability among producers and supply chains. You will be part of an expanding organisation where we are used to working virtually across continents and offices. We are flexible and informal in our work styles and attitudes and try to consider the needs of each of our employees, while also being insistent on commitment to the delivery of high-quality work.

Primary Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing communication strategies, including awareness raising campaigns, for NEPCon’s key international development projects.
• Thinking innovatively about the challenge of communicating technical information to a diverse audience through a variety of mediums and putting the thinking into proactive action.
• Working closely with the Project Manager and Technical Manager to ensure project results are effectively conveyed to target audiences, and broader scope of NEPCon’s external stakeholders.
• Developing and executing media plans, including media campaign for awareness-raising, promotion of project work and engagement of stakeholders.
• Coordinating and taking initiative to produce written articles and news pieces that highlight the project’s progress and achievements.
• Providing communications support to related project events, such as training workshops and conferences on related topics.
• Develop templates designed from a communications perspective that are easy for technical experts to take-up and use.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience with taking complex ideas and making them comprehensible, including refining technical material to make it understandable to wider audience while still retaining the original meaning.
• 5+ years experience in all aspects of communications and visibility activities in international development and/or donor supported projects, and awareness-raising campaigns and outreach communications.
• Experience in development of communications materials in a business-to-business context is preferred.
• Experience in graphic design, including development of high-quality visual materials to help explain complicated concepts.
• University degree, preferably in communications, journalism, public relation, marketing or related fields.
• Excellent written and spoken communications skills in English is essential to this position. Additional written and spoken communication skills in other languages (especially Danish, French and/or Spanish) would be an added benefit.
• Experience with website development and management, development of high quality communications materials including video, and social media.
• Previous experience working projects funded by the EU or international development or bi-lateral agencies is an advantage

Personal Qualities

• Outgoing
• Great team member, can take direction, but can also develop an idea and drive it through to a successful result
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks at one time
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• Possess good communication skills, both in-person as well as written
• Works adaptively to a fast-paced and often changing work environment

We offer

• An exciting and challenging position within a dynamic and innovative international organisation with a mission-driven work atmosphere
• A friendly, international team of colleagues, with a pleasant work environment
• Salary commensurate with qualifications and performance
• Excellent opportunities for growth and professional development
• All employees are members of the organisation and have the opportunity to contribute to the overall development of NEPCon through the annual General Assembly
• International training in certification services provided by NEPCon

Position details

• Work time: full-time position  
• Working location: Denmark (Copenhagen or Aarhus), or potentially flexible for other NEPCon locations
• Some travel required
• Starting date: as soon as possible

Please submit your CV, and a letter of application, including approximate salary expectations, by 20th November 2015.

For questions, please contact:

Katie Miller

HR Manager, NEPCon          

Email: km@nepcon.net