Job Description

Job title:Advisor (China Communications & Forest Asia Programme)

Reporting to:China Programme Leader & Asia Forest Campaign Leader

Location:London, with overseas travel as required

Duration: Full time until 31 December 2018

About the role

You will be working with colleagues to develop Global Witness’ China communications strategy as well as designing and delivering strategic communications support for all Global Witness public-facing work in China to increase the organisation’s profile andimpact.

You will also play an important role in Global Witness’ research and advocacy work, where it relates to China, supporting programmes aimed at exposing and preventing corruption, human rights abuses and environmental destruction linked to the international timber trade.

Key Responsibilities

Communications

  • Lead on the development and delivery of Global Witness’s overarching China communications strategy, in collaboration with the broader Communications and China teams;
  • Work with UK-based communications advisors and Asia-based China team members to design and deliver effective communications strategies around key moments, drafting audience-appropriate messaging, creating mainstream and social media materials, pitching stories, delivering influential media coverage and stimulating debate in mainstream and social media.
  • Help build relationships for the organisation with key journalists, commentators and other public mobilisers as appropriate and proactively look for alternative/innovative ways to communicate our core messages;
  • Monitor and keep Global Witness up-to-date with key trends and changes in the Chinese media landscape, public opinion and newsworthy issuesand adapt strategy as appropriate to ensure high impact messages;
  • Spot opportunities for Global Witness to help forward our goals;
  • Maintain the Global Witness planneras relevant;
  • Help monitor and evaluate communications activity and contribute to organisational and team evaluation.

Research and advocacy

  • Work closely with programme teams to develop and implement strategies for engaging with government, industry and civil society to raise awareness of issues associated with China’s international timber trade and promote measures to prevent the trade in illegal and unsustainable timber;
  • Plan and carry out desk researchinto governance, social and environmental issues in the forestry and land sectors in priority forested countries in South East Asia and the Pacific region;
  • Work closely with programme teams to build, develop, influence and maintain a strong network of decision makers and opinion formers;
  • Support in developing and participating in coalitions with a diverse range of stakeholders;
  • Contribute to the development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of Global Witness’ advocacy and campaign outcomes.

Ways of working and collaborating

  • Work collaboratively with colleagues across Global Witness to collectively deliver our mission, vision and aims;
  • Make a positive contribution to the teams and the wider organisation by playing an active role in organisational working groups and meetings;
  • Demonstrate a strong commitment to creating an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace;
  • Work within Global Witness’ policies, processes and procedures at all times.

Other

  • Any other duties equal to the skills and responsibilities required for this role as directed by the Programme Leader or Campaign Leader.
  • Contribute to the development of funding proposals and internal and external reporting, working with Global Witness’s Finance and Development teams as needed.

Person Specification

Essential

  • Knowledge of international development, human rights, or environmental issues, particularly related to the natural resources sector;
  • Recognised ability to develop, build and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders;
  • Strong interpersonal qualities, including experience of inspiring, negotiating and working with colleagues to deliver excellent strategies and communications;
  • Strong desk-based research skills;
  • Excellent understanding of the Chinese communications context and trends;
  • Experience developing and implementing advocacy strategies;
  • Proven evidence of delivering successful strategic communications strategies in China, and knowledge of how strategic communications can contribute to advocacy campaigns;
  • Experience of producing a diverse range of written publications including reports, policy briefings, press releases and social media materials;
  • Excellent writing and/or broadcast skills, including the ability to summarise complex data and make it accessible to mainstream and social media;
  • Excellent media contacts and understanding of the traditional and digital Chinese media environment;
  • Strong editorial judgment and understanding of different Chinese audiences, content, media formats, and reputational risk associated with different issues;
  • Strong planning and project management skills;
  • Demonstrable ability to meet deadlines and prioritise when working under pressure on a number of projects;
  • Fluent written and spoken Mandarin and English.

Desirable

  • Familiarity with Chinese government agencies and policies dealing with natural resource sectors, foreign policy, trade and the environment, and experience engaging with Chinese government, industry and civil society stakeholders;
  • Experience achieving change through international advocacy with a broad range of stakeholders including governments, intergovernmental organisations and industry;
  • Ability to travel.