Head of Communications

Purpose of role: To lead on communications at WFN: an impactful fundraising and grant-giving wildlife conservation charity focused on supporting grassroots projects in the Global South.
Reports to: Director
Contract: Full-time permanent contract, working 5 days p/w
Deadline: 12th January 2025 (before end of day). Initial interviews will be targeted for w/c 20th January.

Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN)

Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is a UK-registered charity (no. 1081455) offering funding (Awards), training and media profile to inspiring leaders of wildlife conservation projects across the Global South. Established in 1993, we have channelled £23 million to 220 conservation leaders in 80 countries, benefitting wildlife, landscapes, and people. We support pragmatic, sustainable, and long-lasting work rooted in science and ethical community involvement. The charity funds projects directly and we remain in regular contact with Award winners (grantees). WFN also raises awareness of the serious problems facing wildlife, landscapes, climate, and people, through promoting the work of winners. We focus support on nationals (leaders who were either born in the country where they work or have gained nationality) and aim to help build the capacity of successful local NGOs and grassroots work. We fund mainly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America where income is often hardest to raise and can have the biggest impact for people and biodiversity. Our funding is raised each year, mainly from family foundations and trusts, as well as from individuals, corporates, and international NGOs, with a current annual income of £2.6m/year. WFN is governed by a committed trustee board. Our team is dynamic, passionate about our mission and ambitious. The charity benefits from high profile support from Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, and Ambassadors Sir David Attenborough, Kate Humble, Tom Heap, and Alastair Fothergill.

WFN’s Vision, Mission, and Values

Vision:
We envisage a future where communities and wildlife thrive together on a healthy planet.

Mission:
To halt and reverse the loss of Earth’s biodiversity and wild places, working alongside local people to create a future where communities and wildlife thrive together on a healthy planet.

We achieve our mission by:

• Providing funding, recognition, and training to proven grassroots conservation leaders working across the Global South.
• Supporting the long-term growth and scale up of impactful conservation solutions backed by science.
• Raising the profile of conservationists' work and their ability to effect positive environmental change.

Values:

Integrity - We act with integrity in all we do, fostering a culture that is responsible, uplifting, transparent, inclusive, and unified in achieving our mission while holding ourselves to the highest standards. We are accountable to the conservation leaders we champion and to the partners who support us.

Science-driven - We support evidence-based conservation work across the Global South that is informed by the latest science and founded on community involvement. We monitor and evaluate the impact of our activities, publish our results, and use them to drive our future actions.

Collaborative - We work collaboratively, actively seeking to partner and exchange learnings with others who share our vision. We foster collaboration among our international network of Whitley Award winning conservationists to enable the growth of proven conservation solutions and nurture their ability to effect positive change.

Ambitious - We are ambitious; a pioneer in the field of funding grassroots conservationists, we seek to continually move the dial for environmental protection. We actively listen and respond to the needs of our award winners and think outside the box to catalyse impact on the ground. We aim high, celebrate conservation success, and remain optimistic about our future and the difference we can all make.

Position of Head of Communications

“Saving our planet is now a communications challenge. We know what to do, we just need the will” Sir David Attenborough.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join us in the role of Head of Communications. This varied role offers the successful candidate a key position at WFN, leading on setting and implementing WFN’s annual Communications & Engagement Strategy, and supporting on charity and Award winner (grantee) PR. The Head of Communications is responsible for digital communications (including website, e-letters, video and social media), printed publications, and branding. They report to the Director, work in tandem with the Head of Media Relations, and will receive day-to-day support with social media and production of digital and event materials from the Communications Assistant, who they also line manage. They regularly assist in helping organise exciting events, such as our annual Whitley Awards Ceremony as well as timely communications campaigns relevant to the environment sector.

Strong writing ability and an eye for design are required to deliver communications across the charity, including across printed and digital platforms. If you are a creative self-starter with a passion for communicating positive conservation stories to a diverse audience, possess excellent organisational skills and are accustomed to managing a varied workload, then this role is for you. The successful candidate will have a desire to contribute to the mission of an effective wildlife conservation charity and build the profile of both the organisation and our winners.

HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS – PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

Essential:

• Demonstrable history working in a similar role within the charity/NGO sector
• Excellent writing ability
• A creative thinker with an eye for design, with a track record of producing effective digital and print communications for a wide range of audiences and stakeholders
• Experience building timely campaigns and keeping content fresh while staying on brand to increase engagement
• Confident webmaster/editor (WordPress experience preferred)
• Experience setting social media strategy, and using online tools such as Canva and Hootsuite to aid with content creation and scheduling
• Competency with basic video editing
• Strong interpersonal skills (interface with team members, trustees, media, donors, suppliers, international grantees)
• Proven success in leading PR campaigns and securing media coverage
• Extremely organised, with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail
• Proficient in Microsoft Office - Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Able to manage and prioritise a varied workload within deadline
• Capable to work as part of team and on own initiative
• Flexible ‘can do’ approach and will flourish in a small office environment
• Understanding of key issues in wildlife conservation
• Proven ability in effective budgeting, negotiating and budget management
• Willing to positively contribute to our team and culture by upholding our Values.

 Desirable

• Previous line management experience
• Experience with event organisation
• Competency using Salesforce database and/or Mailchimp
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite and/or Keynote
• Experience working with high profile individuals

Additional Details Related to the Position

• Attractive holiday package totalling 28 days p.a. plus bank holidays
• Access to confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance Scheme based on salary
• The charity operates a Pension Scheme.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship. Only applicants who have the right to work in the UK at the time of application will be considered for this role.

Diversity and Inclusion

At WFN we are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse organisation, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. We celebrate and respect diversity in nature and among the people and partners with whom we work. We need more people and diversity across the environment sector, and to achieve our vision. We are therefore particularly keen to receive applications from Black, Asian or minority ethnic; disabled; LGBTQ+; or from lower socio-economic backgrounds. As a small organisation we are committed to progress and continue development across Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. Please contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application. Applications are considered solely on your demonstrated suitability for the role.