Senior Manager of Strategic Communications

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Senior Manager of Strategic Communications

London, United Kingdom The Hague, The Netherlands

Application Deadline

Application Deadline March 21, 2026 Job Function Work Schedule Part time Work Arrangement Office Flex (Hybrid) Job Requisition ID 2026-JR100119 Job is Closed

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in London or the Hague. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

This is a part time role working at 0.6 FTE/24 hours per week.

The initial contract period will run until 31 December 2026 with the possibility of extension.

About the Program

The Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) is a self-governed Coalition of organisations working collaboratively to achieve a shared objective : the urgent transformation of food and land use systems to deliver a better future for people, nature and climate. FOLU supports science-based solutions and helps to build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities to unlock collective, ambitious action.

As FOLU enters a phase of strategic sharpening, maintaining a coherent, differentiated and high-quality global brand across a distributed coalition is critical. This requires disciplined alignment between global positioning and country level communications, stronger extraction and elevation of impact stories, and continued refinement of FOLU's distinctive role within the food systems ecosystem.

As the Strategic Communications Manager , you will lead this next phase of institutional strengthening.

Job Highlight:

In this role, you will ensure that FOLU operates as one coherent, strategically positioned global brand across all geographies by connecting national narratives with global food systems challenges, shifts and moments .

You will focus on:

• Embedding and enforcing FOLU's global messaging and brand standards across Country Platforms
• Elevating country-level impact into compelling global and donor-facing narratives
• Strengthening strategic communications capability and maturity across the Coalition
• Sharpening FOLU's differentiated positioning within the global food systems landscape
• Delivering a small number of high leverage external visibility moments annually .

This is a senior, influence based leadership role requiring strong political judgement, coalition diplomacy, and institutional authority. You will set standards and direction centrally while working through influence and partnership with country teams.

The role will work closely with 1.5 FTE central communications, country communications leads (with dotted reporting lines), and limited external agency support.

What you will do: Brand Coherence & Governance:

• Embed and operationalise FOLU's global message house across Country Platforms.
• Strengthen brand standards, messaging consistency, and editorial quality
• Ensure a clear and consistent institutional identity globally and nationally.

Global-Country Integration:

• Provide strategic direction and guidance to communications leads in Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and emerging platforms in China and Brazil
• Align country communications plans with global strategic priorities
• Elevate high impact country stories into global narratives that demonstrate systems change and institutional additionality
• Foster a culture of strategic communication across the Coalition.

Differentiation & Institutional Positioning:

• Work with senior leadership to refine and articulate FOLU's differentiated value proposition to funders and senior policymakers
• Distinguish FOLU's positioning relative to research institutions, advocacy NGOs, campaign groups and finance platforms.

High Leverage External Influence:

• Identify and lead 1-2 major global visibility opportunities to deliver on FOLU's strategic value
• Advise senior leadership on positioning for major international moments (e.g. COPs, G7/G20, Climate Weeks, UN processes)
• Shape high level thought leadership outputs (e.g. flagship op eds, speeches, executive briefings)
• Focus on influence and agenda shaping rather than volume of media coverage.

Strategic Advisory & Risk Management:

• Provide senior counsel to the Executive Director and senior leadership team on reputational risk and political positioning
• Monitor shifts in global food systems discourse and recommend proactive narrative positioning
• Ensure communications supports long term institutional resilience and funding sustainability
• Develop and implement crisis communication plans to effectively manage and mitigate potential risks to FOLU's reputation.
• Lead and mentor central communications staff
• Strengthen strategic planning cycles and prioritisation
• Ensure efficient use of agency support
• Embed performance metrics focused on influence, coherence, and institutional strength.

What will you need:

• Experience: You have experience international strategic communications , ideally within food systems, climate, biodiversity or sustainable development
• Demonstrated experience at a senior level influencing senior executives, external thought leaders, and institutional positions
• Supervisory and budget management experience
• Strong and innovative grasp of media relations strategy; understanding of digital, broadcast, and social media; with a proven track record of securing high level placement of stories and quotes in top media outlets
• Demonstrated experience working with complex partnerships, coalition dynamics and multi stakeholder governance
• Demonstrated relationship management skills across diverse geographies and cultures
• Exceptional writing and editorial capability, with the ability to transform technical research into compelling narratives
• Strong political judgement and reputational risk assessment skills
• Experience producing high level thought leadership materials for senior audiences
• Experience managing communications teams, supported by the ability to coach others and elevate institutional capability

Requirements:

Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to support visa applications.

The salaries listed below are based on full time working hours (40 hours per week). The salary for this role will be prorated as it is a 24 hour per week role.

€ 76 ,000 - € 95 ,000 (excluding 8% vacation allowance)

£ 67 ,000 - £ 84 ,000

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with a cover letter by 20 March 2026. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.

What we offer:

• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure.

About Us:

World Resources Institute works to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyse change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.

Our mission and values:

WRI's mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership and Care.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Our People team carefully reviews all applications.

For details on how we process your personal data, please see our privacy policy. WRI is an equal opportunity employer and are committed to promoting a diverse workplace. If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for employment, please contact WRI's Human Resources department at +1 .