Global Canopy - Strategic Communications Director by Oxford HR

Strategic Communications Director March 2021

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Welcome to Global Canopy We’re so pleased you found us. Global Canopy is a data-driven think tank that targets the market forces destroying nature.

Our recent work spearheading a new reporting framework for market impacts and dependence on nature has the support of financial institutions and companies worldwide – and has been championed in recent months by both the UN Secretary General, and President Macron of France.

Over the last two years, fires raging in the Amazon have focused global attention on this critical issue like never before. In response, 230 investors with USD $16.2 trillion in assets under management publicly demanded corporate action on deforestation in the Amazon and beyond.

As the world continues to face down the coronavirus crisis, much remains unknown - but it is clear that tackling our unsustainable relationship with nature will be vital in preventing future pandemics, with all the devastation they bring.

Many of these investors rely on our data and insights to tackle this problem. We also help the companies they finance to better address their own risks related to deforestation.

Global Canopy is a friendly and exciting place to work – and you will have the full support of the team to make this role a success. We are entrepreneurial, straightforward, and we value diversity.

Our information also helps improve accountability, and is used by campaigning organisations and journalists worldwide.

Please join us, this is urgent.

Global Canopy is at the heart of a global movement to change markets by making their impacts and dependencies on nature more transparent and accountable.

Niki Mardas Executive Director

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What we do Global Canopy is a data-driven think tank that targets the market forces destroying nature. We do this by improving transparency and accountability. We provide innovative open-access data, clear metrics, and actionable insights to leading companies, financial institutions, governments and campaigning organisations worldwide. • We enable leading companies, financial institutions and governments to identify and tackle impacts on nature in their supply chains and investments. • We improve accountability by shining a light on powerful players that are failing to act on this critical issue. • And we rank the performance of companies on deforestation and other social and environmental metrics, helping to improve ESG ratings on these issues.

• Trase - for the first time linking consumer markets to deforestation on the ground at scale. • ENCORE - a unique approach for financial institutions to estimate and explore the dependence of their portfolios on nature, and related financial risks. • TNFD - a nascent Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures - a ‘TCFD’ for nature - backed by major financial institutions, companies and governments. Over the critical years ahead, we will continue to innovate in linking markets to the origins of what they consume, and to the social and environmental impacts they cause. This will help achieve more accountable global markets - and fewer impacts on the ground.

Over the last 5 years, with partners we have created a set of groundbreaking open data platforms, including: • Forest 500 - identifying, assessing and ranking the 500 ‘powerbrokers of deforestation’

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The Role: Overview The Strategic Communications Director is accountable for all aspects of Global Canopy’s communications: leading and implementing our global communications and content strategy, leading a cross-programmatic communications team, and enhancing the reach and reputation of the organisation and its work.

You will be experienced in developing and leading influencing strategies, have an outstanding nose for stories, and a wide communications skillset including in working with research and data. You will be adaptable and solutions orientated in your approach, and have the drive and ambition to realise our goals.

Global Canopy is expanding its communications team in line with its 20212025 strategy. Our goal is to build out a world class communications function with a strong emphasis on turning our unique data into insights that can drive uptake and impact among key audiences in companies, financial institutions, governments and civil society.

As a member of our Leadership Team, you will work with senior staff across the organisation to set its future direction. You will contribute to quarterly Trustees’ meetings with accountability for strategic communications.

Your role will be to effectively lead and manage a team to provide the vision, expertise and drive to deliver on our ambitious goals through excellent communications. You will foster a culture of creativity and impact, support and mentor the team, and work in close collaboration with other departments and partner institutions.

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The Role: Responsibilities 1 – Communications strategy, planning, implementation and monitoring (60%) • Lead and contribute to the planning and implementation of organisational and programmatic communications strategies, ensuring an integrated approach, particularly with the engagement team. • Ensure the organisation is leveraging its data and information through an effective content strategy. • Maintain key messages for the organisation ensuring we tell our story effectively, and in line with our evolving strategy and changing external circumstances. • Oversee our media and PR work, building strong relationships with key media. • Lead on thematic communications campaigns that connect the work of different parts of the organisation, responding to the external news agenda. • Enhance the profile of the organisation and senior leaders, through media opportunities, events and networks. • Identify and manage potential reputational risks, and lead crisis management if needed. • Oversee monitoring, evaluation and learning for our communications work.

2 – Management (30%) • Lead on resourcing, capability and structure of the communications team including line management and coaching of communications team. • Develop a culture of creativity and excellence in communications across the organisation. • Member of GC’s Strategic Leadership Team, with shared responsibility for overall organisational strategy and impact. 3 – Partnership and external representation (10%) • Enabling and building strong partnerships, including with media networks, advocacy organisations and others as relevant. • Contributing to programmatic funding proposals from a communications perspective. • External representation for Global Canopy as a spokesperson as needed. • Engaging with key stakeholders, advocating for our position and working to advance our mission

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Organogram Global Canopy Board

Executive Director Executive Coordinator

Policy Director Trase Lead

Trase Team 3x staff

Programmes & Impact Director

Corporate Performance Team 4x staff

Finance Sector 3x staff

Finance Director

Strategic Communications Director

Development Director

Director of Engagement

Accounts & office Team 4x staff

Communications Lead - Core

Fundraising officer

Engagement team x2

Communications/ Content Leads • Finance sector x 2 • Corporate performance • Trase x 2

Communications Team • Comms officer • Graphic designer • Other temporary staff

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About you To be successful in this role, these are the things that will matter the most: • Influencing - you will bring excellence in using communications as part of an outreach / engagement / advocacy strategy where impact is achieved through behaviour change among key audiences and networks. • Strategy – you can demonstrate an ability to lead and oversee a research/data-driven content strategy, with experience of content commissioning, production and marketing. • Management experience – you will have a strong track record of building, developing, and managing diverse and high-performing teams, including in a matrix arrangement. • Sector understanding – a track record in a relevant sector will be important, this might be sustainability, climate change, ESG, or international development with either NGOs, Think Tanks, purpose-lead companies or consultancies. You will be excellent at working with, and speaking to companies, financial institutions, governments, civil society and the media. • Passion - you will share our passion and unending drive to tackle the climate and nature crisis. Essential behavioural competencies we are looking for: • Excellent judgement: the ability to listen to a range of voices, and bring a considered and pragmatic point of view to decision-making based on evidence and experience. • A solutions and action-oriented approach within your team: able to

prioritise and focus on results without getting distracted. Sees work through to completion. • Outstanding at building positive relationships: working collaboratively, creating buy-in. • Entrepreneurial and adaptable: able to respond flexibly to a fast-moving internal and external context, and to get new ideas off the ground. • A coaching and mentoring approach: able to challenge in a supportive way, helping others to learn. Skills and experience you will bring: • Track record in growing, managing and leading communications functions in a relevant setting, including the development and implementation of strategic communications plans. • Excellent written and verbal communication and presenting skills, and a track record of overseeing the development and dissemination of outstanding content grounded in research. You will be a good writer and editor and media training experience would be an advantage. • Experience of building and maintaining relationships at all levels, and partnering with other organisations to leverage impact and achieve objectives. • Experience working on global projects and with people from different backgrounds and cultures. • Track record of influencing and engaging with stakeholders at a high level, leading to a change in policy, behaviour or approach.

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Salary & benefits Salary £60,000 - £65,000 Nature of contract Full time and permanent. We are a flexible employer and welcome candidates wishing to work flexibly. Base Home-based until Covid-19 restrictions lift. Then at least one day a week in Global Canopy’s office in central Oxford.

Healthcare cashback plan Covering dental fees, eye-care, wellbeing, massages, physio, chiropody and much more – for you and any children. Employee Assistance Programme Which provides free, confidential advice on personal and legal matters. Other Huge range of discounts and cashback deals at gyms, restaurants, holidays, and much more.

Holidays 28 days holiday plus bank holidays and the option to buy up to the maximum of 5 additional days for a full time member of staff. Pension Employer pension contribution of 5%.

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Our Values As an entrepreneurial organisation committed to achieving system-wide change, we operate in a challenging environment. We value high standards in both what we do and in how we do it, seeking to make a positive difference in every interaction. Our organisational values help guide our ways of working and keep us accountable to these standards:

Inclusive We celebrate diversity, value teamwork and support individuals to fulfil their potential. Clear We listen actively, think critically and communicate with clarity.

Entrepreneurial We develop bold new ideas to catalyse system wide change. Impactful We learn from what works, hold ourselves and others accountable and work in collaboration with others

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How to apply All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter. Please provide a CV and cover letter in two different documents.

Selection process All candidates will be notified about the status of their applications within 14 days of the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The documents should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyyyy) e.g., Malika Cook-CV-032021Global-Canopy.

All correspondence should be directed to Oxford HR.

Timeline Closing Date:

21st April 2021. Early application is encouraged. We may close applications early if suitable candidates are identified.

First Interviews: We endeavour to conduct interviews the week of 3rd May. Interviews will take place via video call. Equality statement At Global Canopy, diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority. You can read our diversity statement on the website. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and are committed to having a team with a diverse set of skills, experiences and abilities.

Queries If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion about this role, please email global.canopy-comms.dir@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.

Please do not print this Candidate Pack, for a plain text version please click here. Please note that all our clients recruiting in the UK are legally obliged to confirm that the appointee is eligible to work in the UK. As of 1 January 2021, government’s new regulations will apply. For further information visit the Home Office website here.

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OXFORD

LONDON

AMSTERDAM

NAIROBI

The Old Music Hall 106-108 Cowley Road Oxford OX4 1JE

Three Tuns House, 109 Borough High Street, London SE1 1NL

Korte Schimmelstraat 12 1053 SZ Amsterdam

Watermark Business Park Cove Court, 1st Floor Ndege Road off Langata Road

United Kingdom

The Netherlands

Kenya

+44 (0) 1865 403 298

+44 (0)20 7939 7451

+31 (0) 683 334 473

+254 (0) 797 233 217

www.oxfordhr.co.uk | Company No. 6456325

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