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Director of Communications and Outreach in the Technical Support Unit (IPCC WGII)

Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is filling the position of

Director of Communications & Outreach in the Technical Support Unit (IPCC WGII)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is in its Sixth Assessment cycle. The Working Group II Technical Support Unit (WGII TSU), which provides the scientific, technical and organisational support of the activities and products of the Working Group focusing on the Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability of Climate Change, is employed through the Alfred-Wegener-Institute in Bremen, Germany.

Tasks

  • You will coordinate the communications of WGII during the IPCC Sixth Assessment cycle
  • You will and be responsible for the communication-related activities of WGII and TSU, including coordinating the development of outreach materials and webpages, and supporting the scientific assessment to provide clear communication in text and graphics material for a non-specialist audience
  • Outreach activities include the organization of national and international media workshops and briefings, as well as engagement with stakeholders and outreach events for policymakers, stakeholders, scientists, students and the general public
  • You will work closely with the WGII Co-Chairs, Head of TSU, Science Advisor, the Graphics and Science teams of the TSU, the authors of the WGII report, and coordinate with the communications experts in the TSUs of Working Groups I and III and the IPCC Secretariat to support the development of methods and products for communicating IPCC findings to policymakers and other diverse, non-specialist audiences and stakeholders
  • You will work alongside other communication experts contracted or within the TSU to facilitate enhanced communication
  • You will interact with national and international media, respond to inquiries, and prepare authors for interviews

Requirements

  • An understanding of different means of communication; experience in qualified handling media and other information requests, demonstrated e.g. by a degree in marketing, public relations, or journalism
  • Experience in science writing in understandable, clear language avoiding jargon
  • Experience in communicating complex scientific concepts to a non-specialist audience;
  • Ability to translate scientific text of a specialized or technical nature for communication to a wider audience (e.g., FAQs)
  • Experience in preparing press releases and media communications on scientific topics;
  • Experience in working with the national and international media, including from developing countries
  • Experience in communication training, media briefings and press conference
  • Experience in working with online and social media
  • Experience in organizing national and international outreach events
  • Fluency in written and spoken English, fluency in additional languages, especially German and/or one or more of the six official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish), is an advantage
  • High motivation and capability to work in a small international team with a common long-term goal
  • Capacity to work efficiently, respect time constraints, and possess a high degree of stress-resistance

Additional advantageous knowledge and skills

  • Experience working with the UN or WMO, in particular IPCC or UNFCCC, would be an asset

Further Information

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Hans-Otto Pörtner (hans.poertner@ipcc-wg2.awi.de; +49(471)4831-2440).

The full-time position is limited to 2 years with the potential for a further extension until the completion of the project, expected at about 3 to 3.5 years. The salary will be paid in accordance with the German Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes (TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13. The place of employment will be Bremen.

This characterizes AWI

  • our scientific success – excellent research.
  • collaboration and cooperation – intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary.
  • opportunities to develop – on the job, aiming at other positions and beyond AWI.
  • a culture of reconciling work and family – audited, and even more than that.
  • our outstanding research infrastructure – ships, stations, aircraft, laboratories and more.
  • an international environment – everyday contacts with people from all over the world.
  • having an influence – fundamental research with social and political relevance
  • flat hierarchies – freedom and responsibility.
  • exciting topics – also in technology, administration and infrastructure.

Equal opportunities for women and men are an integral part of our personnel policy. Therefore, we encourage women to apply.

Disabled applicants will be given preference when equal qualifications are present. The AWI fosters the compatibility of work and family through various means.

Because of our engagement in the area of work-life compatibility we have been awarded the certificate “Career and Family”.

We look forward to your application!

Please forward your application by 6 November 2019 exclusively online at: https://recruitingapp-5442.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/452/Description/2

Reference number 112/D/KM-b