Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

Partners against Wildlife Crime Project

Digital Media / Communications Specialists (Consultants)

Terms of reference

1. Background

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US-headquartered organization that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity.

With long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 countries, and experience helping to establish over 250 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

Project background

Wildlife trafficking is devastating populations of many species across the globe; the problem is most extreme in Southeast Asia. A large number of species native to the region are now threatened primarily by poaching due to an international demand for their specimens, parts and products, particularly from China. 

In 2019, WCS launched an initiative to leverage civil society partnerships to increase the effectiveness of Asian governments’ action to end the wildlife trade. The “Partners Against Wildlife Crime” project is a 10M€ Action funded by the European Union (EU) and is implemented in seven countries through a consortium of 12 international and national partner organizations. Its aim is to disrupt illicit supply chains from source to market for tiger, Asian elephant, Siamese rosewood, and freshwater turtles.

2. Objectives of the assignment

Brief description

The Consultant(s) will provide communication support to the European Union (EU)-funded ‘Partners against Wildlife Crime” project. Beyond the dissemination of project information and knowledge products, the objective of this assignment is to build local capacity to grow a regional community of followers online, to share news and updates on the project through communications channels and inspire followers to stand against wildlife crime, under the EU-funded project banner.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the delivery of project wide digital media and communications content for remaining project activities and timeline. This will include consultation with project partners and relevant communications staff, metrics for monitoring activity and results, and support to develop communication material on project outputs.
• Support presentation of case studies from project activities to highlight achievements across the project including documents and video content.
• Maintain project social media channels including management of posts and content.
• Create attractive content and publish relevant information regularly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and/or other outlets, as deemed strategically appropriate (possibly linked to a project webpage).
• Coordinate conversation management (comments, private messages, and reactions).
• Monitor activity and results, evaluate and report web and social media metrics, and provide feedback about social media performance.
• Develop an internal platform or internal communications mechanism to provide strategic communication support to project partners and share lessons learnt on engagement with and management of communication channels, including social media.
• Develop training materials and deliver training for WCS and project partner staff on digital media strategies, content creation, communications approaches including lessons learned and project achievements, and guidelines for conversation management.
• Work with project staff to procure and manage local providers on the development and delivery of video content for communication of project activities in four of the project countries. Activities highlighted will include project partners and the overall achievements of the project.

3. Deliverables

• A minimum of eight new pieces of communications content per month including social media outlets (1 per each country and 1 regional).
• Completion of case studies for each project country (minimum 7 documents/case studies).
• Monthly report of web and social media metrics.
• Training content for project partner staff on communications including, but not limited to, relevant social media management, digital media strategies and content creation.
• Four digital video products highlighting specific project achievements.

4. Duration of assignment and expected place of work

Period of Performance: 7 (Seven) months, 1^st August 2023 – 29^th February 2024.

Work station: Predominantly home-based. The consultant(s) will provide services remotely. Travel to provide inputs to one regional training and lessons sharing event to be held in a project country will also be expected (e.g., Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia).

5. Reporting

The consultant(s) will be managed by and report to the Regional Coordinator, Partners against Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Delivery plan as above.

6. Qualifications

Profile: Experienced communications specialist(s) with knowledge and practical experience of creating relevant catchy communications, with a vision and the following profile:

• Graduated in media and communication (social and mass media, development communication, etc.) or related field (journalism, digital marketing, etc.) and/or
• Proven and verifiable professional experience in mass media development and communication; experience in strategic communications is desirable.
• Digitally savvy, with an up-to-date knowledge of today’s social media platforms.
• Web-design, video production and graphic design experience.
• Knowledge of Illegal Wildlife Trade issues and activities across Asia is a preferred asset.
• Proven writing, editing, and speaking skills in English is a must.

Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications should apply by sending a cover letter, CV, and price proposal to: wcsthairegional@wcs.org. Please include “Digital Media Consultants” in the subject line of your email. Applications will be processed on a first come, first serve basis.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.

The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.

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