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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Experience: You have experience international strategic communications, ideally within food systems, climate, biodiversity or sustainable development
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
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.
If based in the Netherlands: €76,000 – €95,000 (excluding 8% vacation allowance)
If based in the UK: £67,000 - £84,000
Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.