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Forum for the Future,
A Project of Tides Center
Job Title: Corporate Communications Manager
Reports to: Jacqueline Culleton
FLSA Status: Exempt
Prepared Date: April 2015
POSITION SUMMARY:
Part of the global Communications and Networks Team, this new role will lead on developing
and delivering Forum’s US profile-raising strategy, whilst helping to deliver Forum’s global
communications strategy beyond the US. Building on and growing existing good networks
with relevant media and stakeholders, the post holder will develop and deliver creative, new
opportunities to engage Forum’s audience and build our reputation as leaders in sustainable,
system-wide change.
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Essential duties and responsibilities
Working with the Communications Lead to devise and deliver Forum’s
communications strategy internationally, with particular emphasis on the US
Raising Forum’s profile – and the profile of system innovation for sustainability - in the
US by leveraging a wide range of existing and new media and stakeholder contacts
Working on communications strategy and implementation for selected major projects
and partnerships with a particular US dimension, with support from other C+N and
delivery colleagues
Generating profile-raising opportunities for senior staff in all markets
Managing some of Forum’s Network members
ORGANISATIONAL CHART – Comms Team and US Office
Esther Maughan McLachlan
Director
Communications and Networks
Jacqueline Culleton
Communications
Lead
VACANT
Corporate
Comunications Manager
VACANT
Partner and Projects
Communications
Manager
Mel Trievnor
Events Coordinator
Julia Clough
PA &
Team Co ordinator
VACANT
PR Executive
Sam Kimmins
Network Manager
VACANT
Designer
Susanna Orchard
Membership Coordinator
Ulrike Stein
Membership Manager
VACANT
Senior Digital Strategist
Anna Simpson
Curator
Futures Centre
HJ Fantaskis
Digital Strategist
VACANT
Content and Community
Manager
C.
RESPONSIBILITIES (Key Results and Outcomes)
Action
Result
Work closely with the Comms Lead in the UK
to develop and implement the annual
organisational communications strategy,
ensuring outputs build our global reputation.
Forum’s annual communications strategy and
planned outputs drive increased profile
across all geographies, with a particular focus
on US where appropriate
Works closely with the Comms Lead in the
UK and the US Leadership Network team to
further Forum’s reputation in the US through
various channels, including new marketing
materials.
Forum’s US communications strategy has
vision, grows our reputation and membership
and delivers change impacts.
Supports selected US-relevant programmes
and projects in developing and executing
engaging, change-oriented integrated
communications strategies.
Global Campaigns are planned and executed
to build Forum’s reputation in the US and
beyond.
Communications is successfully integrated
into the heart of US project and programme
work as a means of delivering greater
change.
Forum’s profile in the US grows, through PR.,
stakeholder engagement, pioneer partner
communications and a robust digital strategy.
Oversee PR Executive on reactive and
proactive PR and media risk. Advise staff on
difficult PR issues and with the
Communications Lead advise colleagues on
any mitigation approach.
PR requests are handled professionally and
promptly; Forum’s database of contacts
grows; risks are proactively identified,
handled in a timely and professional manner
and with minimum impact.
Lead on communications metrics analysis
across the Communications and Networks
team activities; develop a strategic
measurement framework to capture
meaningful data from all channels and
activities; represent this data in clear ways to
different audiences, pulling out insights and
recommendations; lead on evaluation with
delivery teams of their comms activities to
assess impact and suggest further
improvements.
Forum has a robust framework within which
to measure, analyse and report on
organisational communications/ engagement
effectiveness. Over time, Forum builds a
comprehensive and detailed picture of what
works, what doesn’t and how we can
improve. The Communications and Networks
team accurately and clearly reports
meaningful data to trustees, SMT, delivery
teams and the wider organisation. Forum
delivery staff understand the impacts of their
communications activities and take on board
recommendations for improvements. All
Forum staff are well-informed about what
they can do to help increase our reach and
impact.
Responsible for building and maintaining a
wide network of media contacts in the US
(online, print, broadcast etc) in sectors
beyond the sustainability field.
Forum’s network of journalists in the US is
strengthened and Forum’s work reaches a
wider range of journalists, and therefore
audiences, on different media platforms.
Works with the delivery teams (and external
agencies where appropriate) on proposals for
new projects.
Communications as a lever for change are
more consistently recognised and costed into
new projects, and comms processes and
outputs are higher quality.
A personal income target of $40k in new work
through networking and building contacts.
Manage some of Forum’s members;
Personal income target is achieved. Forum’s
Network membership base increases in the
US through creative and targeted marketing.
maintaining regular contact; deepening
relationships with key decision-makers;
developing work programmes with relevant
delivery colleagues if required; ensuring
delivery of work; managing budgets; invoicing
and renewing as appropriate.
Members have productive and challenging
membership relationships, in line with the
Forum’s mission, including the deepening of
relationships with key decision makers within
membership organisations.
Builds relationships with Comms teams in
pioneer partner organisations.
Relationships with pioneer partners are
strengthened, generating joint comms
opportunities and close working.
Works closely with the Major P&P Senior
Advisor to shape a ‘bigger picture’ System
Innovation for Sustainability (SI4S) narrative
from major projects.
Profile and impact of ‘business as a system
innovator’ work is amplified for both partners
and Forum.
Stories from major projects are ‘recycled’ in
different markets.
Ensure that marketing materials and staff
communications resources are up to date
and useful, including a large increase in the
number of case studies available and used;
overall responsibility for an easily navigable
P:Drive and making sure staff are well-aware
of resources available
Communications materials are up-to-date
and we have a growing bank of compelling
case studies; staff are trained on how to use
these and can find them easily; the P: Drive
is easy and useful for staff to use.
Generating and promoting speaking slots at
high-profile events and helping Forum staff in
the US generate their own opportunities and
create compelling and creative content to
share at those opportunities.
Forum US staff are speaking at high-profile
events, using compelling materials. These
activities demonstrably increase our impact
eg. by generating media interest, additional
speaker requests, network inquiries etc.
Working with high—profile events and
conferences to cross-promote Forum brand
and events and set up marketing contra
deals.
Forum has good brand presence at highprofile events and is able to draw on a
number of different networks to speak to
different communities.
Responsible for translating work of Forum as
a whole into material that works for website,
digital outreach, social media and other
outputs such as reports.
Outputs are high-quality and made within
budget. Copy is fit for purpose, jargon free
and compelling.
Work with Head of Network to find ways to
build additional communications activities
around flagship network moments, acting as
quality-control for network communications
and engagement, making sure that these are
aligned with wider corporate communications
objectives.
Our events support our corporate
communications activity and generate
opportunities for publicity and engagement
with new audiences
Contributing to shared Forum activities and
office responsibilities including learning, team
building, information management, and
support for the Forum values.
Forum builds a positive, values-led and
learning culture.
D.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
 Understanding of and commitment to the mission of Forum for the Future
 Dynamic, creative individual with a proven track record of harnessing integrated
communications to raise organisational profiles and influence decision makers and
opinion leaders
 Significant experience in strategic and tactical communications (via social media, film,
web, events and print) gained in fast-paced agency or in-house corporate/public affairs
settings
 Wide range of warm US media and stakeholder contacts, both in sustainability and other
sectors relevant to Forum’s work eg. food, technology, consumer lifestyle
 Highly experienced at pitching and selling in stories to a range of media outlets to achieve
quality coverage, and reporting results in a meaningful and timely way
 Highly developed interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate with people at all
levels within and outside Forum
 Demonstrable business development and relationship management experience
 Proven ability to establish personal credibility with content experts, pick up new
information quickly and translate complex data and ideas into mainstream
communications strategy and tactics
 Able to anticipate and mitigate potential reputational risks, with some experience of media
crisis management
 Excellent written and verbal communications and influencing skills
 Advanced competence in IT, in particular in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel,
Outlook), contact databases and social media
 Well-versed in the latest PR, social media and integrated communications trends and
able to feed insights from best practice campaigns into Forum’s approach
 Excellent planning and time management/multi-tasking skills, with the ability to take the
initiative and work independently with little supervision
 Enthusiastic about contributing to the overall development of Forum for the Future in the
US
 Ability to cope with a demanding workload in a busy and exciting office and across
international time zones.
Normal office duties; no special requirements
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
While performing the responsibilities of the job, these work environment characteristics are
representative of the environment the employee will encounter. Reasonable accommodations
may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving
mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
Forum for The Future, a project of Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer. We
strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual
and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex,
national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity,
color, marital status, medical condition (cancer-related) or conditions Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related conditions (ARC). Reasonable
accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the
application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.