Event and Communications Assistant

Job Description

Position: Event and Communications Assistant

Reports to: Director of Policy and External Affairs

Position Managed: None

Location: WCS EU office, Brussels, Belgium

Scope: Continental

Position Type: Permanent, Part-time (50% FTE / 19 hours per week)

Travel: Approximately 10%

Organisation Background

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a global, US-headquartered non‑profit, tax‑exempt, organisation founded in 1895. WCS saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical conservation challenges, developing science‑based solutions, and taking action that benefits both nature and people. With more than a century of conservation experience, WCS works in over 55 countries, primarily across the Global South, and has helped establish more than 200 protected areas worldwide. The WCS Europe Team includes WCS EU (a Belgian international NGO affiliated with WCS) based in Brussels, and colleagues based in France, Germany, the UK, and Sweden. The WCS Europe Team engages with various institutions of the European Union, and other European governments, to support WCS field programs and share our expertise. We work to develop long‑term partnerships with relevant organisations, governments and institutions to improve our conservation impact.

Job Purpose

The Event and Communications Assistant supports WCS EU’s policy, communications and stakeholder engagement objectives by coordinating events, developing engaging communications content and strengthening the visibility in Europe of WCS global conservation work. The role works closely with colleagues across Europe and WCS global teams to ensure consistent messaging, effective communications and successful delivery of strategic events that support donor, policy and partnership engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Events

• Support the organisation of in‑person and virtual meetings and events, including liaising with internal and external stakeholders, identifying suitable venues, coordinating the registration process, preparing visual and written external communications materials, and managing associated logistical and technical arrangements.
• Develop promotional materials for events, including flyers and other visual communication materials.
• Take photographs, videos, and key notes during relevant events and meetings and develop follow‑up web stories and LinkedIn posts to promote WCS activities.

External Communications

• Develop content for the WCS EU LinkedIn account and other communication platforms as appropriate, in collaboration with relevant Europe‑based and field colleagues.
• Liaise with WCS field staff implementing EU, French, German and UK‑funded projects to curate and coordinate approval of stories for WCS EU communication channels.
• Prepare the quarterly WCS EU LinkedIn newsletter, including content development, formatting and coordination of publication.
• Maintain and organise the WCS Europe communications database, including audio‑visual materials, photographs, infographics, event registration lists, press releases, publications and other relevant communications resources.
• Support the implementation of communication and visibility activities arising from opportunities identified by WCS and the WCS Europe Team.
• Design visual communication materials, including brochures, infographics, carousel cards, and newsletter banners to promote WCS and WCS EU initiatives, awareness campaigns, EU funded projects, events, workshops and conferences.
• Ensure all communication materials comply with WCS and donor branding guidelines and communication requirements.

Internal Coordination and Communications

• Coordinate internal meetings across the WCS Europe Team, including the associated meeting logistics where required.
• Support the development, formatting, and distribution of the quarterly WCS Europe internal newsletters.
• Liaise with the WCS Communications team based in New York to coordinate external communications activities across global and EU communication channels.
• Maintain and regularly update the WCS EU office and other relevant organisational contact lists.

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, or in a related field such as environmental science, environmental policy, social sciences, or human rights, combined with relevant communications experience. A degree in communications is preferred but not required.
• At least one (1) year of experience supporting the organisation of events and meetings.
• At least two (2) years of experience in managing social media content, particularly LinkedIn and developing or curating web‑based content.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applica