Communications Specialist

Zoological Society of London; Philippines; On-site; PHP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holidays – 15 days paid annual leave

Sick Leave – 6 weeks leave

13th Month Pay

Health insurance (HMO)

Monthly communications allowance

Travel to project sites

Emergency loan fund

Job summary

ZSL Philippines is seeking a Communications Specialist to design, implement, and document gender-sensitive awareness campaigns for the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve. The role focuses on biodiversity, sustainable fisheries, and compliant behaviors among diverse stakeholders, with kinship to capacity-building and community outreach.

The successful candidate will work from ZSL Philippines field office in Ortigas, Manila, collaborating with government agencies and communities to promote

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Development Studies, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or related field.
• 3–5 years in communications, awareness-raising, or behavior-change initiatives.
• Experience designing and implementing awareness or behavior-change campaigns.
• Strong understanding of gender-responsive communication.
• Excellent written and verbal English and Filipino communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement gender-sensitive awareness campaigns about biodiversity and fisheries.
• Apply KAP insights and gender analysis to messaging and outreach.
• Lead assessments to identify knowledge gaps and refine communications strategies.
• Develop training packages and awareness materials for stakeholders.
• Support capacity-building activities for government agencies and communities.
• Design gender-responsive behavior-change initiatives to improve compliance.
• Lead community outreach on PRMRR governance and regulations.
• Document activities and provide inputs to progress and donor reports.

Skills

Gender-sensitive communication

English and Filipino fluency

Stakeholder engagement

Campaign design

Behavior change knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Job description

Purpose of the role

The GEF PRICELESS Project seeks to increase legal protection for the Philippines Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR), formally listing this marine protected area under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (ENIPAS). The PRMRR will be overseen by a permanent Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), which will be in a position to harmonize conflicting mandates and agendas between the various institutions currently tasked with govenance. The GEF PRICELESS project will also address key data and information gaps to enable appropriate management, including gaps relating to key biodiversity, fisheries/resource uses, and associated threats. This will enable the PAMB to execute the necessary protected area enforcement and awareness‑raising efforts, and thus foster enhanced appreciation for the value of PRMRR biodiversity and marine resources and compliance with laws and regulations. Management grounded in robust data and information will also facilitate fishing communities’ access to benefits from sustainable fishing and alternative livelihoods. Finally, the GEF PRICELESS project will provide a model for the Philippines and elsewhere for achieving offshore marine resource and ecosystem protection targets, including those related to biodiversity within the CBD, and add a large, highly biodiverse and unique ecosystem to the world’s Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) systems.

Project Description

The Communications Specialist will design, implement, and document gender‑sensitive awareness andbehaviour‑change campaigns under Component 2 of the GEF PRICELESS Project. The role aims to increase understanding of the value of biodiversity and sustainable fisheries, and to promote environmentally compliantbehaviorsrelated to the protection and management of the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement gender‑sensitive awareness campaigns that promote understanding ofmarine biodiversity, sustainable fisheries, and resource management, and highlight the ecological and national importance of the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR).
• Campaign design shall be informed by Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) considerations and baseline insights, applying gender analysis,behavioralinsights, and social marketing principles to ensure messages are inclusive, accessible, and effective for diverse audiences.
• Lead the KAP‑informed assessments and audience analysis (formal or rapid) toidentifypriority knowledge gaps, prevailing attitudes, and existing practices related to PRMRR conservation, fisheries compliance, and resource use, and use results to refine messaging, outreach strategies, andbehavior‑change interventions.
• Developtrainingpackageand awareness materials that strengthen stakeholders’ capacity to applybehavioralinsights and social marketing approaches to sustainable fisheries and marine resource management.
• Support the planning and delivery of capacity‑building activities for key stakeholders, particularly government agencies and community groups.
• Design and implement gender‑responsivebehavior‑change initiatives aimed at encouraging environmental compliance and responsible resource use among relevant stakeholders.
• Lead and support community outreach activities focused on PRMRR legal protection and governance, fisheries and marine resource regulations, and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in conservation and compliance.
• Ensure systematic documentation of awareness, outreach, and training activities, including participation, reach, gender balance, and feedback. Maintain organized records of campaign materials, outreach products, and visual documentation, and provide communications inputs to project progress and donor reports.

This job description is designed to outline a range of main duties that may be encountered. It is not designed to be an exhaustive list of tasks and can be varied in consultation with the post holder to reflect changes in the job or the organization.

About You

The successful candidate should have the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Development Studies, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, or related field;
• At least 3–5 years of experience in communications, awareness‑raising, or behavior‑change initiatives, preferably in environment, fisheries, or development projects;
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing awareness or behavior‑change campaigns;
• Strong understanding of gender‑responsive communication;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Filipino;
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies and communities.

Desirable:

• Experience in donor‑funded projects (e.g., GEF, UNDP, bilateral or multilateral donors);
• Familiarity with sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, or protected area management;
• Familiarity with Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) concepts;
• Experience facilitating or supporting training and community outreach activities.

ZSL is committed to conservation led by those who know their environments best. We work hand in hand with local communities and conservationists around the world, united in our mission to protect wildlife and power sustainable solutions globally.

We encourage applications from members of the communities we work with, and from those who share our passion for conservation and collaboration. At ZSL, we value respect, local knowledge, and shared purpose, together, we can make a real difference for wildlife, people and planet.

About Us

We’reZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives andwe’reworking every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

In 2010, the ZSL-Philippines Country Office was established as a duly accredited non-government organization registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a local branch of a foreign charitable institution registered in UK and holds its primary office in Iloilo City.

Project Staff Base

The successful candidate shall be based at ZSL Philippines field office in Ortigas, Manila with corresponding fieldwork and travel to target project sites and the opportunity to visit other ZSL Philippines project sites.

Vacant Position

1 Vacancy

What do we offer?

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits which include the following:

• Our vision and purpose -you’llwork alongside colleagues who are passionate about science‑led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct.
• Holidays – 15 days paid annual leave during each 12-month period worked, plus national and public holidays as per the Labor Laws of the Philippines
• Sick Leave- ZSL Philippines showcases a 6 week generous leave compensation for each staff that ensures enough recovery for those who are with illness.
• 13th Month Pay
• Wellbeing – ZSLprovidesmedical health insurance (HMO) for the staff and3 of his/her dependents (spouse & children).
• International accident insurance coverage.
• Paid Maternity leave and paternity leave aside.
• Monthly communications allowance
• Chances for travel to ZSL project sites across the country as well as to our international offices.
• Staff Emergency Loan Fund benefit after 6 months.

NB: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.