Senior Communications Manager
- Company
Foundation For Ecological Security (FES)
- Location
Anand, Gujarat, India
- Employment Type
Full-Time
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Functional Category
Communications & Marketing
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Experience
12 - 15 years
- Date Posted
13-Feb-2026
About Foundation For Ecological Security (FES)
We work towards the ecological restoration and conservation of land and water resources, in conserving the uplands and other eco-fragile, degraded and marginalised zones of the country and to set in place the processes of co-ordinated human effort and governance to achieve this objective. Spread across diverse ecological and social geographies, FES works towards conservation of nature and natural resources through collective action of local communities. The crux of FES efforts lie in locating forests and other natural resources within the prevailing economic, social and ecological dynamics in rural landscapes. Globally, FES hopes to see an increasing influence on two fundamental issues in governing shared natural resources a socio-ecological systems approach and a Commons paradigm, which together could have far-reaching impact on world views on development. Along with Partner NGOs, FES presently supports 57,128 village institutions, assisting in better environmental stewardship of 14.92 million acres of common lands and water resources, positively impacting lives of 34.33 million people across fourteen states of India. The collaborative efforts support Panchayats and their subcommittees, Village Forest Committees, Gramya Jungle Committees, Water Users Associations and Watershed Committees in order to improve the governance of natural resources. Regardless of the form of the institution, we strive for universal membership and an equal access of women and poor in decision making.
- Website
Overview of the Role
FES is seeking a dynamic and strategic Senior Program Manager (Communications) (SPMC) to lead narrative building around community stewardship of the commons, drive organisation-wide storytelling, and ensure cohesive messaging across internal and external platforms. This role requires someone with a deep understanding of the development sector and the ability to translate complex, field-based insights into compelling, context-sensitive communication. As a senior team member, the person will play a pivotal role in amplifying FES’s impact, shaping public discourse, and engaging a wide spectrum of stakeholders, from local communities to policymakers.
Job Description
(A) Strategic Communication & Narrative Building
(1) Lead the development of compelling narratives around community-led natural resource governance, with a focus on the Promise of Commons initiative;
(2) Support the execution of a communications strategy, while keeping organisational and thematic focus in mind;
(3) Integrate insights from on-ground initiatives, research, and NGO and Government partnerships into powerful communication strategies and products;
(4) Build and manage campaigns that engage diverse audiences including rural communities, policymakers, civil society, donors, academia, and media;
(5) Ensure coherence and consistency of messaging across all teams and channels.
(B) Ecosystem Engagement & Thought Leadership
(1) Enhance visibility and positioning of community stewardship of Commons through authored pieces, op-eds, media engagement, and high-impact storytelling;
(2) Elevate the agenda of community stewardship of Commons across convenings, campaigns, and collaborative initiatives;
(3) Forge and manage strategic relationships with media, NGOs, and other suitable platforms aligned with FES’s mission.
(C) Events & Campaigns
(1) Provide narrative and communications oversight for high-stakes events, campaigns, and launches;
(2) Collaborate with program and other thematic groups to shape learning products, event collateral, and post-event dissemination plans;
(3) Ensure alignment of communication objectives with campaign and event outcomes.
(D) Digital, Media & Design Oversight
(1) Guide FES’s digital presence, including social media, website, and blogs, with a focus on quality, engagement, and strategic positioning;
(2) Build partnerships with media platforms and knowledge collaborators for building the narrative around Commons;
(3) Oversee visual communication standards and content planning, ensuring brand and narrative consistency;
(4) Oversee the management of external vendors and consultants to deliver high-quality multimedia and digital content.
(E) Internal Communication & Knowledge Management
(1) Manage internal communications to ensure transparency, alignment and engagement across the organisation;
(2) Strengthen and manage the communications team;
(3) Strengthen internal communication flows between states to enhance learning and strengthening the vision across the organisation;
(4) Ensure documentation and sharing of institutional learnings, case studies and stories from the ground;
(5) Oversee building capacities across the organisation to use communications tools effectively.
(F) Vendor & Partner Management
(1) Oversee management of external communication vendors, creative agencies, designers, writers, media consultants, production teams, etc.;
(2) Lead development of clear briefs and timelines to ensure timely, high-quality, and brand-aligned outputs.
Required & Preferred Qualifications
Skill
(1) Prior experience in managing a team, showcasing effective leadership skills;
(2) Sound familiarity and relationships with the Indian media landscape, encompassing both online and offline platforms;
(3) Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling abilities and strong visual and editorial judgment;
(4) Proficient project management skills, capable of multitasking and effectively managing conflicting deadlines;
(5) Experience managing creative teams or vendors;
(6) Demonstrated ability to develop and execute communication strategies, plans and campaigns that align with organisational objectives;
(7) Familiarity with the ecology-livelihoods-governance inter-relations.
Education
Postgraduate degree in Communications, Development Studies, Journalism, Public Policy, or related fields
Experience
Applicants must have 12-15 years of experience in communications, with about 5 years in the development sector. Preference for candidates who have earlier experience in natural resource management and nature-based rural livelihoods programs