Senior Communications Director

Location: Brussels Belgium / Madrid Spain / Copenhagen Denmark

Reports to: Executive Director & Vice-President Europe

Duration: Full time permanent.

The Senior Director of Communications is a newly created senior leadership role within Oceana Europe reporting directly to the Executive Director. The position leads the development and implementation of an integrated communications and marketing strategy that strengthen Oceanas brand grow public support influence decision-makers and directly advance campaign and fundraising objectives.

In collaboration with senior colleagues across campaigns science policy fundraising and executive affairs the Senior Director of Communications develops communications strategies compelling narratives and high-impact messaging that position Oceana as a leading voice for ocean conservation expand and mobilise our supporter base across European markets and use strategic communications to help our campaigns win tangible policy victories for the ocean and underpin sustainable funding growth.

The Senior Director of Communications manages a team of seven communications professionals and oversees all aspects of external communications across European markets including media relations digital communications brand management content development public affairs messaging and strategic marketing initiatives. The role also provides leadership during high-profile campaign moments and reputational or crisis communications scenarios ensuring consistency clarity and impact across all channels.

The role is also expected to contribute to organisational development by supporting fundraising and donor visibility efforts strengthening partnerships and identifying opportunities to expand Oceanas reach and influence.

This position requires strong strategic judgment excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills and extensive experience managing communications within an international NGO advocacy or mission-driven environment. The successful candidate will be both highly strategic and hands-on: comfortable setting vision and building systems while also rolling up their sleeves in a fast-paced results-driven environment. The role involves regular travel primarily within Europe with occasional inter-continental travel.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Communications Brand and Growth

• Lead the development and delivery of Oceanas Europewide communications and marketing strategy ensuring brand consistency full integration and alignment into campaign design and execution and alignment with organisational and campaign priorities.
• Shape bold evidencebased narratives that strengthen Oceanas brand influence decisionmakers and support funding growth.
• Partner closely with the Head of Campaigns and campaign teams to design communications strategies and plans that position Oceana as a leading trusted voice on ocean conservation in the EU elevating the profile of the organisation its experts and its campaigns across priority markets.
• Translate scientific and policy priorities into compelling narratives that advance advocacy and resource mobilisation.
• Oversee Oceanas digital advocacy and online fundraising programmes in Europe across email website and social media driving growth through data-driven strategy testing and innovation.
• Grow and engage Oceanas EU supporter base across social media email and digital platforms with a clear focus on supporter acquisition retention mobilisation and conversion to action and donation.
• Set and oversee a content SEO and generative engine optimisation (GEO) strategy that increases traffic engagement and key conversions including joining acting and donating.
• Develop and implement a partnerships strategy including seeking and cultivating amplifiers (such as celebrities and corporate partners).
• Define and track KPIs using data to optimise messaging channels and campaign performance.

Media Relations and Storytelling

• Lead and coordinate public relations strategy crisis communications and rapid response efforts across Europe to shape media narratives influence decision-makers and support campaign victories.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and editors at leading national regional and international media outlets to secure high-impact media coverage including news stories op-eds letters to the editor and editorial support for Oceanas EU campaigns.
• Lead media strategy to secure highimpact coverage and position Oceanas executive and experts as leading voices in European ocean policy debates through proactive media engagement and thought leadership.
• Oversee media monitoring analysis and reporting including preparation of senior leadership and board-level communications updates.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as a core member of the European Senior Leadership Team contributing to office-wide strategic planning and acting as a strategic partner to the Executive Director and senior leaders.
• Lead mentor and develop a high-performing multi-country communications team fostering a collaborative inclusive and accountable culture.
• Work across departments to ensure coordinated storytelling across media digital and web channels.
• Oversee the production of high-quality communications materials including press releases communications plans reports videos and advertising campaigns.
• Build clear systems workflows and priorities that enable the team to operate effectively across multiple markets and time zones.
• Manage contractors to ensure high standards consistency and coherence across all communications outputs while overseeing the communications budget administration and governance processes.
• Oversee the planning implementation evaluation and reporting of major communications initiatives.

Education and work experience:

• Bachelors degree in public relations communications marketing journalism or a related field.
• Minimum of 12 years experience in communications journalism public relations or related fields preferably within advocacy or environmental sectors.
• Strong track record of increasing brand visibility public engagement and media impact through strategic communications.
• Demonstrated success growing online supporter bases and increasing digital advocacy and fundraising revenue.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing effective communications strategies with demonstrable results in achieving communications department objectives.
• Strong media relations experience including pitching stories writing for the media and managing press engagements.
• Experience operating at executive level including close collaboration with an Executive Director.
• Experience in environmental conservation or missiondriven organisations is highly desirable.

Skills and knowledge:

• Ability to integrate scientific or analytical input into campaign strategy without assuming technical ownership.
• Strong political judgement influencing skills and a collaborative leadership style.
• Excellent writing editing and verbal communication skills adaptable to a wide variety of audiences.
• Exceptional storytelling skills with the ability to distil complex policy issues into accessible narratives.
• Strong digital communications expertise including social media content marketing online advocacy and fundraising.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work internationally crossculturally and collaboratively with staff partner organisations and the public.
• Oral and written proficiency in English is a must; fluency in other European languages such as French German or Spanish is an advantage.
• Proven track record of leading and managing high performing teams in complex organisational environments.
• Familiarity with digital tools such as Salesforce Engaging Networks and Google Analytics.
• Cultural sensitivity and experience working in international or multicultural environments.

The above declarations are not intended to be an all inclusive list of duties and responsibilities of the job described nor are they intended to be such a listing of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Rather they are intended only to describe the general nature of the job and are a reasonable representation of its activities.

Oceana is an equal opportunity employer and proud to provide equal employment opportunity to all job seekers. We are actively committed to ensuring that no individual is discriminated against on the grounds of age disability gender reassignment marriage or civil partnership status pregnancy and maternity race religion or belief sex or sexual orientation.

FUNDACION OCEANA is the Controller of the Data Subjects personal data and informs him/her that these data shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April (GDPR) and the Organic Law 3/2018 of 5 December (LOPDGDD) for a legitimate interest of the Controller providing the following information on the processing:

• Purpose of the processing: to include the Data Subject in the personnel selection processes analysing the applicants profile with the aim of selecting the best candidate for the Controllers vacancy.
• Legitimacy of the processing: unequivocal consent clearly indicated by the Data Subject.
• Data storage criteria: data will be stored for a maximum period of one year after which the data will be erased guaranteeing full respect for confidentiality both in the processing and subsequent destruction. To this effect once this period has elapsed and if you wish to continue participating in the Controllers selection processes please send us your CV again.
• Updating data: in the event of any modification to your data please inform us in writing as soon as possible to keep your data duly updated.
• Data disclosure: Your data may be communicated to third parties because it is necessary to achieve the purpose of the treatment or by legal obligation.

Rights of the Data Subject:

• Right to withdraw consent at any time.
• Right of access rectification portability and erasure of data and the limitation or objection to their processing.
• The right to file a claim with the Spanish Supervisory Authority () if you consider that the processing does not comply with the current legislation.

Contact information to exercise their rights: FUNDACION OCEANA. Gran Vía 62 7 Izq. 28013 Madrid. Email:

Oceanas offices operate on a hybrid schedule and staff are required to work from their assigned office on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday. Actual salary offer will depend on the candidates exact work location qualifications relevant experience and internal pay equity relative to current employees in similar roles

N.B. Applications will be assessed upon receipt; we therefore encourage early submission.

Due to the high volume of applications received ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

Please submit your application by June 29 2026