Global Head of Communications

Position: Global Head of Communications
Location: London or Bath, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office.
Contract type: Full-time, permanent.
Salary range: Competitive dependent upon experience
Reporting to: CEO

About EJF

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) exists to protect the natural world and uphold our fundamental human right to a secure environment. We work at the frontlines of environmental injustice, alongside communities most affected by climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and exploitation - transforming evidence into action, and injustice into lasting change.

EJF is a global non-profit driven by a powerful belief: that environmental protection and human rights are inseparable. Through courageous field investigations, rigorous research, and strategic international advocacy, we expose environmental crime, challenge impunity, and catalyse systemic reform. Our work delivers real-world impact, shaping policy, strengthening governance, protecting vital ecosystems, and defending those who risk their lives to safeguard them.

Our campaigns span four deeply interconnected areas: oceans, climate, forests and wetlands, and the training, protection, and empowerment of environmental defenders and journalists. From illegal fishing and forced labour to deforestation, land grabs, and climate displacement, we confront some of the most complex and urgent crises of our time - always with a focus on accountability, equity, and durable solutions.

EJF is an international organisation with a diverse team working across four continents, united by a shared ambition: to protect people by protecting the planet. We are bold, evidence-led, and impact-driven. We speak truth to power - and we build pathways to a fairer, more resilient future. Join Us.

About the role

As the Global Head of Communications for the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), you will play a lead role in building EJF’s visibility and global brand and, above all, in deepening and extending, impact and positive outcomes.

You will develop and implement the communications strategies for EJF’s global campaigns, building support across a range of targeted audiences. You will maximise the use and reach of EJF’s investigative films and campaign reports, securing high-profile coverage for them that targets key audiences.

Working within an international team of campaigners, researchers, filmmakers in Europe, Africa and Asia, you will lead a team of communication specialists and coordinate our global communications work.

You will be working with senior management and the international campaign team to deliver our ambitious objectives. You will be a highly organised, creative and collaborative manager willing and able to refine and deliver an ambitious communications strategy that will help us to achieve our campaign goals and vision.

We are looking for an ambitious, talented professional with outstanding communications skills, superb people and project management and a passion for driving real change for environmental justice.

You will bring intellectual and academic rigour to the post, alongside creative thinking and strategic brilliance. You will be able to quickly engage with EJFs campaigns and present them in a compelling way, putting your outstanding writing, storytelling skills and experience to great effect.

Knowing how important it is to get the story right, you will have great attention to detail and factual accuracy. You have the creative flair to present EJF’s campaigns and investigations to the strongest effect and identify the best ways to engage, inspire and mobilise diverse target audiences.

Key responsibilities

1. Communications strategy and leadership

• Work with the CEO to develop and implement EJF’s global communications strategy aligned with organisational priorities and campaign objectives.
• Lead the communications team to consistently maximise opportunities to drive impact for individual campaigns, working closely with teams to develop communications strategies at inception.
• Provide high level advice and guidance to EJF leadership and teams on messaging, media strategy and reputational risk.
• Lead the comms team to develop sector-leading communications that engage and inspire audiences about our campaigns across traditional and digital media platforms, ensuring appropriate, inspirational and effective messaging that helps deliver policy change.

2. Media and external engagement

• Ensure strong outreach to our target audiences in the public and private sector and to policymakers and world leaders.
• Secure high-impact coverage in the most influential media platforms for investigations, reports and campaigns across priority markets that will bring our campaigns to the attention of leading changemakers.
• Work with teams to ensure that coverage opportunities are maximised and effectively planned in advance.
• Devise and coordinate media, press, and special events, such as film screenings, patron and celebrity events, and like-minded business partnerships.

3. Editorial oversight & storytelling

• Set editorial standards across communications outputs, ensuring clarity, accuracy, integrity and consistency of voice.
• Guide the development and review of content and ensure high standards across outputs:
  • Writing and editing compelling op-eds, press releases and briefings, ensuring they are tailored to the target audience and the strongest media platforms and channels.
  • In close collaboration with campaign and investigation teams, ensure the production of high-quality impact reports, updates, briefings, blogs and speeches/presentations to engage new audiences, including celebrity and high-profile supporters.

4. Digital media

• Oversee EJF’s digital platforms and social channels to grow EJF’s exposure, engagement and support the delivery of communications strategies and campaign objectives.
• Ensure content is optimised for different platforms and regions, using data and insight to refine strategy.

5. Team leadership & collaboration

• Lead and develop a high-performing international communications team.
• Collaborate effectively with the wider team to ensure communications supports organisational objectives.
• Build effective workflows that enable rapid response and clear sign off processes while maintaining quality and safeguarding.
• Ensure that our internal communications are effective, so that team members get the information they need to collaborate and succeed.

Essential skills and experience

• With at least 8 years in professional communications roles, you will have demonstrable experience of leading teams and building high-impact communications strategies. You are a great people manager, with excellent interpersonal skills, able to motivate, inspire and collaborate with EJF’s communications professionals and campaigners in the UK and overseas
• Track record securing high-profile media coverage that advanced campaign objectives.
• Ability to design, prioritise and deliver media strategies and multiple comms activities that drive up the quality and quantity of media coverage
• Excellent skills in creative storytelling: producing engaging and inspiring content that delivers real-world impact
• An excellent writer/editor – including press releases, features, opinion pieces, letters to editor and blogs – particularly to meet tight deadlines
• Superb attention to detail and factual accuracy and an ability to ensure your colleagues meet the same high standards
• Ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines and changing priorities
• Experience in managing strategic relationships with external partners (corporate, high-profile individuals), you are entrepreneurial and a creative problem solver
• You are committed to changing our world for good and have a demonstrable commitment to EJFs Mission Values and Vision.

Desirable skills and experience

• Good understanding of environmental justice issues and policies, in particular within the fields of climate change and ocean conservation
• A wide network of relevant media.
• Languages, especially French, Spanish, Portuguese or German.

What we offer

In return for your leadership and commitment, we offer a rewarding package designed to support your well-being, flexibility, and professional growth:

• 22 days’ annual leave, increasing with each year of service, plus additional paid leave between Christmas and New Year.
• Private healthcare package.
• Generous pension scheme, with employer contributions increasing over time.
• Flexible working hours and hybrid working (typically 3 days in the office / 2 from home).
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• A dynamic, supportive, and inclusive working environment, with genuine opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• The chance to play a leadership role in an organisation delivering real-world impact for people and planet.

The deadline for applications is 6pm GMT on Monday 9th March.

Interview processes and number of rounds for different roles will vary, but is likely to include three stages: a short screening call, a panel interview with a task relevant to the role, and a final interview.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.

EJF is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity within the workplace.