About the European Climate Foundation

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) was founded in 2008 as a major philanthropic initiative to help tackle climate change by fostering the development of a low-carbon society at the national, European and global level.

We support over 350 partner organisations to carry out activities that contribute to the public debate on climate action, drive urgent and ambitious policy in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement and help deliver a socially responsible transition to a net-zero emissions economy and sustainable society in Europe and around the world.

As towns, cities and countries around the world declare climate emergencies, seas rise, forests burn, glaciers melt, increasing numbers of people take to the streets demanding urgent action and our societies begin to wake up to what the science has been saying for many years, there has never been a more important time to be working on climate change.

About the role

The ECF’s Strategic Communications Team is currently accepting applications for the role of Climate science and land communications Senior Associate to work as part of the ECF’s international strategic communications team.

The successful candidate will help strengthen the scientific fluency of the team to allow it to better navigate the developing media debate around land science, and ecological and climate policy, and provide strategic communications capacity to a wide array of partners, including scientists, researchers, academics and campaign groups.

This is an opportunity for an experienced and highly driven communications professional with the ambition to make a difference and play an active role in helping secure good climate outcomes for people and the planet.

Key responsibilities

As Climate Science and Land Senior Associate you will:

• Work as part of our climate science communications team, developing a program of work that boosts the impact of scientific research into the role land systems have to play in good climate outcomes;
• Engage and build relationships in the scientific community, work with the pipeline of research and scientific evidence in this space, and make strategic decisions about how to communicate it effectively;
• Develop story packages to convey complex land-use climate science to non-specialists for maximum media impact, sometimes at short notice;
• Provide regular briefings to colleagues and partners on the latest scientific and policy developments in the space;
• Identify opportunities for set piece, mainstream media interventions;
• Work closely with colleagues in our digital team to identify and create social/digital storytelling and outreach opportunities for new scientific research efforts;
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key journalists and media stakeholders;
• Build partnerships in the space, and convene partners in the climate and land community, including building collaborative communications strategies around key moments, science initiatives and events. Contribute to coalition work around land use, deforestation, food systems and social change;
• Contribute to cross-network strategies where relevant;
• Monitor, evaluate and report on impact and delivery.

Key competencies

• 7+ years of professional communications experience, with a proven track record of producing engaging and impactful communications materials;
• A demonstrated familiarity with ecosystem, land use, ecology or earth science, and familiarity with discussions and debates around how land use issues interplay with climate mitigation, adaptation, impacts and policy;
• The ability to liaise and negotiate conversations with a wide range of stakeholders, including scientists, campaigners and journalists;
• The strong multidisciplinary communications skillset necessary to flourish in a fast-paced and wide-ranging work environment;
• Outstanding English language skills; 
• A strategic thinker with a proven ability to independently develop and implement robust communications plans;
• Existing relationships with key stakeholders is desirable;
• An independent self-starter able to work on their own and as part of a remote team;
• An interest in the mission and values of the ECF.