This is a fantastic opportunity to join a global communications team, supporting Proforest’s technical work on the responsible sourcing and production of agricultural commodities, addressing key sustainability issues across people, nature and climate. This role is designed to focus and embed communications in our European work on agri-food systems, including company commitments, policy and regulation.
About Proforest
Proforest is a mission-driven organisation with a 25-year track record of supporting the transition to sustainable production and sourcing of agricultural and forest commodities. We are a not-for-profit group with a global presence across Latin America, Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia, and work with governments, the private sector and civil society to deliver positive outcomes for people, nature and climate in the places agricultural commodities are produced.
Our clients are well-known consumer brands, such as Unilever, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Mars, and some of the world’s largest traders and integrated producers including Cargill, Olam, Wilmar and Cofco. We combine our consultancy work with longer-term programmes supported by institutional funders, with all profits re-invested in delivering our mission.
Job Description
About the role
Responsibilities include:
* Support the development and implementation of the Proforest Europe communications strategy.
* Provide project and process management for Europe-based communications work, linking into global process and team., covering internal and external communications.
* Partner with the technical team to identify and shape engagement opportunities with policy makers, including through media and events.
* Use our client work to identify themes and areas for media outreach, and work with the technical team to formulate pitches and responses.
* Build the capacity of the Proforest client teams on relationship-building and corporate communications, to help them to develop new opportunities to communicate and engage.
* Support the technical teams with European events, to develop abstracts and pitch speakers on topics such as regulation and the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
Qualifications
About you
You will be a proactive, experienced communicator, with experience in working with the private sector, corporate communications and thought leadership. You will also have:
Essential:
* Experience within corporate communications and private sector engagement, with the ability to help Proforest technical teams understand how to communicate with large downstream companies (retailers and manufacturers)
* Solid project management abilities to run local and global processes, onboarding teams and managing resources
* Concise writing skills
* Communications strategy development and implementation, ideally within the sustainability space, working with complex, technical ideas, that need to be communicated to target
* Excellent media relations skills, with contacts in business and environmental media, covering agrifood systems and sustainability (technical and profile raising)
Desirable:
* Experience working in an international environment
* Experience in providing speaking preparation and event support, from pitching ideas to capacity building for technical speakers to speak to new audiences
* Experience working with or knowledge of EU policy-making processes
* French, Spanish or Portuguese language skills
* Media database experience.
* Willingness to travel on occasion.
Additional Information
Why should you work for us?
This role will give you the opportunity to be part of a global organisation with a shared vision for greater sustainability, working in offices across 8 countries with staff from more than 17 countries, speaking more than 40 languages. We also provide a competitive benefits package:
* We offer 25 days plus public holidays (with an extra 2 days the following year should you take your well earnt holiday within the year)
* We contribute to your pension (up to 8%)
* We support learning and development with a dedicated team to help you achieve your goals; we provide access to training for knowledge and competency skills
* Life insurance and income protection insurance
* We organize regular in-person team gatherings, regional and international knowledge exchanges and social events.
Key information
Salary: £55,000 - £62,000 per annum depending on skills and experience
Location: Oxford, UK
Closing date: 21st January 2025
Interview process: We expect 1st interviews to take place w/c 3rd February, 2nd w/c 17th February. 1st stage interviews will take place over MS teams, the 2nd stage can be face to face if suitable for the candidate.
Working hours: Full time (Monday to Friday)
Hybrid working: Proforest operates on a hybrid basis. We encourage staff to attend the office to maximise interactions with colleagues and encourage collaboration but also appreciate individual circumstances and preferences. We ask that you attend the office at minimum 2-3 days per week, and expect more attendance during the onboarding period.
We are committed to supporting diversity throughout Proforest globally, ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive and therefore welcome applications from all.