Senior Associate, Strategic Communications, Denmark (Copenhagen)

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 KR Foundation

Founded in 2014, the mission of KR Foundation is to address the root causes of climate change and environmental degradation. That is why KR Foundation primarily works within two programme areas: Sustainable Finance, to keep fossil fuels in the ground, and Sustainable Behaviour, to mainstream low-impact living.

KR Foundation also supports the clear and concise communication of climate science, with a special focus on new media and digital, and is part of the donor collaborative Partners for a New Economy, to support projects that bring new thinking and approaches to traditional economics.

About the role

The European Climate Foundation is currently accepting applications for a communications specialist to join the strategic communications team in the Nordic countries, within an international network of communications professionals in the field of climate and energy.

Based in a Copenhagen hub hosted by the KR Foundation, the role offers a unique opportunity for an individual with a sincere interest in Danish and Nordic politics and climate issues to develop, drive and execute on communications efforts in Denmark, playing an active role in helping to speed up the low carbon transition in the region as well as across Europe and on a global level.

The successful candidate will deliver strategic advice and communications support, actively crafting and delivering communications assets to a diverse set of partners from across sectors, in order to enhance the public debate on climate change and its solutions on a broader level. The work will involve maintaining trusted relationships with key journalists and stakeholders in Denmark, including pitching stories to journalists, initiating and planning political outreach and involvement in digital communications efforts.

We are looking for an entrepreneurial, driven and growth-oriented candidate, who, with the guidance of the Nordics Lead, is able to run with projects, from strategy and idea development, including relevant stakeholders and creating a team-movement, to executing on projects. You should have a high degree of both autonomy and initiative – while possessing a strong team-player mindset.

Working on the nexus between political strategy, digital communications, behavioural research and public mobilisation, this is an exciting opportunity for a highly driven communications professional with the ambition to make a difference and play an active role in speeding up the low carbon transition and helping to avoid the worst impacts of global climate change.

This role would suit someone with a background in communications, public affairs, journalism or campaigning. If you think this sounds like you, please apply!

Key responsibilities

The Senior Associate, Strategic Communications, will be responsible for:

• Developing communication strategies and building narratives across diverse climate-related issues, striving to become a thought leader for the community

• Working with the Nordics Lead to establish and utilise relationships with a diverse range of partners from business, industry, finance, science and civil society

• Developing and maintaining trusted relationships with key journalists and editors across mainstream and specialist media in Denmark

• Providing capacity building for partners by ensuring top-level standard in shaping, drafting, pitching and amplifying communication materials which aim to boost climate action across traditional and digital media spheres in Denmark

• Shaping and amplifying newsworthy media stories from across the global network in line with the Nordics team’s communication objectives; monitoring impact and outcomes

• Ensuring communication materials such as press releases, op-eds and social media content are of the highest quality

• Producing, executing and guiding digital outreach campaigns in collaboration with colleagues and partners, including monitoring digital impact and outcomes

• Following the political and media debates in Denmark to identify opportunities for engagement and acting as a source of intelligence for colleagues and partners

The Senior Associate will be part of a pan-European team, and report to the Copenhagen-based Nordics Lead.

Experience and competencies

• A genuine interest in the mission and values of the organisation and a good understanding of communication issues related to climate and energy

• 5+ years of professional communication experience, with a proven track record of successful strategic communications, media relations and digital campaigns

• Proven track record of pitching stories, writing press releases and opinion pieces, preparing spokespeople for media interviews, crafting social media posts and an ability to think and comprehend political consequences of communications efforts

• A strong understanding of the processes and dynamics of policy-making in Denmark as well as in the EU

• Active networks of influential Danish actors including academics, finance sectors, progressive business and/or civil society leaders

• Familiarity with the Danish media landscape and the value of strategic story placement in an international political context; existing media contacts highly desirable

• Fluent and flawless written and oral Danish skills and an advanced level of English (the working language of the organisation), with experience in producing engaging and impactful communications materials in both languages; other Nordic languages a plus

• The ability to work as part of a team, foster fruitful relationships and collaborate with stakeholders internally and externally – in other words, we are looking for a true team-player to join the newly formed Nordic unit

• The disposition to work with colleagues in a high-trust international community of peers with a spirit of generosity and mutual support

• The versatile and adaptable skills to flourish in a fast-paced and wide-ranging work environment and work across phone/video conferencing, platforms and time zones

• A commitment to an inclusive and empowering approach to facing climate change

What we offer

• The unique opportunity to work as part of a highly dynamic, international group of individuals who combine their passion to make a difference with a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work;

• A flexible work environment and a space to develop and challenge yourself;

• A full-time position with a contract of 12 months, extendable subject to funding.

Location

Copenhagen, Denmark (flexible mix of home office and co-working in shared office space with project partners)

We are unable to provide sponsorship for work visas.

Start date

As soon as possible