POSTED: 19 March 2024
CLOSING DATE: 19 September 2024
STARTING DATE: As soon as possible
FULL-TIME, ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
 
MISSION TO METRICS
To rid the world’s oceans of plastic, we must effectively tell the story of The Ocean Cleanup to new and seasoned supporters of the organization. The Head of PR’s task is to drive engagement and understanding of our vision and mission amongst all key audiences, including global media, commentators, advocates, and the scientific community - ensuring that our mission is not just recognized but also engaging people around the globe.

Communications as a discipline has a unique and central role at The Ocean Cleanup. Our main task is to oversee the day-to-day management of one of our most important assets: our brand, an attractive promise driving funding and buy-in from stakeholders globally. We are looking for top talent to join us in the exciting work to continuously uphold and improve our image, educate and inform, and drive action resulting from our work.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Every day, something is said about The Ocean Cleanup: someone is writing about us on social media, reporting on us in various media or news outlets, or simply sharing our story through word of mouth. Our story, visual identity, and our CEO make up our organization's brand identity, which carries our financial success. Your key responsibility will be to ensure that The Ocean Cleanup’s story is kept cohesive, accurate, engaging, and motivating when it is told in various media channels. You will train and manage our team of spokespersons, create and lead on message and material development, liaise with external PR agencies, and work seamlessly across our organization. You will strategize ways to engage journalists, media channels, advocates, and commentators to further the message of this ambitious team that seeks to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. 

Your key tasks include:
  • Proactively create the strategies and plans to engage with external audiences leveraging PR moments, both large and small – from major milestones to community-driven updates while creating an always-on plan to keep The Ocean Cleanup at the heart of conversations big and small
  • Organize all media events for The Ocean Cleanup
  • Draft Q&A written for our spokespersons, press, and the community, requiring know-how and a know-who within the organization
  • Strategize ways to (continually) prevent, respond to, and improve critical coverage regarding The Ocean Cleanup
  • Act as the liaison and manage priorities for The Ocean Cleanup’s media agency: responsible for picking and training the organization’s spokesperson group, as well as managing the optimal allocation of individual spokespersons to specific PR roles
  • Represent The Ocean Cleanup as a trained spokesperson and act as a gatekeeper to press, both in-person and online, when needed
  • Build and manage relationships with journalists from influential print, digital, and broadcast media across the globe
  • Strategize and develop new ways of spreading our media reach for our storylines: ocean, rivers, and recycled catch
  • Coordinate the organization’s speaking engagements. Field speaking engagement requests and develop objectives, outlines, and materials for senior crew members, including the Founder & CEO
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
  • At least seven years experience in communications and PR, either in-house or in an agency environment
  • Extensive media relations experience, including current contacts
  • Fluent spoken and written English language skills
  • A team player who can inspire and lead complex projects
  • Experience working with external PR agencies and the media
  • Experience and cultural awareness of working in a global environment (including the impact of working in other time zones)
PERSONAL QUALITIES
  • Strategic thinker, yet able to quickly execute when needed
  • Self-starter, independent worker
  • A nose for a story and creative thinking in how to make the story appeal to multiple audiences
  • Able to prioritize when managing many stakeholders’ top priorities
  • Enjoys working with media, understands how ‘news’ works
  • Knows when to push when necessary but also to back down when exchanging ideas, strategizing, and executing with critical stakeholders
  • Comfortable ‘selling the story’ to a multitude of high- and low-stakes contacts
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
  • Work permit: A valid European Union work permit is highly preferred for this position (The role is based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands);
  • Starting date : As soon as possible 
  • Please note: because we are a non-profit, our salaries reflect that of an organization fully reliant on donations rather than that of a commercial entity. Conducting a pre-employment check is part of our recruitment process.
Curious to hear how it is to work at The Ocean Cleanup? Listen to our team members explain their work in our podcasts.