Press Officer
As the Press Officer for the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), you will play a lead role in building EJF’s visibility and global brand. Working within an international team of campaigners and field officers based in the EU, Africa and Asia, you will lead and coordinate our media communications to maximize our coverage and impact for human rights and environmental security around the globe.
Are you an ambitious, talented Press Officer with great copywriting skills, an eye for a good story and confidence to secure national and international media coverage?
Would you like to play a key role in a high-impact charity campaigning internationally to defend human rights, wildlife and environmental security?
Are you passionate about using the power of communications to deliver impact to Protect People and our shared Planet?
If so, you’re the person the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is looking for. As our Press Officer you will be working with the Directors and international campaign team to fulfil this critical role. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with energy and ambition to substantially improve and grow our communications coverage in support of environmental protection and human rights.
You are a highly organised and creative project manager willing and able to deliver an ambitious communications strategy that will generate substantial media engagement that helps us to achieve our campaign vision.
You will support and develop the communications and press strategy for EJF’s global campaigns, building support across a range of targeted audiences. The role will generate significant new engagement and support in broadcast, digital and print media, maximising the use and reach of EJF’s investigative films and campaign reports. You will work closely with the digital campaigner, graphic designer and video producers to ensure a strong brand and visibility for EJF’s work.
Able to grasp the issues and present them in a compelling way, you put your excellent written and storytelling skills and experience to great effect. Knowing how important it is to get the story right, you are a good communicator with great attention to detail and factual accuracy. You have a creative flair to use EJF’s campaigns and investigations to best effect and identify the best ways to engage diverse target audiences.
EJF is seeking someone who can:
- Plan, develop and implement communications strategies for each campaign and the organisation as a whole.
- Expand EJF’s network of journalist and media contacts in the UK and internationally to ensure strong outreach to our target audiences in the public, private sector and to policymakers.
- Write compelling press releases, briefings, op-eds and articles and pitch stories and features to journalists.
- Respond to media enquiries and work with colleagues to maximise opportunities for coverage, building their confidence as thought leaders.
- Respond quickly and creatively to media opportunities, delivering what journalists need on time.
- Produce great copy for annual reports, letters and flyers to engage new audiences, including celebrity and high-profile supporters.
- Coordinate corporate partnerships and press events – ensuring the smooth operations of special events, including for guest speakers, Patrons and other high-profile supporters.
Essential skills and attributes:
- Experience of working in a media/press team with excellent working knowledge of all media channels.
- Consistent attention to factual accuracy and fine detail
- Strong news sense and ability to convey complex messages to multiple audiences.
- A track record of initiating and delivering projects with minimal supervision.
- Experience of managing strategic relationships with partners (corporate, high-profile individuals).
- Ability to influence individuals at all levels, internally and externally.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to produce inspiring and fact-checked copy for print and online.
- Tactful, friendly and calm under pressure.
- Confident, resilient, tenacious and collaborative in your approach.
Based in London or Bath
Full-time / Permanent
Salary: £32,000 - £39,000 (according to skills and experience), including £3,700 London weighting
Benefits:
31 days leave (including bank holidays) increasing by 1 day for each year of service.
Option for one day per week working from home (after completion of probationary period).
Cycle to work scheme.
Employer contributory pension increasing according to length of service.
Private health insurance.
Applications: CV and cover letter explaining why you are the right person for this job to: recruitment@ejfoundation.org No other communication - only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Closing Date for Applications: 5pm Monday 7th August. Interviews will take place in mid-August.
Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.
EJF is an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity, fair and equal treatment within the workplace.
Background
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) works to Protect People and Planet.
We believe environmental security is a human right.
EJF investigates and campaigns to protect our natural world, and with it, the communities most dependent upon it. We work at the grassroots, with environmental and human rights activists who are working to expose threats to the local environment and to build sustainable futures. Our investigations and the evidence we gather are presented to the very highest levels of decision taking, amongst policy makers in governments and private industry and to opinion formers including international media and the wider public.
EJF works to end illegal fishing and the use of slavery in fisheries, protect our global climate and defend climate refugees, and eradicate the use of hazardous chemical pesticides.
Registered charity 1088128.
