Senior Officer, Media Relations (Benelux & France)

The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. To achieve our mission, we partner with diverse allies around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of our most critically important natural landscapes.

Our alliance spans 70 countries and includes farmers and forest communities, companies, governments, civil society, and millions of individuals. Together we work to protect forests  and biodiversity, take action on climate, and promote the rights and improve the livelihoods of rural people.

As an international nonprofit organization with more than 30 years of experience in sustainability transformation, we understand that the social and economic well-being of rural communities is tightly connected to ecosystem health. This knowledge has shaped our rigorous programs to advance sustainable land-use and commodity production.

At the Rainforest Alliance we combat climate change, protect forests and biodiversity, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. The enormity of the social and environmental challenges we are facing requires working together in a broad alliance. This is why we bring farmers, forest communities, companies, and consumers together to change the way the world produces, sources, and consumes.

Why

To protect nature and improve lives it’s becoming increasingly urgent that we approach the way we use our land and produce food and other products in more sustainable ways. For this to succeed we need to fundamentally change the way that businesses operate and source, and the choices we all make as consumers.

How

Our growing global alliance aims to transform our relationship with our natural resources and each other, to create a better future for people and nature together.

The Rainforest Alliance encourages diversity and inclusion across the global organization. With this commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, disability, and any other protected group.

Position summary: 

The Rainforest Alliance is looking for a resourceful and results-oriented Senior Officer, Media Relations, Benelux & France to join the Media Relations team within the Marketing & Communications Department. The team focuses on earned media and thought leadership globally and consists of five staff.

The Senior Officer, Media Relations, Benelux & France is responsible for promoting and protecting the Rainforest Alliance's reputation in the media, growing our visibility, amplifying thought leadership, and strengthening our positioning, through media relations in the Benelux and France. Of those markets, the Netherlands and France are considered our highest priority. 

Responsibilities: 

• Develop and implement the media relations strategy for the Benelux & France, spearheading media outreach related to Rainforest Alliance news, opinions, and thought leadership

• Conceptualize, draft, edit, proof-read, and deliver pitches, media advisories, opinion pieces, briefings, and other assets

• Respond to and field media inquiries, including a rapid response function. Handle appropriate follow-up, often on a short deadline, including facilitating interviews with Rainforest Alliance representatives and preparing them for interviews

• Monitor mentions in the news; keep relevant staff informed of how the organization is covered in the news; propose reactions/comments

• Act as first point of contact for Benelux and France-based media outlets; build and maintain relations with key journalists; anticipate and respond to PR opportunities

• Position spokespeople at key thought leadership events and preparing them

• Give input on the global media strategy and plan and support its implementation and execution, in close collaboration with the other Media Relations Officers and the Media Relations Manager

• Occasionally support the Media Relations Manager in fielding and responding to media inquiries from other European countries, and pursuing media outreach in those countries

• Support the Corporate Reputation & Issue Management team in leading potential reputational risks if media are involved

Qualifications: 

• Confirmed experience in journalism, or public relations and media outreach, either as a journalist or working directly with journalists under tight deadlines

• Established media network in the Netherlands and/or France and/or Brussels preferred

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)

• Dedicated writer with an eye for the heart of a story; detailed copywriting and copyediting skills; confirmed publication track-record, supported by writing samples

• Creative and strategic problem solver with strong attention to detail

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, ability to get along with individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds; strong public speaker 

• Strong interest and at least some experience in social and environmental issues and sustainability

• Self-motivated go-getter, used to taking initiative and energetically pursing media leads

• Ability to work independently within a global team, with line manager based in Amsterdam

• Strong interpersonal skills; confirmed ability to lead multiple priorities in a time sensitive manner

• Fluent Dutch and solid understanding of French (proficient – level C) preferred

• Experience in non-profits and international environments preferred

Job Level: 4

Salary: Commensurate with experience. 

Deadline:  June 23, 2023 

Notes: Only candidates authorized to work in the Netherlands, France or Belgium will be considered

If you have any questions about the job vacancy, please contact the HR department: [email removed - click apply for more details]