Head Of Communications

Title: Head of Communications

Department: Engagement

Duration: Fixed Term Contract

Direct Reports: Comms Team (7 employees)

Reporting to: Deputy Engagement Director

Location: One of Greenpeace Africa (GPAF) Operational Office (South Africa, Cameroon, Senegal, Kenya, DRC, Mauritius) is preferred but flexible to other locations within Africa, as GPAF implements a hybrid work location model with work-from-home being the main base of our work location

Purpose of the Role

Working with the Deputy Engagement Director, Comms and Digital Teams the Head of Communications plays a key strategic role strengthening Greenpeace Africa's public profile, influencing public discourse, supporting campaigns and mobilising audiences across the African continent and globally specifically ensuring resonance in the media landscape.

The role provides leadership in media relations, communications, storytelling, brand management, crisis communications, and strategic messaging to advance Greenpeace Africa's mission on climate justice, environmental protection, human rights, and social transformation.

Main duties

Strategic Leadership & Campaign Communications

• Review, co-develop and implement organisational communications strategy aligned with priorities, campaign pillars and objectives.
• Position Greenpeace Africa as a leading voice on climate justice and environmental issues in Africa.
• Ensure alignment between communications, digital, campaigns, fundraising to meet organisational goals.
• Translate complex environmental and political issues into accessible public narratives.
• Work closely with programme and campaign teams to design strategic communications plans for campaigns and advocacy initiatives and lead your team to do so.
• Conceptualise and lead others in creative communication interventions that help campaigns cut through.

On, Offline Communications and Editorial Leadership

• Play an editorial role for Francophone and Anglophone on and offline content from PRs to reports.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with African and international media outlets and journalists.
• Oversee proactive media engagement, press releases, interviews, media briefings, and opinion editorials.
• Act as a senior spokesperson when required.
• Increase visibility and influence of Greenpeace Africa in regional and global conversations.
• Collaborate with the Deputy Engagement Director, the Head of Digital and team on digital communications as needed.
• Work with the Deputy Engagement Director to oversee development of compelling storytelling and campaign materials.
• Work with the Deputy Engagement Director to ensure audience-centered, impactful, and culturally relevant on and offline communications.

Brand & Reputation Management

• Safeguard and strengthen the Greenpeace Africa brand and organisational reputation with the Deputy Engagement Director, Comms and Digital teams.
• Ensure consistency of messaging, visual identity, and tone across communications outputs.
• Co-lead crisis communications planning and response.
• Manage reputational risks and sensitive communications issues.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse communications team of seven practitioners and experts across multiple countries and functions.
• Foster collaboration, innovation, accountability, and inclusion within the department.
• Manage departmental planning, budgeting, and performance management.
• Coordinate external consultants, agencies, photographers, videographers, and creative partners as needed.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support strategic engagement with partners, donors, civil society organizations, influencers, policymakers, and activists.
• Strengthen Greenpeace Africa's relationships with regional and international stakeholders including media.
• Represent the organisation at conferences, public forums and strategic meetings.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

• Establish KPIs and reporting systems to measure communications impact.
• Analyze media coverage, audience engagement, and campaign effectiveness.
• Use insights and learning to continuously improve communications strategies

Qualifications And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Studies, Political Science, International Relations, or related field.
• A master's degree is an advantage.
• Minimum 8-10 years of progressive experience in communications, media, advocacy, campaigning or public affairs.
• Leadership experience managing multidisciplinary communications teams.
• Experience working, at least 3 years in Africa, in international NGOs, advocacy organizations, social justice movements, or media organizations preferred.
• Strong understanding of African political, environmental, and social contexts.
• Experience managing crisis communications and high-profile media engagement.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Fluency in both English and French strongly desired (writing, speaking).
• Exceptional strategic thinking and leadership skills.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling abilities.
• Strong media relations and public speaking skills.
• Deep understanding of traditional and digital communications and engagement.
• Crisis management and reputational risk management.
• Cross-cultural communication and political sensitivity.
• Ability to work in high-pressure, fast-paced advocacy environments.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Commitment to climate justice, equity, diversity, and Greenpeace values.