Senior Director Communications

Hanson Search; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanson Search partners with a leading international ocean conservation organisation to appoint a Senior Communications Director in Brussels. You will lead an integrated European communications strategy, positioning the organisation as a leading voice on environmental protection in Europe.

Reporting to the Executive Director for Europe, you will work across EU member states, campaigns, science and policy teams to turn evidence into public support and policy outcomes.

Qualifications

• Director-level leadership in communications, PR or journalism.
• Proven track record delivering EU campaigns with policy outcomes.
• Strong PR across European markets, media relations and digital engagement.
• Experience building donor audiences and supporters.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead an integrated European communications strategy with the Executive Director.
• Raise visibility of campaigns with European media and policy audiences.
• Secure tangible EU and national policy victories through communications.
• Broaden public reach to grow supporters and donors for sustainable funding.
• Incorporate communications into campaign design with campaign leaders and science/policy teams.
• Lead a distributed, multicultural communications team.
• Counsel the Executive Director and senior leadership, including on crisis communications.

Skills

Communications leadership

Public relations

Public affairs

Journalism

EU policy

Crisis comms

Multicultural teamwork

Media relations

Job description

Hanson Search is partnering with a leading international ocean conservation organisation to appoint a Senior Communications Director to join its European Senior Leadership Team. This is a rare chance for a senior communications leader to make communications a strategic driver of policy change. The role comes at a defining time for environmental protection in Europe.

About the Senior Communications Director Role in Brussels:

In this Senior Communications Director role, you will report directly to the Executive Director for Europe. You will lead an integrated communications strategy that positions the organisation as a leading voice on environmental protection in Europe.

This newly created role sits on the European Senior Leadership Team, where it will strengthen communications across EU member states.

With a major EU legislative opportunity ahead, you will step straight into high‑profile campaigns that will shape European policy for years to come. You will work closely with senior colleagues in campaigns and in the science and policy teams to build communications into campaign design from the start. Your job is to turn evidence into public support and concrete policy outcomes.

A Respected Environmental NGO With a Track Record of Results

The organisation is a respected international non‑profit that uses scientific evidence and public campaigning to win concrete policy change. Its European team works across several countries and engages with EU institutions and national governments on nature protection and biodiversity. Success is measured not in coverage but in outcomes, with governments acting and ecosystems recovering.

Senior Communications Director Responsibilities

• Design and lead an integrated European communications strategy as a partner to the Executive Director.
• Raise the visibility of campaigns and experts with European media and policy audiences, including through digital channels.
• Use communications to help secure tangible EU and national policy victories.
• Broaden public reach and turn visibility into supporters and donors to build sustainable funding.
• Build communications into campaign design alongside campaign leaders and the science and policy teams.
• Lead and develop a distributed, multicultural communications team.
• Counsel the Executive Director and senior leadership, including on crisis communications and reputational risk.

Corporate Communications Experience and Skills

• Significant experience in communications, PR, public affairs or journalism, including Director‑level leadership.
• A proven track record of running campaigns in EU contexts linked to policy outcomes.
• Strong PR expertise across European markets, spanning media relations and digital engagement.
• Experience of growing supporter and donor audiences.
• Experience of leading teams in international, multicultural environments.
• A good understanding of EU institutions and the Brussels policy environment.
• The ability to turn scientific and policy insight into compelling stories for varied audiences.
• Sound political judgement and experience in crisis communications.
• Fluent written and spoken English, with Spanish, French or German an asset.
• An existing right to work in Spain or Belgium, as relocation and visa sponsorship are not available.