Senior Director - Communications

Transport & Environment; Elsene; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Transport & Environment in Brussels (Ixelles) is seeking a Senior Director of Communications to lead the organisation’s communications strategy and team. You will shape narratives, build coalitions with NGOs and EU institutions, and ensure brand integrity across media and digital channels.

As SMT member, you’ll steward crisis planning, horizon scanning, and audience engagement, delivering high-impact campaigns that advance decarbonisation of transport.

Qualifications

• Ten+ years in communications and campaigns with senior leadership experience.
• Interest in EU, transport or climate topics is a plus.
• Proven ability to translate complex issues into compelling stories.
• Experience with data storytelling, social/new media, video and use of AI.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the overall communications strategy.
• Lead a high-performing team across offices and manage budgets.
• Develop annual strategies for media, PR and digital content.
• Build relationships with journalists and secure visible media coverage.
• Ensure editorial standards across publications and online content.
• Crisis management planning and rapid communications decisions.
• Horizon scanning for opportunities in media and audience trends.
• Foster an entrepreneurial, collaborative culture within the team.

Skills

Leadership experience

Communications strategy

Media relations

Crisis management

Stakeholder engagement

Storytelling

Strategic thinking

EU institutions networks

Use of AI in comms

Tools

AI in communications

Job description

Role:

Senior Director - Communications

Location:

Brussels (Ixelles)

Deadline for applications:

15/11/2026, at midnight

Job Description

Background

Europe’s leading advocates for clean transport and environment, T&E is looking for an exceptional leader to join our team as Senior Director of Communications.

T&E is an independent, non-partisan think tank and NGO working to decarbonize transport. Our vision is a zero-emission mobility system that is affordable and has minimal impacts on our health, climate and the environment. Through our advocacy activities and campaigns, grounded in authoritative analysis and strong coalitions with business and civil society, we have shaped some of Europe’s, and the world’s, most important automotive, aviation and shipping regulations.

The Role

You will lead, develop and implement the organization’s communications strategy.

We are looking for an exceptional people leader to build and lead a high-performing team of experts, fostering a culture of trust, accountability and ambition. You will create the conditions for individuals and teams to perform at their best, grow as leaders, and maximize the organization’s impact.

Top notch communications is core to T&E’s work and identity. You’ll be a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), helping set the organization’s overall strategy and report directly to the Executive Director.

Duties and responsibilities

• Communications strategy: responsible for defining and leading T&E’s overall communication strategy.

• Team leadership: lead an experienced team to implement T&E's strategy and day-to-day activities, ensuring enhanced collaboration across all T&E offices. Manage departmental budgets.

• Strategic planning: working with team leads, develop and execute annual strategies for media, public relations, and digital content.

• Media and public relations: build relationships with journalists, and work with media leads to pitch stories and draft media materials that secure visible, impactful media coverage.

• Brand management: ensuring all communication reflects T&E's mission and brand values.

• Editorial oversight: ensure all publications, web and social media content, and media materials reflect the highest standards to maintain T&E's reputation as an independent and trusted source of analysis and policy recommendations.

• Crisis management: developing plans to effectively manage public relations crises and facilitate quick, strategic communications decisions.

• Horizon scanning: identify opportunities for T&E communications based on an understanding and analysis of political, media and audience trends.

• Team culture: cultivate entrepreneurial approaches, encouraging experimentation and risk taking in our response to the news cycle and other opportunities.

Experience and core competencies

• At least ten years of relevant professional experience in communications and campaigns, including experience in senior leadership roles. Experience in the EU, transport or climate isn’t a must but a strong interest in these topics is.

• A proven leader with experience managing and coaching an experienced and talented group of professionals.

• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into compelling stories.

• A proven record on a broad range of comms capabilities, in particular data story telling, social and new media, video, use of AI etc.

• Ability to critically interrogate analytical outputs and steer strategic research directions.

• A collaborative, thoughtful and supportive leadership style aligned with T&E’s values.

• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to turn vision into results.

• Experience working in coalitions and developing strong networks and relationships with EU institutions, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.

What we offer

We are an equal opportunities employer and offer a competitive salary and benefits, lots of flexibility and a great workplace with smart, motivated and fun colleagues. Of course we also offer you a chance to dedicate your energy and brainpower to solving one of humanity’s greatest challenges: halting climate change and transforming the transport industry, one of Europe’s top sources of climate pollution.

This position is advertised as a permanent, full-time position based in Brussels with min. 3 days per week in the office. The role will involve some travel, mainly inside but occasionally outside Europe. The ideal start date would be 4th January 2027.

Practical Information

The deadline for application is Sunday 15th November 2026.