Senior Communications Director, Leading International Environmental NGO, Madrid or Brussels

Hanson Search; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanson Search Ltd. is partnering with a leading international environmental NGO to appoint a Senior Communications Director in Madrid or Brussels.

You will report to the Executive Director for Europe and lead an integrated communications strategy to position the organisation as a leading voice on environmental protection in Europe. You will join the European Senior Leadership Team and shape high-profile campaigns that influence European policy, working with science and policy teams to embed

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in communications, PR, public affairs or journalism, with director-level leadership.
• Proven track record running campaigns in EU contexts linked to policy outcomes.
• Strong PR across European markets: media relations and digital engagement.
• Experience growing supporter and donor audiences.
• Experience leading international, multicultural teams.
• Understanding of EU institutions and Brussels policy environment.
• Ability to translate scientific and policy insights into compelling stories.
• Sound political judgment and crisis communications experience.
• Fluent written and spoken English; Spanish, French or German is a plus.
• Existing right to work in Spain or Belgium (relocation not available).

Responsibilities

• Design and lead an integrated European communications strategy with 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.

Skills

Campaigns in EU contexts

PR expertise across Europe

Crisis communications

Policy storytelling

Executive leadership

Fluent written and spoken English

Job description

Hanson Search is partnering with a leading international environmental NGO 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 Madrid or 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.

What’s on Offer in Madrid or Brussels

This is an exceptional opportunity for a communications leader seeking purpose and influence to take a newly created seat on a European leadership team. You will shape how a leading environmental voice communicates at a moment when EU decisions will define environmental policy for years to come. The role is hybrid and based in Madrid or Brussels.

We warmly welcome applications from candidates in the private sector and consultancies.