Global Communications Lead

Proforest; Leiden; Hybrid; EUR 71,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Generous annual leave

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible and hybrid working

International collaboration

Inclusive, values-led culture

Job summary

Proforest seeks an experienced Global Communications Lead to shape and deliver its global communications vision across five regions. You will translate sustainability topics into clear, engaging content and lead a dispersed network to reinforce Proforest's brand and narrative worldwide.

With extensive leadership and project-management experience, you will drive strategic initiatives, mentor teams, and adapt communications in response to AI-driven information access and evolving stakeholder needs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in communications, marketing or knowledge management.
• Experience working/living in multiple cultural backgrounds and ability to connect with culturally diverse teams and audiences.
• Proven track record managing teams and mentoring staff.
• Evidence of managing change.
• Track record of complex project management.
• Experience developing and implementing learning and knowledge management strategies.
• Team and line management experience with proven ability to motivate and drive performance.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the global communications strategy across regions.
• Coordinate regional communications teams and calendars.
• Translate complex sustainability topics into clear content for clients and partners.
• Oversee brand governance and messaging with a coherent global framework.
• Set performance indicators and adapt plans based on results.
• Mentor and develop communications staff across regions.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic communication

Project management

Knowledge management

Content development

Mentoring

Education

Degree in Communications

Job description

We're seeking an experienced and strategic communications leader to shape and deliver Proforest's global communications vision. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with extensive communications, marketing or knowledge management experience to strengthen Proforest's global brand, amplify our thought leadership, and lead a geographically dispersed communications network across multiple regions.

Who Are We?

Proforest is a mission-driven organisation that provides a consultancy service working throughout agricultural supply chains supporting the production and sourcing of agricultural and forest commodities that deliver positive environmental and social outcomes for People, Nature and Climate. These cover issues such as protecting and restoring forests and natural ecosystems, respecting worker’s rights, advancing gender equality, and engaging with communities and indigenous people.

What Will You Do?

The Global Communications Lead sets the strategic direction for Proforest’s communications, strengthens its global brand and narrative, and coordinates a geographically dispersed team to deliver both global and regional priorities.

Drawing on Proforest’s 25 years of sustainability experience, the role translates complex knowledge into clear, engaging and practical communications for clients, partners and other stakeholders. Working across five autonomous regions, the post balances a coherent global approach with regional flexibility, combining strategic leadership, excellent project management skills and hands‑on delivery.

The successful candidate will build strong relationships, bring people together and foster collaboration across regions. They also understand how AI is changing the way people access information and create knowledge and are able to support the evolution of Proforest’s communications approach to adapt to these changes.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Strategy, Brand and Governance

• Lead the global communications strategy, aligned with Proforest’s 2025–2030 organisational strategy and regional plans in order to strengthen reputation, extend the reach and influence of our technical knowledge, and increase internal alignment and engagement around key messages.
• Steward Proforest’s brand, narrative and messaging, providing a coherent global framework that regions can adapt to their contexts, ensuring a competitive positioning as trusted technical partner.
• Harness and promote Proforest’s thought leadership.
• Advise the Global Executive Board on communications priorities, performance and risks, and maintain the guidance, processes and tools needed for consistent delivery.

Planning, channels and reputation

• Manage the global editorial calendar and coordinate major campaigns and events with regional teams and the Global Executive Board.
• Oversee global digital channels, media relations, and internal communications in collaboration with relevant teams.
• Set performance indicators, review results and adapt plans to improve communications impact.

Knowledge, content and capability

• Work with technical and leadership teams to translate complex knowledge into clear, accessible content and high-quality knowledge products.
• Set standards for information design and oversee the production of visual and data-based communications materials.
• Build communications capability across Proforest through mentoring, training and shared tools, working with the Training team where appropriate.

Team leadership and regional coordination

• Coordinate and mentor the global communications team, whose members report to Regional Directors with dotted-line accountability to this role.
• Chair the monthly Communications Working Group to align priorities, coordinate delivery and share learning across regions.
• Help regional comms and technical teams use communications strategically, while respecting regional ownership and addressing capability gaps.

About You

You'll be a strategic communications professional with strong leadership, stakeholder engagement and project management skills. You will be experienced in developing and delivering communications strategies within complex international organisations and be confident translating technical and sustainability-related topics into clear, engaging and impactful communications. You'll enjoy working across cultures, building strong relationships and helping teams collaborate effectively to achieve shared goals.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in communications, marketing or knowledge management *Essential
• Evidence of working/living in multiple cultural backgrounds and ability to connect with culturally diverse teams and audiences *Essential
• Proven track record managing teams and mentoring staff *Essential
• Evidence of managing change *Essential
• Track record of complex project management*Essential
• Evidence of developing and implementing learning and knowledge management strategies *Desirable
• Team and line management experience with proven ability to motivate and drive performance

Technical:

• Understanding of sustainability issues, ideally in food systems, land use, forestry and agricultural commodity production, responsible sourcing, land rights or related areas. *Desirable
• Experience in training and capacity building for not-for-profit organisations or mission-driven sectors *Desirable
• Demonstrated strong project management skills *Essential
• Understanding of deep societal changes with the advent of AI, affecting how we work, communicate and engage with internal and external audiences*Essential
• Familiarity with data visualisation concepts and tools, experience in designing or managing information and data products *Desirable
• Excellent written English and strong oral communication and presentation skills *Essential
• Proficiency in at least one other Proforest working language (Portuguese, Spanish, French, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia)*Essential

Key Attributes & Qualifications:

• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and process-focused *Essential
• Collaborative, team‑leader and team-player *Essential
• Proactive, solutions-oriented, and comfortable working in evolving and ambiguous environments*Essential
• Active listening, building trust, negotiation and consensus‑building *Essential
• Values‑driven and motivated by Proforest's mission to create positive outcomes for People, Nature and Climate through responsible production and sourcing practices.*Essential
• Degree or higher degree in Communications or another relevant topic *Essential

What You’ll Gain

This is an opportunity to shape and lead communications for a globally recognised sustainability organisation at a pivotal stage of its growth and development.

As Global Communications Lead, you will play a key role in strengthening Proforest's global brand, amplifying its thought leadership, and increasing the visibility and impact of its work across People, Nature and Climate. Working closely with senior leaders and expert colleagues across five regions, you will influence how Proforest communicates with clients, partners and wider stakeholders around the world.

You will have the opportunity to lead a global communications network, drive strategic communications initiatives, and help ensure that Proforest's knowledge, expertise and insights reach the audiences where they can create the greatest impact. The role offers significant scope to shape communications strategy, foster cross-regional collaboration, and contribute to the continued evolution of a purpose‑driven international organisation.

Why Should You Work for Us?

You will play a key role in shaping how Proforest communicates its impact, expertise and thought leadership across the sustainability sector, helping to influence positive change for People, Nature and Climate.

What Else DoesProforestOffer?

In addition to the opportunity to work alongside passionate and knowledgeable colleagues across our global organisation, Proforest offers:

• Competitive local salary and benefits package based on country of employment.
• Generous annual leave entitlement in line with local market practices and statutory requirements.
• A strong commitment to learning and development, including access to training, coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements where operationally appropriate.
• Opportunities to collaborate internationally through regional meetings, global projects, knowledge exchanges and team events.
• A supportive, values‑led culture focused on collaboration, inclusion and continuous learning.

Key Information

• Location: Oxford (UK), Leiden (Netherlands), Jakarta (Indonesia) or Cali (Colombia). This role works across multiple international time zones and therefore requires flexibility to participate in occasional meetings outside standard local working hours.
• Salary: Proforest is committed to pay transparency and equitable reward practices. Salary will be determined based on the successful candidate's location and aligned with Proforest's global reward framework and local market conditions. For applicants based in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, the salary ranges for this position are: United Kingdom: £62,550 - £75,050 per annum Netherlands: € 70,880 - 85,036 per annum. For candidates employed in other locations, including Indonesia and Colombia, salary and benefits will be aligned with local market benchmarks and Proforest's job grading framework.
• In addition to salary, Proforest offers a competitive benefits package, which varies by country of employment.
• Working hours: Full time

We are committed to supporting diversity throughout Proforest globally, ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive and therefore welcome applications from all.