Communications and Media Officer - Environmental Justice Foundation

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is a UK-based non-governmental organisation working to secure a world where natural habitats and environments can sustain, and be sustained by, the communities that depend upon them for their basic needs and livelihoods. EJF is dynamic, agile and effective, and the team works across 13 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe.

EJF is working to eradicate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and associated issues, such as human rights abuses. To do this, we work with governments and industry to promote transparency and traceability within seafood supply chains and markets. We conduct detailed investigations into illegal, unsustainable and unethical practices and actively promote improvements to policy-making, corporate governance and the management of fisheries along with raising awareness among consumers to incentivise market-driven solutions.

EJF’s global team also work on a range of other campaigns where environmental insecurity impact human rights. These include climate, forests, cotton and activist training. More information can be found at https://ejfoundation.org. In Africa, EJF has projects in Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, and Senegal. 

Job Description

• Position:  Communications and Media Officer
• Based:  EJF office in Cape Coast, Ghana
• Contract: Full-time, permanent
• Salary range:  $15,000 - $20,000 per annum (dependent upon experience)

Benefits:

• Health insurance package
• Annual leave of 20 days plus 8 Ghanaian national public holidays, increasing by 2 days each year of service, plus 1 personal day per year

Background

EJF works internationally to inform policy and drive systemic, durable reforms to protect our environment and defend human rights. We investigate and expose abuses and support environmental defenders, Indigenous peoples, communities and independent journalists on the frontlines of environmental injustice. Our campaigns aim to secure peaceful, equitable and sustainable futures.

EJF is committed to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing as well as associated human rights abuses in the fishing sector.

Our investigators, researchers, filmmakers and campaigners work with grassroots partners and environmental defenders across the globe. Our work to secure environmental justice aims to protect our global climate, ocean, forests and wildlife and defend basic human rights.

Position Overview

This is a role for an ambitious, talented Communications and Media Officer with fantastic copywriting and organisational skills, an eye for a good story and the confidence to secure media coverage. As EJF’s Ghana Communications and Media Officer, your work will exclusively focus on securing targeted, impactful media coverage for our work in Ghana, including but not limited to radio, television, traditional media, and digital media.

Guided by the Ghana Fisheries Programme Manager for campaign priorities and our international communications team for fitting your work into our overarching global communications efforts, you will develop and deliver ambitious communications and media strategies for EJF’s projects in Ghana. As our in-country communications expert, you will draw on the work of our investigations, advocacy, film, and community engagement teams to generate compelling stories and drive success, although you will not directly participate in this work yourself.

Key responsibilities:

• Plan, develop and implement agreed communications strategies.
• Working closely with the UK-based communications team and graphic designer, the Communications and Media Officer will produce press releases, social media content, webpage content, and other communications output such as leaflets, banners, and posters.
• Identify and engage target radio networks for radio programs and support local communities to engage with radio journalists.
• Proactively develop a network of engaged journalists to secure significant media coverage for EJF’s projects and improve the quality of coverage of Ghana’s fishing industry in general.
• Respond to media enquiries and work with colleagues to maximise opportunities for coverage.
• Coordinate journalist training workshops.
• Organise press trips and produce related communications materials.
• Promote project films and radio programmes to both national media outlets and at local screening events.
• Coordinate press conferences and trips – ensuring the smooth running of special events, including for guest speakers and other high-profile supporters.
• Ensure that all communications materials comply with donor branding requirements. 

Required Skills or Experience

Essential skills and attributes:

• Strong news sense and the ability to convey complex messages to multiple audiences, including local fishing communities
• Ability to produce inspiring and fact-checked copy for print and online
• A degree or equivalent experience in communications, media, journalism, public relations or a similar field
• Experience of working in a media/press team with excellent working knowledge of the media landscape in Ghana. Existing contacts an advantage
• A track record of delivering projects with minimal supervision.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Tactful, friendly and calm under pressure
• Confident, resilient, tenacious and collaborative in your approach
• Passionate about environmental and human rights issues

Desirable skills:

• Experience working within television or radio media, including operating a camera and conducting recorded interviews.
• Previous experience of working on environmental or fisheries issues.