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Director Marketing & Communications

at Global Reporting Initiative

Job Description

Position summary and job purpose

The Director will develop and lead GRI’s marketing and communications strategy and manages a team of six people.

GRI is the global leader for sustainability reporting standards. Most large companies use GRI’s standards to communicate their sustainability results, manage their performance and be transparent to investors and stakeholders. Since 1997, GRI has been the thought leader in sustainability disclosure through an inclusive process involving reporting companies, data consumers, regulators, capital markets, civil society, accountancies, labor organizations, academics and consulting professionals.

Sustainability reporting based on GRI guidelines and standards is standard practice for most large companies. GRI aims to extend sustainability reporting to other segments of the global economy while simultaneously evolving the practice to be more efficient and effective. The Director Marketing and Communications has a critical role in positioning GRI to build on its global leadership role and deliver its vison to utilize transparency to solve some of the world’s toughest sustainability challenges.

The position offers a unique opportunity for a seasoned marketing and communications professional with passion for sustainability to make demonstrable progress on the world stage.

Job responsibilities

Develop a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy to support the direction established by the chief executive, including:

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive outbound communications strategy including paid media, earned media, GRI events, 3rd party events, thought leadership and social media to underscore GRI’s global leadership
  • Develop and implement and internal communications strategy to inspire, motivate and engage GRI employees
  • Develop and implement a robust analytical dashboard to track and map worldwide impressions, share of voice and perceptions regarding sustainability reporting and GRI
  • Support Chief Executive and Management Team in developing outbound communications
  • Identify and assess competitor’s market presence, track their share of voice and refine to position GRI accordingly
  • Be a spokesperson and advocate for GRI
  • The position is based in Amsterdam and requires ~25% international travel

Managerial and Operational

  • Manage the Marketing & Communications Department (currently 6 staff)
  • Be an active member of the GRI Management Team
  • Advise the Chief Executive
  • Resource and performance management: planning, fundraising, budgeting, staff performance, and reporting
  • Editorial oversight and quality control: ensure the maintenance of GRI’s branding, editorial direction and house style in the formatting and content of all GRI publications and internal communications

Key competencies / Requirements

  • Strong passion for sustainability and the mission of GRI
  • Strategic competencies:
    • Strong understanding of sustainability issues and their application in business
    • Proven competence in the development and implementation of strategies to market public interest missions
    • Brand development and management
    • Development and execution of communication plans
    • Internal communications
  • Excellent communicator:
    • Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to work across cultures and sectors (business, civil society, government, etc.)
    • Anability to persuade, motivate and sell
    • Proven excellence in written, graphic, and verbal communications
    • Fluent written and spoken English (mother tongue level); one or more other world languages would be an advantages
  • Effective communications leader and team manager with a proven ability in:
    • Strategic planning
    • Communications plans
    • Brand management
    • Tracking and utilizing analytics
    • Social media strategies
    • Paid and earned media
    • Executive communications
    • Staff management and development
    • Managing competing priorities, crises and multiple projects
  • Able to work in an international and multi-cultural setting

About GRI

GRI is an international independent organization that has pioneered corporate sustainability reporting since 1997. GRI helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate the impact of business on critical sustainability issues such as climate change, human rights, corruption and many others.

With thousands of reporters in over 90 countries, GRI provides the world’s most trusted and widely used standards on sustainability reporting, enabling organizations and their stakeholders to make better decisions based on information that matters. Currently, over 40 countries and regions reference GRI in their policies. GRI is built upon a unique multi-stakeholder principle, which ensures the participation and expertise of diverse stakeholders in the development of its standards. GRI’s mission is to empower decision-makers everywhere, through its standards and multi-stakeholder network, to take action towards a more sustainable economy and world.

Our Vision:

A future where sustainability is integral to every organization’s decision-making process.

Our Mission:

To empower decision makers everywhere through our sustainability standards and multi-stakeholder network, to take action towards a more sustainable economy and world.

How to apply

Interested candidates, eligible to live and work in the Netherlands, are invited to submit their resume and letter of interest in English to recruitment@globalreporting.org. The deadline to submit an application is 12.00 noon (CET), 22 February 2017. GRI appreciates all expressions of interest, however only short-listed applicants will be contacted.