Communications Officer | Oceana

Communications Officer

Reports to:  Campaign Director

Location:  Madrid

Duration:  From 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2027

Fixed-term position

N.B. Applications will be assessed upon receipt; we therefore encourage early submission.

Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

OCEANA’s Mission 

We are a leader in science-based advocacy, and we campaign for policies to make the world’s oceans more abundant, vibrant, and biodiverse. We operate as a combined international organisation. Through recent expansion, our talented staff consists of about 250 people, working in more than 12 countries, including scientists, communications, policy and advocacy experts.

When you work at Oceana, you are part of an organisation that changes people’s lives by protecting the oceans, improving food security and enhancing livelihoods. Whether you are contributing as a policy advocate, expert, fundraiser, or team member, you play a pivotal role in helping people achieve their goals every day. Our culture is one of talented people working together with a common purpose.

As an Oceana team member, you know that what you do matters. Join us today to protect the world’s oceans and restore them to their former level of abundance!

 The role: 

The main purpose of this position is to develop, coordinate and implement communications strategies to achieve Oceana’s campaign goals.

  • ensuring the communications coordination and alignment across Oceana campaigns at EU level.
  • writing press releases, press material, organising media events at international level and defining marketing strategies to support the campaign and communication goals defined by the Campaign Director

The Communications Officer will develop and implement strategies that support the campaign goals at the EU level. The role involves writing press materials, organising international media events, and shaping marketing strategies in coordination with the Campaign Director. The Communications Officer will play a central role in daily communications operations, ensuring alignment across campaigns and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including social media and Digital Communications Specialists.

Main Responsibilities: 

  • Draft and implement a campaign communications plan, combining print, broadcast and electronic media materials.
  • Ensure messaging aligns with organisational goals, target audiences are clearly identified, and appropriate communication channels are utilized to maximize impact and outreach.
  • Define marketing strategies to advance campaign goals, in coordination with the Communications Director and team (Social Media Specialist and Digital Communications Specialist).
  • Deliver the communication goals defined by the Campaign Director ensuring alignment with Oceana’s global communications objectives defined by the Communications Director.
  • Write/edit press releases, opinion pieces and other press materials; review campaign reports to ensure the best use of communications techniques.
  • Edit and proofread English-language press materials.
  • Coordinate media activities with field staff, respond to media inquiries, and serve as a spokesperson when appropriate.
  • Position Oceana representatives as speakers at conferences in Europe.
  • Liaise with journalists to pitch stories, handle enquiries, and assist Oceana staff at interviews.
  • Update media databases and cultivate press contacts.
  • Organise media briefings and events.
  • Develop relationships with influencers.
  • Coordinate the creation of social media posts, tiles, gifs or videos for social media with the Social Media Specialist.
  • Write blog posts on our website in collaboration with the Digital Communications Specialist.
  • Upload press releases on the webpage if needed.
  • Coordinate with communications colleagues to ensure consistent messaging and branding, as well as leveraging Oceana’s resources.
  • Contribute to media and donor reports as needed.
  • Stay abreast of campaign updates, communications trends, and EU or marine conservation news useful to advance campaign goals.
  • Support Campaign Director as required.

 Candidate Requirements

Education and work experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Business Administration, or Marketing.
  • A minimum of 3 years’ experience in communications strategy development. Experience in an international non-profit preferred.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Adobe Suite, photo editing tools, Facebook, X, Bluesky, Instagram, and website updating applications (e.g., WordPress).
  • Strong English language skills. Additional European languages, particularly Greek, are a plus.

Skills and knowledge:

  • Excellent communication skills to interact with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Self-starter able to effectively take initiative, work independently, stay calm under pressure and complete tasks in a timely manner.
  • Strong team playing skills and cooperative approach.
  • Ability to approach problems with a sense of ownership, enthusiasm and innovation.
  • Problem solving abilities, proactively seeks out solutions to challenge.
  • Passion for communications.
  • Cross cultural communications skills.
  • Availability to travel.
  • Strong written communication skills across a variety of platforms including newsletters, social media and website applications.
  • Understanding of social media practices and tools.
  • Able to work under tight timelines and be highly organised.
  • Knowledge of EU policy-making is a plus.

Other Requirements:

  • Genuine interest in ocean conservation is a plus.
  • Experience working with a remote team.
  • Eligibility to work in Madrid.

The above declarations are not intended to be an “all inclusive” list of duties and responsibilities of the job described, nor are they intended to be such a listing of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Rather, they are intended only to describe the general nature of the job and are a reasonable representation of its activities. 

Oceana is an equal opportunity employer and proud to provide equal employment opportunity to all job seekers. We are actively committed to ensuring that no individual is discriminated against on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

If you are interested in this offer, please send us your updated CV and cover letter in English before 13th June 2025, midnight CET. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so better submit as soon as possible. Only candidates shortlisted for an interview will be contacted. Please apply using the apply now link below.

FUNDACION OCEANA is the Controller of the Data Subject’s personal data and informs him/her that these data shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April (GDPR) and the Organic Law 3/2018 of 5 December (LOPDGDD), for a legitimate interest of the Controller, providing the following information on the processing: 

  • Purpose of the processing: to include the Data Subject in the personnel selection processes, analysing the applicant’s profile with the aim of selecting the best candidate for the Controller’s vacancy.
  • Legitimacy of the processing: unequivocal consent clearly indicated by the Data Subject.
  • Data storage criteria: data will be stored for a maximum period of one year, after which the data will be erased, guaranteeing full respect for confidentiality both in the processing and subsequent destruction. To this effect, once this period has elapsed, and if you wish to continue participating in the Controller’s selection processes, please send us your CV again.
  • Updating data: in the event of any modification to your data, please inform us in writing as soon as possible to keep your data duly updated.
  • Data disclosure: Your data may be communicated to third parties because it is necessary to achieve the purpose of the treatment, or by legal obligation.
  • Rights of the Data Subject:
  • Right to withdraw consent at any time.
  • Right of access, rectification, portability and erasure of data and the limitation or objection to their processing.
  • The right to file a claim with the Spanish Supervisory Authority (www.aepd.es) if you consider that the processing does not comply with the current legislation.

Contact information to exercise their rights: FUNDACION OCEANA. Gran Vía 62, 7 Izq. – 28013 Madrid. Email: Europe.Data@oceana.org