Communications Officer (Ghana)

Are you an ambitious, highly talented Communications Officer with fantastic copywriting skills, an eye for a good story and bold confidence to secure media coverage?

Are you passionate about using the power of communications to combat illegal fishing and deliver impact to protect people and our shared planet?

If so, you’re the person the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is looking for. As EJF’s Ghana Communications Officer you will be working closely with the Ghana Country Coordinator and our international communications team to develop and deliver an ambitious media strategy for EJF’s project to secure the sustainability and social equity in Ghana’s fisheries sector.

About EJF

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is a UK-based non-profit organisation working internationally to protect the environment and defend human rights. EJF’s work focuses on protecting the world’s seas and oceans by investigating and exposing illegal ‘pirate’ fishing and exploitation in the seafood industry. We train local people and communities in the latest video technologies, research and advocacy skills, enabling them to investigate, expose and combat local threats to wildlife and wild places, and the people who live alongside them.

About the project

EJF aims to build greater environmental sustainability and social equity in Ghana’s fishing sector, by reducing illegal fishing, building local capacity towards securing legal, sustainable fisheries and to promote the implementation of the FAO voluntary guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure (VGGT) in the context of national food security. EJF aims to promote food security and improved livelihoods of fishers and families by reducing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities in Ghana’s Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ) and promoting participatory co-management of fisheries.  

EJF is seeking someone who can: 

• Plan, develop and implement agreed communications strategies.
• Work with the international communications and video production teams to produce high quality films and radio programmes and promote these products to both media outlets and in local screening events.

• Proactively build and expand EJF’s network of journalist and media contacts in Ghana, securing significant media coverage for EJF’s work in the country.
• Write compelling press releases, briefings, op-eds, speeches and articles and pitch stories and features to journalists.
• Respond to media enquiries and work with colleagues to maximise opportunities for coverage.
• Support the production of key communication and visual materials, including flyers, leaflets and billboards.
• Coordinate press events and trips – ensuring the smooth running of special events, including for guest speakers and other high-profile supporters.

Essential skills and attributes:

• Hold a degree or equivalent 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.
• Strong news sense and the ability to convey complex messages to multiple audiences, including local fishing communities.
• A track record of delivering projects with minimal supervision.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills - both English and Fante.
• Ability to produce inspiring and fact-checked copy for print and online.
• Tactful, friendly and calm under pressure.
• Confident, resilient, tenacious and collaborative in your approach.
• Passionate about environmental and human rights issues.

Desirable skills and attributes:

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

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter in English to recruitment@ejfoundation.org.

Closing date for applications: 22 May, 2017