Director, Communications and Marketing

The nations of the world came together at COP21 in Paris late last year and agreed an unprecedented consensus ambition to hold global warming to well below 2oC and pursue efforts to limits at 1.5oC. The challenge now is to deliver on this ambition. Climate-KIC is uniquely placed to advance this renewed political impetus and provide global leadership in addressing the biggest threat facing mankind.

About Climate-KIC

Climate-KIC is the world’s leading public private partnership addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation. It is one of five Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) that provide a unique model of innovation to address key societal challenges, benefit the economy, create new jobs and enhance the entrepreneurial culture of Europe.  Climate-KIC’s mission is to bring together, inspire and empower a dynamic community to build a zero carbon economy and climate resilient society.  Our vision is to enable Europe to lead the global transformation towards sustainability.

Climate-KIC is an innovation engine focussed on bringing climate and sustainable innovation to market. We primarily focus on systems and a systemic approach to innovation. Thus, we not only need new technologies, but also new business models, legal frameworks, social practices and cross-sectorial thinking. Key to our systemic approach to innovation is our partnership, which is a diverse set of first-rate knowledge institutions, leading corporations, SMEs and ambitious actors from the public sector.  We bring this community together to create a strong supply of new ideas and transform the way we tackle climate change. We aim to crystalize complex demand-side needs and focus supply-side creativity on understanding and meeting these needs.  Often, this needs new forms of cross sector collaboration, because we have yet to see the emergence of a coherent market for ‘climate change’.

We have a matrix structure, combining thematic focus with a pan-European geographic footprint. Four Themes guide the definition of the challenges that Climate-KIC addresses, while 6 geographic locations are responsible for the origination of ideas, the delivery of projects and act as first point of contact for partners.

Our four core Themes focus on Urban Transitions, Sustainable Land Use, Sustainable Productions Systems and Decision Metrics & Finance. Educationunderpins all of what we do, working and supporting the Themes, building and developing both the short term and long-term human capital of our community and beyond.

• Climate-KIC: About Us
• Sparking an Innovation Step Change Report: Sparking Innovation

Flagships Programmes: – these have partner involvement

• LoCaL http://local.climate-kic.org/
• BTAhttp://bta.climate-kic.org/

Campaigns

• Journey to Paris COP21 campaign: Journey to Paris
• Climathon: Climathon
• Content marketing: Daily Planet
• Climate Launchpad: http://climatelaunchpad.org/

Innovation

Innovation drives all that we do. The figure below summarises our approach to integrating and supporting this innovation pipeline.

Structure

Our six Geographies are the hubs of our pan-European presence. They are the multinational clusters on which we build our community, stimulate interactions and increase impact within and across national boundaries.

The Climate-KIC group consists of a Dutch Association which is governed by an Assembly, with representation of all Core partners. The Assembly appoints a Governing Board that represents the Association.

The Governing Board appoints the Executive Board of the Climate-KIC Holding B.V. comprising the CEO, CFO, COO and 2 further members. Subsidiaries of Climate-KIC Holding B.V. have been established in all the major geographies for employment of staff. A total of 164 staff are currently employed by these Climate-KIC subsidiaries for core functions, while many other individuals with the partner community contribute to Climate-KIC activities.

Context for recruitment

The vision for 2018 is for Climate-KIC to become:

• The global leader in climate and sustainable development;

• A leading centre of excellence, inspiring, informing and empowering the next generation of climate leaders;

• Recognised globally as delivering high level impact on climate changes

To reach this vision marketing and communications must become integral to all Climate KIC’s activities. The role of communications includes:

• Protect and develop the brand in existing markets whilst taking Climate-KIC to new global audiences;

• Capture, develop and profile the knowledge and expertise held within the Climate-KIC community;

• Support business development activities and generate new income;

• Support existing partner relationships and attract new partners;

• Engage staff and partners in the Climate-KIC vision;

This newly created role is being recruited alongside a Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer and 2 Thematic Director Positions, to help realise the ambition of the organisation.

Job Description

Job Title: Director, Communications and Marketing

Salary: Competitive salary, subject to experience

Location: The position may be based in any major Climate-KIC office (London, Paris, Utrecht, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Zurich)

Direct reports: Head of Communications and Marketing and the Communications lead in each geography.

The Director, Communications and Marketing leads on and is accountable for both the external and internal communications and marketing strategy and operations at Climate-KIC.

The Director is responsible for leading communications and marketing activities to raise the profile of Climate-KIC and highlighting the organisation’s contribution to creating a zero-carbon economy and climate-resilient society.  The position will play an essential role in promoting Climate-KIC’s business strategy and achievements. This role will demonstrate an understanding of Climate-KIC’s varied target audiences: organisations in the private & public sector who are members of Climate-KIC’s community, entrepreneurs and students; and how to tailor communications for them.

The new Director will lead on corporate communications and set direction for local communications. S/he will manage communications specialists in the country offices and provide general marketing communications support for both theme and location activities.  There will be a focus on creating stories, selling them to the media and communicating key messages through copy writing for digital channels and marketing materials.  Internal communications for each location and theme will also form part of this role’s overall responsibilities.

The position reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

Set direction

• Evolve the current strategy and ensure its timely and effective implementation

• Develop a world class communications and marketing function and provide leadership to the distributed team

Develop the brand

• Develop the Climate-KIC brand proposition into a global brand;

• Recruit, develop and maintain a cohort of brand ambassadors across the Climate-KIC community.

Develop the network

• Develop and maintain the network of key media, taking end responsibility for the production of press releases, press conferences, PR campaigns and article placement;

• Provide direction for content development for digital communications and marketing materials such as the Annual Report;

• Select, commission and manage creative agencies to ensure that Climate-KIC has the right specialist partnerships

Set the standard

• Lead by example with internal and external stakeholders and act as a spokesperson for Climate-KIC;

• Work as principal advisor on communications and marketing matters to the CEO, directors and Governing Board and Assembly;

• Ensure that Climate-KIC is benchmarking with other entities for this function and adapting and evolving as a result

• Play a leadership role in the EIT communications taskforce with the other KICs.

Build and develop an effective team

• Build a strong and effective team across Climate-KIC

• Manage the performance of the team and provide timely feedback and set development goals for team members.

• Take the lead for financial planning and budgeting for this function;

Key Working Relationships

• CEO, COO and CFO, Governing Board and Assembly members

• Geography & Theme Directors,

• Communications officers of Core and Affiliate Partners

• External creative suppliers, Journalists and representatives of the media

• Head of Communications and Marketing and Communication Leads in each geography

Person Specification

An interest in climate change or environmental issues is essential.  Experience working in complex multi-cultural environments, with matrix management, is highly desirable.  A high level of independence and diplomacy with the ability to prioritise whilst working across different teams is essential. 

Key experience

• Senior communicator with at least 15 years of experience in strategic marketing communications, relationship management and internal communication;

• Proven track record of providing clear, balanced advice and professional leadership at board and senior management level on a wide range of strategic, operational, sensitive and complex communication issues;

• Proven track record of successfully developing high-performing teams, leading, managing and motivating others, especially during periods of change, and driving continuous improvement within the communications function;

• Experience of successful management of internal communications and support of employee engagement;

• Experience of using effective communication and engagement techniques in respect of media relations, reputation management, corporate communications, branding and marketing;

• Experience creating innovative communication strategies using digital channels and new media;

• Experience and ability to work with an international team and in a multidisciplinary context;

• Experience and proven success of management skills in complex governance structures;

• Fluency in English language combined with excellent written and verbal communication skills; knowledge of other European languages highly desirable;

Qualities

• Entrepreneurial and committed to the mission;

• Innovative thinking and the confidence to encourage creativity in others;

• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills, and the ability to develop effective long-term relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Articulate and dynamic with highly developed interpersonal and communication skills;

• Lives the Climate-KIC Values which are: Dynamic, Passionate, Engaging, Open, Inspiring, Excellent and Empowering.

How to apply

Climate-KIC values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic background.

Application is by CV and a cover letter explaining why the role is of interest, and outlining how you meet the person specification.

To apply online (preferred), please visit www.odgers.com/57393 and click on the ‘apply’ button at the bottom of the page, following the instructions that appear. If you are unable to apply online, please email your application to57393@odgersberndtson.com. If you are unable to use email, please post your application to:

Cassie Howe, Odgers Berndtson 20 Cannon Street London EC4M 6XD

Please quote reference: 57393.

Further information

If you would like to have an informal conversation before submitting your application, please contact our Partners at Odgers Berndtson:

Hannah Peech: +44 207 529 3978
Jose Bravo: + 44 20 7529 3075