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Communication
The Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Full Time
The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. To achieve our mission, we partner with diverse allies around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of our most critically important natural landscapes.
Our alliance is both broad and deep, spanning 70 countries and millions of people, including farmers and forest communities, companies, governments, civil society, and engaged and passionate individuals. Together with our partners we are all-in, working to protect forests and biodiversity, take action on climate, and promote the rights and improve the livelihoods of rural people.
And because we work with 5000+ companies across the globe and are the leading certification program in cocoa, coffee, and tea, among others, our brand is highly recognized and valued by citizens and corporate partners around the world, and embodies the commitment to positive change that all companies will need to succeed in the future.
As an international nonprofit organization with more than 35 years of experience in sustainability transformation, we understand that the social and economic well-being of rural communities is tightly connected to ecosystem health. This knowledge has shaped our rigorous programs to advance sustainable land-use and commodity production.
At the Rainforest Alliance we combat climate change, protect forests and biodiversity, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. The enormity of the social and environmental challenges we are facing requires working together in a broad alliance. This is why we bring farmers, forest communities, companies, and consumers together to change the way the world produces, sources, and consumes.
To protect nature and improve lives it’s becoming increasingly urgent that we approach the way we use our land and produce food and other products in more sustainable ways. For this to succeed we need to fundamentally change the way that businesses operate and source, and the choices we all make as consumers.
The Rainforest Alliance encourages diversity and inclusion across the global organization. With this commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, disability, and any other protected group.
Position summary:
The Chief Marketing & Communications Officer (‘CMCO’) is a new role within The Rainforest Alliance’s global executive leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. This role is created to (i) activate the full potential of our brand in support of our new strategy, (ii) to drive our global communications to position the Rainforest Alliance as a thought leader and advance our reputation and its value for our alliance, and (iii) to drive our advocacy work and influencing decision-makers to create an enabling environment for our programs.
Rainforest Alliance aims to substantially grow our alliance using our brand as a key lever to reach that ambition, just like our communications, PR and policy work support our mission and our transformational agenda. Our independent brand and seal are trusted and loved icons for citizens, as well as an asset for responsible business partners who seek to share their sustainability practices, brand values, and purpose with consumers. Our brand and our thought leadership are also valued and recognized by leaders in the conservation, social-economic development, sustainable business, policy, and innovation space.
The CMCO will lead the strategic positioning and further development of the Rainforest Alliance brand. The CMCO will steer communication with external stakeholders and ensure creation and establishment of a consistent, comprehensive brand image and narrative. Furthermore, the CMCO will be accountable for building the network of citizen allies, to fuel the movement of food and agriculture transformation towards regenerative practices and shape a future where people and nature can thrive in harmony together.
We are looking for an experienced executive leader, with confirmed entrepreneurial drive. An enterprise leader who is a team player and brings thought-leadership and vision to the organization.
Responsibilities:
Strategy and Vision
Drive the creation of a brand strategy with materials that portray a consistent, differentiating story about the Rainforest Alliance’s value across all brand touchpoints; ensure that the brand story builds an outstanding experience and long-lasting relationships with all stakeholders
Build the network of Rainforest Alliance customers, supporters, and allies to accelerate and scale up our work, in conjunction with the Chief Revenue Officer
Leverage our brand and seal to differentiate business brands committed to the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable practices and standards. Strengthen co-creation and collaboration with leading business brands to make regenerative agriculture and human rights the new normal and to improve citizen engagement through transparent, credible, reliable impact evidence and result based claims
Prioritize market and consumer research, and data-driven strategic planning and positioning; ensure that active research and market assessment activities drive Rainforest Alliance’s marketing strategy
Provide strategic leadership and oversight to Marketing and Communications teams to ensure that the subunits effectively facilitate organizational growth and improve the Rainforest Alliance brand presence, awareness and reputation across key audiences and markets
Generate strategic and consistent positive earned media and thought leadership on regenerative agriculture, human rights, climate change and sustainable agriculture and forestry
Manage reputational risks across the organization to address and mitigate critical media coverage
Position the organization in key fora as a preeminent change maker driving results and impact
Supervisory Responsibilities
The incumbent will supervise a global team of marketing, communications, and advocacy professionals
Carry out people management responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws
Qualifications:
Demonstrated ability (15+ years’ proven experience) with a progressive career including 5 years of senior leadership experience in a marketing and communication role preferably in consumer good companies or NGOs in the food, sustainability, agriculture and forestry sectors
Track record of successfully leading marketing and communications teams as well as development and activation of effective branding, marketing and communications strategies
Confirmed PR, sponsorships, marketing partnerships and influencer mobilization strategies; experience in managing, or affinity with managing, advocacy campaigns
Experience with international organizations as well as a multi-office, multi-national environment (non-profit experience preferred)
Excellent English written and oral communication skills with direct experience working with and presenting to boards
Collaborative management and working style with a diverse workforce
Strong leadership and managerial skills with ability to delegate, train, coach and motivate staff
Ability to handle multiple priorities and problem solve in a dynamic, growing organization
Excellence in cross-functional collaboration and strong team player
Ability to influence, empower and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
Commitment to the Rainforest Alliance’s mission and values
Salary: Commensurate with experience.
HOW TO APPLY:
Our alliance is all about changing the way the world produces, sources and consumes. Every company has the power to help build a better future by sourcing commodities responsibly and adapting its business model to become more sustainable.
By joining us, you are helping meet the increase in demand for responsibly made products. And when the demand is there, farmers and foresters work hard to meet it, helping drive real, meaningful impact. Everyone wins when we bring the right people together.
The Rainforest Alliance has recently merged with UTZ, a Netherlands-based program and label for sustainable farming worldwide. More information about the UTZ certification program here: https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/utz/.
Want to explore our career opportunities? 👉 https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/careers/
