Strategic Communications Manager

What you will do

As Strategic Communications Manager of the Kuehne Climate Center (KCC) you will be responsible for running and developing the full set of our external and internal communications activities as a key tool to achieve our strategic objectives. You will work directly with the Center’s CEO and Leadership Team to establish the Center’s communication strategy and a modern communications function, that effectively spreads its messages and generates interest with our international partners and the public in order to accelerate the slow climate transition.
As Strategic Communications Manager you will have responsibility for

• Developing the KCC’s communications strategy, its overall narrative and key communication themes in cooperation with the KCC Leadership Team
• Creating a consistent brand language and regular visibility with a high share of voice in the regions of KCC’s activities (requiring a locally differentiated communications approach)
• Develop project-related storytelling and communications activities in support of our Theory of Change
• Establishing a strategic communication plan, ensuring regular publication of high-quality content pieces, edited by yourself
• Actively managing press and media relations, as well as drafting public statements for KCC’s experts and leaders, to promote KCC topics and capabilities both globally and in each region
• Establishing digital communication channels and strong social media presence, including the launch of a KCC website and its maintenance
• Running the operations for our communications function, including editorial calendar and budget management, as well as success measurement and reporting
• Supporting the leadership’s internal communication to the KCC team and other internal stakeholders, and communications upskilling for team members
• Supporting the Kühne Foundation for special communications projects as the Foundation’s website relaunch and communications around the Foundation’s 50th anniversary

The KCC is a new subsidiary of the Kühne Foundation. Our mission is to accelerate climate-compatible development within logistics (Climate Action in Logistics) and through logistics systems (Logistics for Climate Action). We do this through applied research & thought leadership, project & advisory work, and training & capacity building, with a focus on countries of the global South.

We are a small team with strong growth ambitions (4x in 4 years). Here, you have the opportunity of shaping a new organization from the start, if you are passionate about climate and logistics, bring an entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to work in a startup environment, and are motivated by making a lasting impact for sustainability.

KCC’s headquarter is located in Hamburg’s vibrant Hafencity. From here, we manage and support all our international projects, actively partnering with our regional teams and with institutions from around the globe.

You‘re good at

• Developing a communication strategy, identifying relevant stakeholders and target groups and analyzing their interests
• Shaping communications activities to support project objectives
• Writing in a concise and target group-oriented manner and creating attention for special, sometimes niche, topics
• Crafting narratives and storytelling
• Working in an international multi-stakeholder environment of businesses, governments, NGOs, research institutions and philanthropies
• Working with (international) press, writing press releases based on KCC experts’ and leaders’ inputs, establishing and maintaining a network of press contacts, sensing press’ interest in picking up special topics
• Communicating via social media channels
• Editing publications with a quick understanding of the readership’s interest
• Marketing organizations, products, and capabilities
• Having an understanding for appealing designs (e.g., for brand, webpage looks, exhibits)
• Interest in climate challenges and logistics solutions
• Organizing and operating editorial and communication processes
• Working independently with small teams
• Displaying cultural sensitivity in your communication
• Multitasking, keeping balls in the air for parallel assignments
• Dealing with ambiguity in a startup environment
• Coaching others to apprehend basic communications skills

You bring

• 7-9 years of communications experience from a fast-paced communications environment from NGOs, research organizations, media, logistics or service industry
• Bachelor’s Degree in a management-, social sciences, or communications-related field
• Editorial and/or journalistic experience a plus
• Experience in or passion for logistics and/or climate-related busines