🚀 Shell Foundation - Head of Communications & Advocacy

Shell Foundation - Head of Communications & Advocacy

To develop and execute a comprehensive communications and advocacy strategy that influences stakeholders to support the Foundation’s mission of raising incomes while lowering emissions for our customers. The Head of Communications and Advocacy will report to the Chief Impact Officer and lead all aspects of communications and advocacy - amplifying the Foundation’s work using digital and in-person platforms, ensuring consistent and compelling messaging and effectively engaging critical stakeholders to achieve the Foundation’s strategic objectives.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Envision, develop and execute a communications and advocacy strategy in line with strategic objectives and priorities of the Foundation.
• Provide strategic counsel to the leadership team and senior management to improve their capacity to influence through communications.

Content Creation & Promotion

• Develop high quality messaging aligned to the objectives of the Foundation. Ensure messaging is consistently applied across all communications materials.
• Lead the development of compelling content, including impact stories and videos, strategic partnerships, thought leadership articles, opinion pieces that showcase the impact of the Foundation’s work.
• Design and oversee execution of multi‑channel stakeholder engagement strategies, utilising digital and in‑person platforms to provide timely and relevant content to key stakeholders and wider audiences.
• Oversee the Foundation’s website, social media channels and email marketing.
• Creatively promote and disseminate content developed as well as research and learning products on all platforms.
• Support the development of the Foundation’s annual report and key publications.

Stakeholder Definition, Engagement and Influence

• Imagine, define and continuously update a prioritised stakeholder list, based on our objectives.
• For priority stakeholders, build and manage a stakeholder engagement plan, including proactive and nimble strategies to reach and engage them.
• Oversee a structured and targeted events programme, including coordinating speaking roles at key international events, networks, conferences, partnership meetings and roundtables that deliver improved traction with key stakeholder groups.
• Develop and execute focussed advocacy campaigns that raise awareness and advocate for action towards Shell Foundation’s impact objectives.
• Strengthen relationships with communications counterparts at SF’s portfolio partners, restricted funders and other key stakeholder’s media relations team.

Brand

• Develop, model and embed our tone of voice.
• Enable easy, low level of effort (LOE) adoption of our brand guidelines by staff.
• Protect the brand and market reputation of SF by pre‑empting risk and putting mitigation measures in place, with specific sensitivity to SF’s independent charity status.
• Prepare reactive messages in case required in mitigation of possible key issues.
• Develop relationships with portfolio partners, Shell co‑funders, and SF team to ensure adherence to working protocols that advance our mission and those of our partners.

Measuring Influence

• Identify simple, meaningful metrics to measure progress towards our communications and foundation‑wide objectives.
• Use the metrics and analytics to assess the effectiveness of specific communications and advocacy efforts on influencing key stakeholders. Optimise our resources accordingly.

Media Relations

• Create and implement a press engagement plan tied directly to our objectives and weighed against internal LOE and external resourcing, to secure media coverage and amplify messaging, as appropriate.
• Build and maintain relationships with key media houses and journalists, and leverage our experts, senior leadership and thought leadership into those relationships.
• Represent the Foundation as a spokesperson and as required with media.

Team Management

• Lead and mentor the communications and advocacy team (2 people), fostering high‑performance and a collaborative environment.
• Develop and manage communications and advocacy budget (~USD1M) and ensure efficient use of resources.

Be an ambassador for, and promote the Foundation’s behaviours:

• Open: We speak honestly and act with good intent.
• Courageous: We take bold steps and embrace vulnerability.
• Learning: We rapidly learn, adapt and grow.
• Moving together: We move as one towards shared goals.

Key Skills:

• Significant experience of leading and delivering high‑impact communications, with demonstrated evidence of stakeholder engagement, content creation, campaign leadership, and of measuring influence.
• Strong management skills and a demonstrable track record of professionalism.
• Ability to distil clear messages from large volumes of complex information and to use these strategically to drive action.
• Team player who can lead cross‑programme initiatives meeting the needs of different internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong interest in and ideally, practical experience of, sustainable development/social investment issues.
• An excellent network of global media and influencers, as well as in‑market experience (Africa, Asia).
• A commercial mindset for a highly ambitious philanthropic foundation.
• Fluent in English with excellent communication skills, verbal and written (essential).
• Existing networks with thought‑leaders in sustainable development/social entrepreneurial communities.
• Strong understanding of SF’s approach and why this differs from traditional philanthropy and CSR.
• Experience in the non‑profit sector.

Remuneration:

Base salary will be commensurate with experience and in the region of US$80‑90,000 (Nairobi), £80‑90,000 (London), plus bonus and benefits. Offers will be subject to right to work in jurisdiction.

To apply:

Shell Foundation has appointed Taylor Birchwood to support this search. To apply for this role, please email your CV and cover letter to .

The deadline for applications is Monday 20th October.

Please note that applying viathe 'quick apply' linkon the LinkedIn ad will not be accepted as an official application. All applications will receive an automated response.

Key dates:

First stage interviews with Shell Foundation will take place in London (w/c 17 November) and Nairobi (w/c 24 November). Final stage (virtual) interviews would take place w/c 1 December.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At Shell Foundation, we acknowledge that diversity and inclusion represent ongoing journeys, and we are dedicated to learning, listening and evolving to foster greater diversity, equity and inclusivity.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disabilities status.

We strive for an inclusive culture of trust, courage and learning, where everyone can contribute their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do their best work.