Director of External Affairs

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, External Affairs based in Netherlands.

• Develop and implement an external affairs strategy in partnership with senior leadership, aligned with organizational growth and fundraising objectives.
• Design targeted engagement strategies for key audiences across the climate, health, nature, and philanthropy sectors.
• Lead cross-functional communications initiatives, coordinating with teams across the organization and ensuring consistent messaging.
• Manage external communications partners, including agencies, designers, and content creators.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on external affairs performance using relevant metrics and insights.
• Shape compelling, evidence-based narratives around balanced diets and food systems transformation.
• Develop messaging frameworks and create or curate written, visual, and storytelling content.
• Develop and oversee an events strategy, including donor and grantee convenings.
• Lead media relations and proactive profile-building initiatives for the organization, CEO, and selected senior leaders.
• Build and maintain relationships with specialist and relevant mainstream media.
• Oversee reputation management, brand consistency, and crisis communications planning.
• Develop and maintain brand guidelines and ensure consistency across markets and touchpoints.
• Oversee digital communications, including the website and social media channels.
• Develop high-impact communications materials that strengthen fundraising efforts.

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Extensive, proven experience in strategic external affairs, communications, public relations, or a closely related senior role.
• Native or fluent English proficiency; additional languages such as German or Portuguese are advantageous.
• Strong track record in media relations, brand development, senior executive profile building, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience managing external communications agencies, consultants, and creative partners.
• Demonstrated experience leading international communications for a global organization.
• Strong understanding of sustainability, climate, and health issues.
• Experience working with or within philanthropic organizations, foundations, NGOs, or similar mission-driven environments.
• Experience supporting executive profile building and working closely with fundraising or philanthropy teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent media relations, digital communications, social media, and content management capabilities.
• Experience using communications analytics and performance metrics.
• Strong project and time-management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Collaborative leadership style and an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Comfort working with ambiguity and operating in a fast-paced, start-up-style environment.
• Creative problem-solving skills and a high degree of adaptability.

• Fully remote position with flexibility to work across time zones between EDT and CET preferred.
• Full-time role within a globally distributed and international team.
• Opportunity to shape external affairs, communications, and reputation at a growing mission-driven organization.
• Exposure to senior stakeholders across philanthropy, climate, health, nature, and food-system transformation.
• High-impact role with direct contribution to fundraising, stakeholder engagement, and organizational growth.
• Collaborative, cross-functional working environment with teams spanning multiple regions.
• Opportunity to work with a broad network of external communications agencies, creative partners, philanthropies, and.