Press Officer

Key Details

• Job role: Press Officer
• Salary: £35,000
• Location: Hybrid - home-based with occasional travel to Cornwall and within the UK
• Closing date: Thursday 2nd April, 5.00pm GMT

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applicants, so encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

About Cool Earth

We stand no chance of fighting the climate crisis unless we halt rainforest destruction. At Cool Earth, in direct, day to day partnership with Indigenous and local people we have developed the most effective, efficient, and ethical way of doing exactly that. These communities have an unrivalled track record of keeping rainforests standing and stabilising our global climate.

Today, with the drivers of destruction more powerful than ever, Cool Earth works to increase community resilience against these threats. With funding from over 50,000 supporters, we back local expertise with the two most agile resources any community can use to protect their land: cash and data. Across the Amazon and Congo Basins and Papua New Guinea, Cool Earth is reinventing rainforest conservation.

About the role

As Press Officer at Cool Earth, you will play a pivotal role in accelerating brand awareness and engagement to help secure our ambitious long-term goals. 

Reporting to the Marketing and Communications Manager, you will promote Cool Earth and our work, activities and messages to UK and International audiences through the media, with a view to influencing key stakeholders, public opinion and climate action. You will also develop and manage strategic relationships with the media and work to actively protect and enhance Cool Earth’s brand and Reputation.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible impact and grow with a forward-thinking charity committed to innovation and bold change.

What you’ll do

Core Responsibilities 

• Significantly increase Cool Earth’s press profile, nationally and internationally with print, broadcast and non-traditional media coverage such as podcasts and blogs, with a view to influencing key stakeholders, public opinion and climate action. 
• Identify and build relationships with key media contacts, nationally and internationally.
• Protect and enhance Cool Earth’s’ brand and reputation. 
• Monitor and evaluate media activity.
• Work with all areas of the organisation, including with the Peru team, PNG team and MEL (monitoring and evaluation) team, to identify stories, case studies impact statistics and plan ideas for content and coverage.  

Promote Cool Earth’s impact

• Ensure the consistent delivery of strategically-placed, high-profile, high-impact media activity.
• Deal with and prioritise press enquiries. 
• Write commanding, compelling, accurate press releases and other written work for the media.
• Actively sell stories to the national and international media, distribute press releases, media comments, features and letters to editors, often to tight deadlines.
• Harness the news agenda to create more opportunities to share our expertise and stories.
• Bring our work with stakeholders and our corporate partnerships to life in the media.

Manage strategic relationships with the media

• Identify national and international key media contacts to grow and maintain relationships with journalists, producers and broadcasters.

Protect Cool Earth’s brand and reputation 

• Prepare interview briefs and spokespeople for interviews, building capability for media representation across Cool Earth. 
• Be part of an effective and reliable 24-hour media response service.
• Monitor press sentiment. 

• Organise yearly media training for key spokespeople across the organisation. 

Press appeals 

• Lead Cool Earth’s press appeal applications, helping Cool Earth secure at least two major appeals by 2030. 

Reporting and evaluating 

• Monitor and review press coverage to ensure we are hitting our press KPIs.
• Provide clear recommendations for improvement based on data analysis.

• Implement tests and optimisation strategies to proactively secure more coverage.
• Maintain a log of media activity to feed into team KPIs each month.
• Celebrate media success with the wider teams in a way that not only highlights this area of work but also helps everyone feel inspired to share their work and be able to be a media spokesperson.  

Requirements

Who you are

It is essential to us that you have/are the following:

• Exceptional copywriter and storyteller: writing/developing creative press releases and other materials, tailored for diverse audiences. Ability to edit, sub-edit and proof read materials.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: Building and maintaining relationships with key media contacts, journalists, producers and broadcasters.
• Commitment to high standards: Maintaining accuracy, attention to detail, and a professional demeanor.
• Organisational skills: Prioritising tasks, working to and meeting tight deadlines, and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• The ability to think creatively and generate ideas for content that creates genuine engagement with journalists and secures high profile coverage.
• An ability to work collaboratively and in partnership with people across cultures and time zones.
• Problem-solving and decision-making: addressing media inquiries, crisis management, handling sensitive issues, and making sound judgments in a fast-paced environment. Ability to make reasoned on-the-spot editorial decisions under pressure.
• Understanding of environmental and humanitarian issues, particularly as they relate to the climate crisis.
• The ability to analyse your contribution to performance and insights to help Cool Earth meet its organisational objectives.
• High level of IT competency and practical experience of press distribution tools such as Agility PR and press monitoring.
• A demonstrable commitment to EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion).
• You're fluent in spoken and written English, and highly competent with Google and Microsoft Office tools.
• You’re aligned with our values: “smart”, “driven”, “open”, and “locally-led”.

It would be great, but not essential, if you also have:

• Fluent written and spoken Spanish.
• Demonstrable experience of working in a climate or environment sector focussed press role.
• Proven success in selling stories to journalists.
• Developing and delivering media plans.

Benefits

Why work at Cool Earth?

Benefits

As well as using your career as a force for good, there are loads of reasons why Cool Earth is a great employer.

• Flexible Working - we work flexible hours with the opportunity to work from home, the office, or even overseas.
• Mental Health & Wellbeing - our EAP offers a 24/7 helpline, counselling services, and self-guided mental health programmes for you and your family.
• Learning & Development - every employee has a L&D budget, plus organisation-wide workshops and trainings.
• Time Off - we offer generous and enhanced time off policies including holiday, sickness, medical and family leave.
• Support Good Causes - you can take extra time off work to volunteer for good causes and donate to other charities tax-free through our payroll giving scheme.

Equal Opportunities

At Cool Earth we are committed to equal opportunity and celebrate the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences of all applicants and employees.

We don't discriminate based on factors like gender, race, age, physical abilities, religion, or sexual orientation.

Our application process is designed to be accessible and inclusive, and we value your contributions regardless of these characteristics.

Frequently cited statistics show that women and underrepresented groups are more likely to only apply to jobs if they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We encourage you to apply even if you feel that you do not meet all of the above requirements.

Safeguarding

Cool Earth is dedicated to strengthening the rights and resilience of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) living in rainforests. Cool Earth believes that a child, young person, or adult should never experience abuse of any kind. Protecting their safety and their freedom is integral to our work and our values.

Cool Earth is committed to keeping the IPLCs we work and engage with safe from any harm that could be caused by coming into contact with our organisation. This includes potential harm arising from the conduct and behaviour of staff, partners, or affiliates of Cool Earth, or the design and implementation of our programmes and activities.

We maintain a strict zero-tolerance approach towards any attitudes, behaviours or actions that put others at risk of harm.

Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks as per the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. For more information see our Job Applicant Privacy Notice.