Strategic Communications Adviser Opportunity at Fern in Brussels, Belgium: Monthly Salary €4,315 – €5,674 plus €8 Daily Lunch Voucher @Fern in Brussels, Belgium: Monthly Salary €4,315 – €5,674 plus €8 Daily Lunch Voucher

Environmental advocacy organisations increasingly rely on strong communication strategies to influence policy and drive meaningful change.

One such opportunity has opened at Fern, a European NGO dedicated to protecting forests and the rights of forest-dependent communities. The organisation is currently recruiting a Strategic Communications Adviser to join its team in Brussels.

This role offers communications professionals the chance to work at the intersection of environmental policy, advocacy, and storytelling while supporting international campaigns that influence European decision-making.

About Fern

Fern is a non-governmental organisation that works to ensure European policies protect forests and the rights of forest-dependent peoples.

The organisation collaborates with networks and partners across Europe, Southeast Asia, Central and West Africa, and South America.

A central belief within Fern is that environmental conflicts cannot be addressed without recognising their social dimensions. The organisation therefore prioritises strong partnerships and coalitions, believing collective action is key to long-term policy change. In addition to exposing environmental challenges, Fern also focuses on proposing practical solutions and improving how policies are written and implemented.

Fern operates with a flat organisational structure, meaning it has no formal director and relies on consensus-based decision-making. Currently, the organisation employs 21 staff members working across three offices located in Brussels, Paris, and Moreton-in-Marsh in the United Kingdom.

Role Overview: Strategic Communications Adviser

The Strategic Communications Adviser will play a critical role in connecting Fern’s campaign teams and communications teams. Rather than focusing solely on content production, the role ensures communications efforts are strategic, purposeful, and aligned with campaign goals.

The adviser will help define what should be communicated, why it matters, who the target audiences are, and what outcomes the communications should achieve.

This is both an advisory and operational role. The selected candidate will support campaigners in planning and implementing impactful communication activities while also collaborating closely with the communications team to deliver agreed initiatives.

The role requires strategic thinking, facilitation skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities within a fast-moving advocacy environment.

Key Responsibilities

The Strategic Communications Adviser will contribute across several areas, including:

Strategic communications planning

• Providing targeted advice to campaign teams on high-impact communications approaches
• Participating in campaign meetings and co-developing Terms of Reference for communication products and events
• Ensuring communications initiatives have clear audiences, narratives, and measurable impact indicators

Opportunity identification

• Monitoring relevant political and media developments to identify communications opportunities that support campaign objectives

Collaboration and partnerships

• Building and maintaining relationships with NGOs, think tanks, and advocacy networks
• Working closely with partners to amplify voices that are often under-represented in media and policymaking

Team coordination

• Participating in communications team meetings to track progress on workplans and contribute to future planning
• Temporarily covering responsibilities of other communications roles when colleagues are absent

Content development

• Supporting campaigners in crafting compelling narratives and stories
• Ensuring communication projects are delivered successfully from concept to completion

Strategic contribution

• Helping shape Fern’s long-term approach to strategic communications
• Contributing to organisational strategy and annual work planning

The role may also involve travel within Europe and occasionally to tropical forest regions where Fern’s partner organisations operate.

Candidate Profile

Fern is seeking candidates with strong communications experience, particularly within policy advocacy or civil society campaigns.

Essential qualifications and experience

Applicants should demonstrate:

• At least five years of experience in a fast-paced communications environment
• Experience supporting civil society campaigns related to EU or national policies
• Strong strategic thinking, including the ability to select high-impact communication approaches
• Experience working with multicultural teams with diverse communication styles
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Fluency in French and English
• Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills, including conflict resolution and consensus building
• The ability to work independently, organise priorities, and meet deadlines

Candidates should also show curiosity about evolving media and communications trends and how NGOs can adapt their strategies accordingly.

Desirable experience

Additional advantages include:

• Previous experience specifically in strategic communications roles
• Familiarity with the functioning of EU institutions
• Experience facilitating meetings involving diverse stakeholders
• Media environment experience
• Technical knowledge of communication tools such as CMS platforms, databases, and design tools (for example Typo3, HubSpot, or Canva)

Salary and Benefits

The position offers competitive compensation and benefits:

• Monthly salary: €4,315 – €5,674 (full-time equivalent), depending on experience
• Lunch vouchers: €8 per working day
• Health insurance: Provided after the initial six-month contract
• Travel cost contributions: From home to the Brussels office

Additional benefits include generous leave provisions. Staff receive five additional holiday days beyond legal leave, up to four extra days between Christmas and New Year, and an additional vacation day every two years of service (up to five extra days).

Working Arrangements

The role is based in Brussels, Belgium, and requires regular office attendance. Applicants can choose between:

• Full-time: 38 hours per week
• 80% position: 30.4 hours per week

Fern also offers flexible working arrangements outside core hours, although at least one office day per week is mandatory.

The initial contract lasts six months, with the possibility of becoming a permanent position afterwards.

Professional Development and Future Role

The first six months serve as a structured induction period. During this time, the new adviser will learn Fern’s communication tools, internal processes, and campaign strategies while helping implement existing workplans.

If the role continues after the initial contract, the adviser will become involved in co-managing the organisation and helping shape Fern’s communications strategy for its next five-year plan (2028–2032).

How to Apply

Fern welcomes applications from candidates who already have the legal right to work in Belgium.

Applicants must submit:

• A CV
• A cover letter explaining motivation for applying, relevant experience, and views on strategic communications in NGOs

Applications should be sent by email with the subject line “Strategic Communications Adviser.”

Application deadline: 6 April 2026, 23:59 CET.

Applications should be sent by email to recruitment@fern.org with the subject line “Strategic Communications Adviser”. 

We strongly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and are committed to providing accommodations throughout the application process. If you need support, please contact Aislin Ryan (aislin@fern.org).

If you would like to discuss the content of the job, please contact Richard Wainwright (richard@fern.org).

The recruitment process includes two interview rounds in Brussels scheduled for 28 April and 11 May 2026, with travel costs reimbursed.

A Mission-Driven Career Opportunity

For communications professionals interested in environmental justice, European policy, and global advocacy, this position opportunity to contribute to campaigns protecting forests and the communities that depend on them.

By combining strategic thinking with collaborative storytelling, the Strategic Communications Adviser will help ensure Fern’s work reaches the audiences capable of driving meaningful environmental change.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization that is offering this position. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.