Senior Director, Marketing and Communications at Rainforest Alliance

Position Summary:

• The Rainforest Alliance is seeking a visionary and results-driven Senior Director of Marketing & Communications to join our senior leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Commercial Officer.
• This pivotal role will shape and implement the organization’s global brand and communications strategy, driving awareness, engagement, and influence across diverse audiences and markets.
• The successful candidate will be a seasoned marketing leader with a proven track record of building impactful global brands across multiple channels. They will bring creativity, strategic acumen, and deep consumer/customer insight to elevate the Rainforest Alliance brand towards a position of strength and leadership in the sustainability space.
• The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial and action-oriented, capable of delivering bold results with limited resources. We are looking for a doer, not just a strategist, someone who thrives in a lean environment, rolls up their sleeves, and maximizes impact without relying on large marketing budgets.

Key Objectives:

• Develop and implement a compelling brand and communications strategy aligned with organizational goals
• Develop and lead a high-performing global marketing, communications and advocacy team
• Maximize brand impact through curated strategic marketing partnerships and multi-stakeholder engagement
• Drive integrated and highly efficient marketing and communications campaigns that amplify our mission, our products and our programs

Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Work with the CCO to ensure alignment and delivery of marketing and communication outputs within the organisation’s strategic priorities
• Cultivate a culture of excellence, and accountability within the marcoms function
• Model strong, purposeful leadership as part of Senior Management Team
• Engage with the executive board to provide strategic updates and insights on brand and communications performance

Marketing & Communications Strategy

• Lead the digital, creative/editorial, and corporate affairs teams to enhance brand awareness and thought leadership in sustainability
• Design and implement multi-channel marketing strategies to promote products, programs, and new initiatives
• Expand brand presence in established, emerging, and new markets
• Position the Rainforest Alliance as a global leader in sustainability through strategic storytelling and brand positioning
• Ensure consistent, impactful messaging across internal and external communications
• Be responsible for media relations, reputation management, and risk mitigation
• Develop and manage press, PR, and event strategies to support advocacy and influence
• Working with the Communications lead to ensure the global advocacy team focus on European and International policy and regulatory engagement is aligned with the organisational priorities
• Craft strategies to influence policy and drive systemic change in areas such as deforestation, agrochemical use, and social equity
• Deliver targeted campaigns that elevate key sustainability issues and mobilize stakeholder support

 Team Leadership & Development

• Build, mentor, and empower a diverse, globally distributed team across digital, creative/editorial, communications, and advocacy
• Foster a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and high-performance culture
• Drive recruitment, talent development, and performance management to build a world-class marcoms and advocacy team

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of senior-level experience in brand and marketing leadership, ideally spanning both corporate and NGO sectors
• Demonstrated success in developing and delivering brand strategies that drive measurable impact
• Deep understanding of sustainability markets; familiarity with certification systems preferred
• Proven leadership in complex, multi-stakeholder environments across marketing, communications, sales, and advocacy
• Track record of achieving outsized results through creativity and resourcefulness, especially in budget-constrained environments
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budget oversight and strategic planning
• Experience working in international organizations and multicultural teams
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English; adept at engaging executive audiences
• Collaborative leadership style with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Ability to influence and build trust with internal and external stakeholders
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or related field; Master’s degree or MBA preferred
• Passion for sustainability and alignment with the Rainforest Alliance’s mission and values