Would you like to use communication to inspire people and organisations to take action on sustainability? Are you strong in strategy, planning and writing, comfortable keeping an overview, and able to bring colleagues and partners together around a clear communication approach? Then you might be our new Communication Manager.
About us
The Shift is Belgium’s sustainability network, bringing together businesses, civil society organisations, academic institutions and public-sector organisations to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable economy and society.
With more than 500 members, we build bridges between organisations and foster collaboration around key sustainability challenges. In doing so, we help our members embed sustainability more firmly within their organisations and achieve greater impact together.
To engage our community in a clear, relevant and inspiring way, we are looking for a Communication Manager who will define our communication strategy, set priorities and ensure that our stories, programmes and activities reach the right audiences.
Your role
As Communication Manager, you are the driving force behind The Shift’s communications. You define our communication strategy and priorities, maintain an overview of our activities and ensure consistency across channels, messages and target audiences.
At The Shift, communication is a shared responsibility. Your colleagues contribute their subject-matter expertise and take responsibility for part of the communication themselves. You help them sharpen their messages, plan effectively and communicate to a high standard. For specific assignments, you work with external communication partners, whom you brief and supervise.
You therefore combine strategy and coordination with a hands-on approach: you keep the bigger picture in mind while being ready to roll up your sleeves when needed.
We are recruiting for a replacement position to ensure continuity in the role.
Your key responsibilities
1. Communication strategy, planning and coordination
- You develop The Shift’s communication strategy and translate it into clear priorities, target audiences and actions.
- You oversee the overall communication plan from our members’ perspective and develop clear communication plans and timelines.
- You ensure consistency across our different channels, programmes and communication initiatives.
- You help colleagues turn their subject-matter expertise into clear, targeted communication.
- You monitor results and feedback and use these insights to continuously improve our communications.
2. Newsletters and mailings
- You coordinate and edit The Shift’s monthly newsletter and Chapter Zero Brussels’ six-weekly newsletter.
- You gather and structure input from colleagues and ensure clear copy and an engaging layout.
- Together with the team, you develop a mailing strategy, with a focus on audience segmentation, timing and maintaining the right balance in our communications with members.
3. Website
- You safeguard the editorial quality and consistency of theshift.be, creating or updating pages where needed.
- You are the main point of contact for our external web partner for technical support, maintenance and further development.
4. Social media
- You define the approach and priorities for our social media channels, with LinkedIn as our main platform.
- You develop guidelines that enable different colleagues to publish content themselves, while safeguarding the quality and consistency of our communications.
5. Stories from our network
- Together with the team, you identify which stories from our community we want to bring to life and determine the most relevant channels for sharing them.
- You coordinate the production of these stories and, where relevant, work with external copywriters, photographers, videographers or other communication partners.
6. Programmes, campaigns and events
- Together with subject-matter colleagues, you translate the objectives of new programmes and campaigns into a communication approach and concrete plan.
- You coordinate implementation and safeguard timing, quality and consistency.
- You also coordinate communication around key moments such as our New Year Reception and General Assembly.
- Where needed, you engage external communication partners and supervise their work.
7. Annual member communications
- Together with management and the team, you coordinate communication around our annual report and other key annual communications to our members.
- You develop the planning, gather input and oversee editing, production and publication.
8. Budget and partners
- You define and manage the communication budget and report on its status to the Finance Manager on a quarterly basis.
- You select, brief and manage external communication partners, safeguarding quality, timing and budget.
9. Press
- You maintain our press relations and coordinate the follow-up of media enquiries within the team.
- You identify opportunities to increase the visibility of the expertise, activities and impact of The Shift and its network.
Your profile
We are looking for someone who can think strategically, organise communications and roll up their sleeves when needed.
- You have at least 5 years of relevant experience in communications, preferably in a role where you have helped define communication strategy and coordinated different projects, channels or stakeholders.
- You are strong in planning and project management and know how to set priorities when everything cannot happen at once.
- You are an excellent writer and can turn complex content into clear, accessible and engaging communication.
- You combine strategic thinking with a hands-on mindset and are comfortable taking ownership.
- You enjoy working with subject-matter experts and help colleagues communicate more effectively without taking over their expertise.
- You can brief external partners clearly, guide their work and provide constructive feedback.
- You are curious, solution-oriented and have a keen eye for detail.
- You have a strong interest in sustainability and societal issues.
- You are comfortable with digital communication channels. Experience with Mailchimp, CMS platforms, Wordpress and LinkedIn is an asset.
- You communicate professionally in Dutch and French. A good command of English is an asset.
What we offer
At The Shift, we believe it is important that our colleagues feel valued and involved and have opportunities to develop their talents – both individually and as part of the team.
You can expect:
- A challenging role with considerable autonomy and room for initiative. You will have the mandate to further shape our communication strategy and set priorities.
- A strong focus on personal development, including an individual training budget.
- A healthy work-life balance, combining office-based and remote working.
- An enthusiastic and committed team where collaboration and shared responsibility are central to how we work.
- A values-driven organisation working towards a positive impact on people and the planet.
- A unique and extensive sustainability network bringing together businesses, civil society organisations, public-sector organisations and academic institutions.
- A fair remuneration package, complemented by DKV health insurance, meal vouchers, eco vouchers, 100% reimbursement of commuting expenses, training budget, a laptop and a mobile phone subscription.
Everyone is welcome at The Shift. We encourage applications regardless of gender identity or expression, background, age, religion, visible or invisible disability, neurodiversity or life journey. We provide a respectful and confidential recruitment process and reasonable adjustments where needed.
Expected start date: as soon as possible (ASAP) – replacement contract
Workplace: Impact House Brussels – Rue Joseph II 20 – 1000 Brussels
Would you like to help shape the future of The Shift?
Please send your CV and cover letter to [email protected] by 10 September 2026. Only applications following this process will be considered. Please note that interviews will take place on 17 and 18 September 2026.
We look forward to meeting you.