Communications Manager, Innovation

The application period will close on March 18th, 2026 at 12pm EST.  Please note that if we receive a high volume of qualified applicants, the posting may close sooner, so we encourage candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.

About Us

Global Fishing Watch is an international, nonprofit organization committed to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency. We create and publicly share knowledge about human activity at sea to enable fair and sustainable use of our ocean. Founded in 2015 through a collaboration between Oceana, SkyTruth, and Google, Global Fishing Watch became an independent non-profit organization in June 2017. Using cutting-edge technology, we create and publicly share map visualizations, data and analysis tools to enable scientific research and drive a transformation in how we manage our ocean. Our major focus is on commercial fishing because it is the most widespread human activity at sea, the most impactful on ocean health, and the most crucial for global livelihoods and food security. By 2030, we aim to monitor and visualize the impact of ocean-going vessels, both industrial and small-scale, that are responsible for the vast majority of the global seafood catch. We believe human activity at sea should be common knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean commons for the common good of all. 

The Position

The communications function is a core strategic component of Global Fishing Watch’s program, integral to generating public visibility, political support and building an international constituency for the organization and transparency in global fisheries. Global Fishing Watch’s communications is centered on driving impactful messaging, obtaining targeted media coverage and furthering engagement that promotes transparency as a fundamental component of responsible ocean stewardship.

Reporting to the senior manager of program communications, the communications manager, innovation is responsible for supporting the implementation of the organization’s global communications strategy, with a specific focus on making its technology, data and scientific research understandable, relevant and usable at scale. Positioning Global Fishing Watch as a leading authority and partner of choice for data-led transparency in ocean governance, the post-holder will directly support the delivery of the organization’s 2030 goals by translating complex science, data and technology into compelling stories and digital experiences that demonstrate real-world impact.

This position requires exceptional writing and editorial skills, including the ability to quickly understand complex scientific, technical and analytical information and translate it into clear, engaging and accurate content. The successful candidate will bring a strong background in storytelling and digital communications, with demonstrated experience engaging both expert and non-expert audiences through innovative formats, multimedia narratives and evolving digital strategies.

Working closely with our research and product development teams, the communications manager, innovation is expected to help shape narratives in project lifecycles, ensuring outputs are relevant, accessible and impact-oriented. Leading communications efforts to profile the organization’s groundbreaking research and scientific breakthroughs, the communications manager will work alongside the chief scientist and his team of researchers to spotlight our cutting-edge technology and develop data-driven stories that help map our progress to monitor all human activity at sea. They will also work closely with the product development team to identify communications opportunities that highlight use cases and demonstrate technological successes, particularly around major platform updates and product evolution.

The successful candidate will bring creativity, innovation and analytical thinking to a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. In addition to leading their own portfolio of work, the post-holder is expected to contribute to broader communications planning, supporting communications priorities as needed, and helping ensure cohesion, clarity and strategic alignment across Global Fishing Watch’s science, technology and impact storytelling.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated communications plans for an assigned portfolio of technological products and research initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and cross-functional coordination.
• Translate complex scientific research and technology into clear, compelling stories and narratives that highlight real-world impact on ocean governance. 
• Create high-quality content across various formats — web content, fact sheets, video/multimedia, infographics, data visualizations and other digital storytelling pieces to demonstrate practical use of tools and insights by scientists, researchers, governments and partners.
• Lead communications for major scientific publications and technical releases, showcasing Global Fishing Watch’s innovation and influence. 
• Communicate the evolution of our technology and tools, translating complex data and 2030 milestone achievements into clear, impactful stories that demonstrate our continuous improvement and global progress to target audiences.  
• Coordinate communications and PR efforts with partner institutions to promote integration of Global Fishing Watch data and technology into external platforms, enabling scientific advancement and better management of ocean resources.
• Collaborate closely with digital, multimedia and graphic design consultants to develop high-impact data visualizations, infographics, videos and other assets that strengthen understanding and influence.
• Lead the development and publication for the quarterly research newsletter and oversee public outreach materials produced by the research and product development teams. Ensure scientific accuracy while optimizing clarity, narrative flow and audience engagement.
• Support media outreach by identifying compelling stories; translating complex technical insights into clear media narratives; developing strategic angles in coordination with the communications manager; and preparing comprehensive briefing materials, backgrounders and spokesperson guidance. 
• Distill complex research and technical updates into accessible key messages and draft social media content, equipping the social media team with accurate and engaging material.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, science communication, or equivalent professional experience
• 5+ years of communications experience, preferably with a background in science or technology journalism.
• Proven excellence in writing, narrative construction and digital communication, with ease in expressing complex concepts and issues in a clear, effective manner for general audiences and scientists alike.
• Experience managing the creation of visual content, including data visualizations, graphics and video.
• Experience collaborating with scientific, technical, or product teams.
• Track record of driving projects autonomously and building stakeholder relationships within a remote, globally distributed matrix organization. Able to work well with a diverse set of multicultural and multidisciplinary internal and external stakeholders.
• Highly organized, analytical, detail oriented and self-motivated.
• Flexibility to collaborate with team members across global time zones.
• Fluent or highly proficient in English.

Preferred

• Proficiency in other languages, especially Spanish and French.
• Experience innovating in digital storytelling formats and working with data visualization or multimedia teams.
• Familiarity with technology and science, policy or governance contexts, particularly in environmental or ocean-related fields.
• Proficient with G suite (e.g., docs, slides, sheets).
• Experience using content management systems; familiarity with Notion and WordPress is a plus.
• Previous experience working remotely or in a globally distributed team.

Please submit a CV with your relevant experiences and a cover letter conveying your interest in the position and how your previous experiences would support you to be successful in this role. We look forward to getting to know more about you!

The successful candidate will meet most, but not necessarily all, of the criteria above. If you don’t think you check all the boxes, but believe you have unique skills that make you a great fit for the role, we want to hear from you!

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Additional Information

Note: The application period for this role closes on March 18th, 2026 at 12pm EST. 

Reporting to: Senior Manager, Program Communications

Manages: No

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not supported at this time. 

Candidates must be authorized to work for GFW without visa sponsorship for at least two years after their start date (Estimated to be April 2026)

Individuals on student visas must be eligible for full-time employment on their visa and have valid work authorization (such as Optional Practical Training (OPT) or equivalent) that remains valid for at least two years or the duration of their contract. Candidates relying on a spouse’s visa for work authorization are not eligible, as they must independently qualify for employment.

Location: This is a remote role, but candidates must be legally authorized and based in the following countries to be considered: United States; United Kingdom; Costa Rica; Mexico; Panama; France; Ireland; Italy; Spain; Senegal

Permanent/Fixed Term/Contractor: Permanent, Open Ended

Full Time hours: Yes 

Recruiting process: Recruiting Process: A cover letter along with a CV will be requested to see how your experience and interest connect to the position. We expect the cover letter to allow applicants an opportunity to explain details on how their skill set aligns with the role and provide a better understanding of their suitability for the position. If selected for consideration, the hiring process for this position will include an initial call with our Talent Acquisition team, followed by a formal 45 minute interview with 1-3 team members. Candidates advancing beyond this round will be asked to take a technical assessment and/or submit a representative code sample. Lastly, a final interview with 2-4 teams members to review your assessment and assess functional skills.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is as follows. For candidates based in:

Compensation is commensurate with experience and will vary depending on the hired candidate’s country of residence, in accordance with local laws and regulations. GFW offers pension/retirement, health and other benefits commensurate with similar level GFW employees in the country of employment. The position may be a GFW employee, an employee of our Employer of Record Partner, or a contractor depending on the country of residence.

Equal opportunities: Global Fishing Watch is an equal opportunities employer. Global Fishing Watch is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our organization and in the greater ocean management and conservation community. We believe that diverse backgrounds, skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger organization. Bringing together professionals who possess broad experiences and a spectrum of perspectives will enable us to reach our goal of improved ocean governance faster. We hire and promote qualified professionals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or parental status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organizational goals match the urgent challenges facing our global ocean, and our mission is designed to help secure a healthy ocean for all. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of humanity’s diversity, by providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees of Global Fishing Watch and for our partners, vendors, suppliers and contractors.

Accessibility and Accommodations: We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you are selected for an interview and need accommodations or adjustments at any stage, please let the Talent Acquisition Manager know during your initial call. We’ll do our best to support your needs. Any information you share will be kept confidential and used only to ensure you have a positive experience.