Ellwood Atfield is delighted to be working with Common Seas, a not-for-profit enterprise that researches, designs and implements practical project-based solutions to our global plastic pollution crisis. Their mission is to quickly and significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste produced and stop it polluting rivers and seas.
About Common Seas
Common Seas believe in healthy seas for everyone. Driven by a deep love of the ocean, they are working hard to bring about the big changes we need to protect the greatest life support system on Earth.
They’re a smart, dynamic, pragmatic, professional and supportive team. Their small (but quickly growing) international crew brings together a wide range of skills and expertise, together with an adventurous spirit and a hands-on-can-do attitude. They are proud to be part of an incredible network of thinkers and doers, and they are looking for someone who shares the same kind of energy, passion and dedication.
Core Projects
Common Seas have a portfolio of four projects tackling the plastic pollution problem – from source to sea:
Clean Blue Alliance: With a vision of a global network of plastic waste-free islands, this project involves working with governments, councils, businesses and local changemakers to identify and accelerate policy and business solutions. The project will present opportunities to invest in systems to reduce or substitute plastic, enable a plastics circular economy, and optimise waste management.
Plastic Drawdown: Their policy analysis modelling framework is the most comprehensive approach for governments to understand plastic waste flows and optimise policies to tackle ocean pollution. It is currently being used to advise the Greek, UK and Maldives Governments and is central to our current work in rolling out plastic mitigation investments across a dozen Commonwealth countries.
Healthy Me, Healthy Sea: A research project to build evidence and awareness on the impacts of plastics on human health. Aimed at changing the way plastics are perceived and therefore accelerating the transition to a plastic’s circular economy.
Ocean Plastics Academy: Inspiring the next generation to appreciate and stand up for ocean health using a growing collection of curriculum-aligned ocean plastics resources.
The Opportunities
Ellwood Atfield is delighted to be working with Common Seas to hire two key positions, a Head of External Affairs and a Head of Insights ( each hyperlinked to a Pdf. of the job description).
The Head of External Affairs will lead on building the brand and profile through strategic media relations, digital communications and government relations. This person will be an exceptional communications professional, with a content led approach and a strong understanding of how the news and political agenda’s intertwine and influence one another.
This is a crucial, hands-on role, and you will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive communication strategy. Common Seas want you to make sure their mission is in the hearts and minds of their audience and supporters. By raising the profile and connecting with key stakeholders, you will be helping charter a course to healthy oceans.
Click here for further details and apply for this position.
The Head of Insights will work closely with the Managing Director, and a wide range of internal stakeholders to provide technical policy analysis around plastics, waste management and the circular economy.
You will be tasked with further developing Plastic Drawdown, an already world leading modelling framework. You will have the opportunity to work with, and help develop a strong existing global network of governments to tackle ocean pollution.
This will require a deep technical understanding of plastic production, consumption, circular economy and waste management systems, with experience of turning theory into practical on-the-ground action.