The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) is an intergovernmental organization (Denmark, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden) with its headquarters (Secretariat) in Helsinki, Finland, working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea. At present, we are around 50 staff members at the HELCOM Secretariat, and our working language is English. We offer an open, friendly, dynamic and energetic, often fast-paced, international working environment offering all staff members the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to achieving our common goals. For more information about HELCOM, please visit our home page www.helcom.fi.
We are currently seeking to recruit an enthusiastic communications intern to support the communications activities for Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day for the EU-funded PROTECT BALTIC project (PROTECT BALTIC | Preserve, revive, thrive).
PROTECT BALTIC is a Horizon Europe funded project, aligned with the EU’s Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission. The project aims to achieve a healthy Baltic Sea environment by increasing spatial protection to 30 % by 2030 through the development of a protection optimization framework. The framework will be the first of its kind, co-created with Baltic Sea countries, and will serve as a blueprint for the planning, executing, governing, managing and monitoring Baltic Sea protection and restoration initiatives. In 2024, PROTECT BALTIC and the HELCOM Secretariat brought MPA Day to European shores for the first time. This year, the aim is to further increase awareness of the day, and to establish communications systems and templates for future MPA Days.
Responsibilities and main tasks
- Establishing a clear and reproducible strategic approach, and a timeline for MPA Day communications;
- Creating online and social media content to promote MPA Day and raise MPA awareness globally;
- Maintaining a resource hub for collaborators and participants;
- Updating the MPA Day website.
Qualifications and experience
The tasks require a creative individual with strong attention to detail, a process-oriented mindset, and effective planning skills. An interest in the environment, and marine protection in particular, is an advantage.
The successful candidate shall have:
- Advanced knowledge of social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram) – knowledge of BlueSky, Facebook, and TikTok is an advantage;
- Experience in a communications role;
- Strong content editing skills, including website management and updates;
- Knowledge of graphic design tools for creating visual content;
- The ability to work independently, demonstrating initiative, problem-solving skills, and a cooperative mindset;
- Fluency in English (both spoken and written).
The following will be considered an asset:
- Experience in strategic communications, including campaign planning and messaging;
- Experience working in a diverse and international setting.
Terms of appointment
The appointment is planned to be a full-time intern position for three months, from mid-May to mid-August 2025. The salary for the position is € 1800 per month. Please note that HELCOM salaries are exempt from Finnish income tax.
How to apply
Candidates with the required expertise and qualifications are invited to submit their application (consisting of a CV and a motivational letter) via email to recruitment@helcom.fi no later than 20 April 2025. Please write “PROTECT BALTIC communications intern” in the subject field of the message.