Essen | Anteilig remote | Vollzeit

Head of Marketing Free The Sea (all genders)

Your mission

About the Role?

We're looking for a Head of Marketing who is equal parts thinker and doer. Someone who can set the direction AND roll up their sleeves to make it happen. A real player-coach.

You'll own the marketing function end to end — from brand stewardship to inbound strategy, from storytelling campaigns to events. You'll work closely with our existing marketing team.

This is not a role for someone who needs a big budget, a big team, or a perfectly defined brief to do great work. This is a role for someone who thrives in meaningful, hands-on environments where creativity and impact go hand in hand.

Your profile

What you will own?

  • Brand stewardship — keeping Free The Sea's identity consistent, sharp, and unmistakably ours across every touchpoint
  • People-first storytelling — creating campaigns and content that put real humans at the centre. The ocean has a story, and so do the people protecting it.
  • Inbound lead generation — building systems and content that attract the right people, partners, and supporters organically
  • Events — planning and executing brand events, activations, and community experiences that bring our mission to life
  • Word of mouth & community — developing ambassador programs, referral loops, and partnership strategies that make people talk
  • Marketing strategy — owning the roadmap, setting priorities, and making sure everything connects back to impact

What we are looking for?

  • 7–12 years in marketing or branding
  • Background in nonprofit, sustainability, social enterprise, or purpose-driven brands
  • Strong brand instincts AND hands-on inbound/growth experience — we need both
  • Can write compelling copy yourself and brief agencies and designers effectively
  • Data-literate — you track what matters and make decisions based on it
  • Has managed a small team or is ready to step into that role
  • A social heart. You genuinely care about the ocean and communities. Non-negotiable.

Why us?

Who we are?

Free The Sea is on a mission to prevent plastic entering the ocean by creating waste management infrastructure in underserved coastal communities in Indonesia, collecting plastic directly from households and re-routing it away from the sea

We're a growing organization in the sustainability and ocean conservation space, and we're entering one of the most exciting chapters yet: a full rebrand, a new website, and a bigger vision for impact.

We're not a corporate. We're not a startup chasing metrics. We're a team that genuinely cares about the ocean, about the communities connected to it, and about doing things the right way. If that resonates with you, keep reading.

What you get?

  • Real ownership of the full marketing function from day one
  • Work that actually matters — for the ocean and the people connected to it
  • A team with purpose, heart, and ambition
  • Flexibility in how and where you work (Essen, Germany or Batam, Indonesia based)

How to Apply?

Skip the generic cover letter. Send us three things:

  • Why Free The Sea?
  • A brand story, campaign, or piece of content you created that you're proud of — and why it worked.
  • What does people-first marketing mean to you in practice?

Make it feel like you. We'll notice.