Director, Strategic Communications

The Director, Strategic Communications is a key member of the Global Engagement and Communications (GECO) Senior Management Team and is responsible for leading both external and internal communications for Jhpiego. This includes designing, developing and leading organization communication plans and brand positioning, create narrative and messaging, oversee public relations, media relationships and strategies for Jhpiego, as well as identifying opportunities to extend organizational reach and visibility12.

The position reports to the VP, Global Communications & Engagement, collaborates closely with the Marketing and Development teams, and oversees Regional Communications, Creative Services, and Executive Communications for the CEO, managing a team of 12 communicators, writers, designers, etc. as well as additional part-time staff, as needed..

The position will craft compelling pitches and programs that integrate storytelling, provide excellent client support to the organization through the Creative Serves team, and ensure seamless, integrated strategies in the areas of media engagement and executive communications with managerial duties including oversight of budgeting, reporting, and strategic planning, working cross-functionally with other members of the GECO team as well as Jhpiego’s senior leadership team, technical leads, and country leadership

Responsibilities:

Media Strategy and Executive Communications

• Develop and lead proactive media engagement strategy for the organization with tangible goals and objectives.
• Build personal relationships with journalists and develop an in-house media list.
• Develop, track and report tangible measurement standards of media engagement in line with goals and objectives.
• Manage Executive Communications for the CEO and other key leaders, by identifying key speaking opportunities to grow and build the profile.
• Work with and guide speechwriter to align with high-level Executive Communications goals and messaging frameworks.
• Work with GECO and programs teams to identify upcoming news moments and trends to develop major media opportunities to focus team effort on.
• Identify and oversee contracts and invoices for any paid media partnerships.
• Identify and execute opportunities to grow Jhpiego’s presence at events.
• Identify news stories within the organization and help team’s shape them to be compelling narratives that can be used with media.
• Identify and manage media training needs for Jhpiego spokespeople to be prepared across print, broadcast, radio and social interview/speaking moments.
• Identify and manage Satellite Media Tour opportunities.
• Work with GECO on developing and leading media strategies for priority communications moments.
• Support advocacy efforts across teams to identify what and/or if there will be earned or paid media strategy to support.
• Work with global teams on identifying key moments to engage country and regional press where Jhpiego has a presence – including site visits, events/conferences, CEO engagements, etc.
• Work closely with external media/communications counterpoints and planning teams for external events for the organization and CEO.

Content and Storytelling

• Manage Content Calendar overarching strategy and execution
• Provide vision and direction across writers and designers to develop content and storytelling
• Work closely with digital team to ensure message alignment across channels.
• Lead brand messaging for key moments and campaigns.
• Work with GECO team to identify upcoming moments for content strategy

Crisis Communications

• Develop and manage tough questions and reactive responses.
• Work with spokespeople to be prepared on in case of press inquiries and external speaking moments.
• Track media cycles and manage reactive media requests and opportunities.
• Advise and lead strategic response when issues arise

Supervision

• Hire and manage speechwriter to support the CEO.
• Oversee alignment between CEO communications strategy, media relations and scripting support to achieve goals and objectives.
• Manage a team of writers and designers to bring storytelling to life.
• Manage regional communications team to ensure message alignment with regional teams.

Special Skills, Knowledge & Abilities: 

• Successful track record of leading media engagement efforts with specific examples of placements, campaign strategies and executive profile building with press
• Ability to develop and execute strategic, complex media strategies to achieve goals