Chief External Relations Officer - Task Force for Global Health (TFGH)

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Description

The Chief External Relations Officer (CERO) leads the Task Force for Global Health's (TFGH) global strategic communications efforts. As a key member of the Executive Team, the CERO will shape the strategic direction of TFGH by overseeing a cohesive organizational marketing and communications strategy and elevating our visibility as a trusted global health organization and by strengthening a unified brand identity across our multiple programs.

 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

 

• Responsible for elevating TFGH’s positioning within the global health space. Creates organization awareness and engagement through a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy, including media placements, newsletters, websites, public presentations, special events, videos, and other marketing materials, and social media campaigns.
• Serves as the primary steward of the organization’s reputation by proactively identifying and mitigating misinformation or conflicting narratives; develops rapid-response communication strategies to address narratives that could impact brand integrity; promotes a culture of high-integrity communication both internally and externally.
• Responsible for unifying TFGH’s branding by establishing and maintaining brand standards while overseeing the development of high‑quality content across owned and earned media, events, campaigns, and digital platforms.
• Partners with the Business Development director on envisioning and executing the organization’s strategic approach to fundraising.
• Integrates program‑level communications team content and products into coherent, evidence-based organization‑wide communications messaging strategies.
• Prepares, develops, and monitors team budget.
• Plans and executes special events with support from the External Relations team to elevate awareness of the organization and its programs.

Strategic Leadership & External Relations

• Serves as a member of the Executive Team, shaping the operational and strategic direction of TFGH.
• Leads and supervises a small team of communications professionals.
• Leads an integrated, modernized, multi‑channel communications and external relations strategy to position TFGH as a leading global health organization with large‑scale, transformative impact.
• Represents TFGH in local, national, and international forums.
• Develops and executes external relations strategies that support resource mobilization, organizational development, programs, and policy goals.

Policy, Advocacy & Government Affairs

• Oversees Global and Federal Affairs, ensuring policy and advocacy priorities are strategically advanced and aligned with key global and domestic bodies, including the WHO, the United Nations, U.S. Congress, Congressional staff, and relevant federal agencies.
• Advises on policy messaging and organizational endorsement of advocacy positions, ensuring reflection of technical expertise and thought leadership while considering potential risks.

Executive Communications 

• Advises the CEO, executive leadership, and Board of Directors on communications strategy, executive visibility, high‑stakes engagements, and reputation management.

• Strengthens leadership positioning by developing talking points, presentations, and materials for donor, policymaker, partner, and employee engagement.
• Anticipates reputational risks and leads the development and implementation of crisis communications strategies.

Program Support & Organizational Guidance

• Provides counsel to program teams on the development and execution of strategic communications, advocacy, and fundraising plans.
• Develops standard operating procedures, guidelines, policies, and other organizational resources to support consistent, effective communications practices.

 

TRAVEL: 10 – 20% Domestic and International travel

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related field, and ten years of experience, which includes five years in a communications or public relations position, and five years of experience in a nonprofit institution in the areas of development, fundraising, OR an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• Effective written and oral presentation skills.
• A maste