Director, Geographic Communications
Open Society FoundationsAbout the role
Role Title
Director, Geographic Communications
Grade Level
Level F, Grade 13
Reporting To
Senior Director, Communications
Program/Tool/ Department/Unit Name
Communications
Team Name
Geographic Communications
Role Purpose
The Director has expertise in external and crisis communications and reputation management, including current controversies/issues and leading figures/thinking. The role requires extensive knowledge and experience of cross-cultural leadership along with knowledge of international and geographic variations in practice. The Director is responsible for maintaining and strengthening the institutional, programmatic, and financial integrity of OSF in addition to their geographic divisions of external and crisis communications.
The role includes significant coaching of colleagues and managing cross-department, cross-program, or similarly complex global and geographic projects in a manner that encourages clear communication and respectful colleagueship, in a supervisory capacity. Relationships are critical and diverse, requiring the development and nurturing of trust within internal and external fields across cultures and geographies in which competing interests, complex political and cultural factors, and tensions between long- and short-term goals must all be managed effectively. This role reports to the senior director of Communications with three associate directors of geographic communications reporting to them.
Key Responsibilities
The Director leads geographic teams, coordinating communications strategies across these teams to advance our priorities and shape a positive view of the Open Society Foundations, its founder, leadership, and grantees.
Manages top tier international and geographic media focused on telling the story of the Open Society Foundations
Improves the public identity of the network and ensures that our global narrative and messaging cut across all of our geographic work, when appropriate
Leads on our efforts to combat misinformation, disinformation, and attacks on the Open Society Foundations
Advises on crisis communications plans and leads staff in developing geographic strategies to address emerging crisis situations
Guides pitching of op-eds based on extensive knowledge of media landscape; and
Writes and edits content for internal and external audiences
People Responsibilities (Total Team/DRs)
Yes (3 direct reports, total team 8)
Key internal relationships
ELT; Communications SMT; Communications; Geographic and Opportunities Directors
Key external relationships
Top tier press contacts, public relations directors; foundation peers
Qualifications
Essential:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study or equivalent
Experience
Essential:
Extensive, progressively responsible experience in roles relevant to the duties of the position
Prior experience in managing staff and large programs is highly desirable
Experience in an advisory role to senior management, including president/CEO level
Desirable:
Experience in philanthropic communities and media
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
Significant field experience including budget management, people and team management, and project management
Expertise in their field of specialization, including familiarity with current controversies/issues and leading figures/thinking, as well as substantial knowledge of principles and practices in organizational management and cross-cultural leadership
Ability to exercise creative leadership in projects and programs of substance and expertise in creating new and innovative approaches to improving a programmatic team, area, and/or unit
Desirable:
In-depth knowledge of all major areas of interest within Open Society and the key relationships and interests associated with them
WalkMe
Personal Competencies:
The Director will also have a strong understanding of cultural differences.
Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English are essential.
The Director will leverage key relationships within the field and within the organization in order to further programmatic go
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