Senior Director, Global Communications

Position Summary

The Senior Director Global Communications is a senior leadership role responsible for expanding and leading all aspects of IPA’s integrated strategic communications strategy. The role ensures that IPA’s voice and brand continues to lead the field of rigorous evaluation and policy translation and that the organization’s communications continually improve based on clear metrics and KPIs. The Senior Director will develop and execute a new marketing and communications strategy to expand the conversation on evidence use and lift up the diversity of IPA’s voices for the dual purpose of 1) growing IPA’s impact and influence in the world and 2) reaching partner audiences (donors, funders, policy makers, and implementers). This highly collaborative role will take inputs and ideas from across the organization (country teams, policy team, sector colleagues, senior leadership, and technical specialists), and from partners and researchers around the world and create cohesive and high impact communications strategies and products to create meaningful impact in the lives of people living in poverty. They will report to the Chief Partnerships and Philanthropy Officer and work closely with other senior leaders to develop and lead IPA’s communications strategy. They will support the senior management team, including the Executive Director, on all internal and external communications for the advancement of the mission and vision of the organization.

The Senior Director of Global Communications will supervise a high performing and growing communications function including an associate director, managers of content, of social media and website and design, along with their teams. The highly collaborative, fast growing, and well-respected team is both responsive to internal stakeholders and colleagues – from country offices, sector programs, policy, and philanthropy teams – while providing focus and consistency across the organization to elevate awareness and create engagement with target audiences.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced leader and communicator; knowledgeable about global development, rigorous evidence, and at least one or two sectors; and possess an entrepreneurial spirit. Success in this role will require strong instincts to “catch the moment” with the right messages and angles to advance IPA’s strategic goals while prioritizing many tasks and needs at any given time. 

The right candidate will be intellectually curious, ask probing questions that get to the heart of the matter, and will possess a clear understanding of the role of communications in policy, systems, and mindset change. Critical thinking, creativity, strong decision making, and flexibility are key attributes for success in this role.

Responsibilities

40% - Lead IPA’s marketing strategy 

• Develop and oversee global communications strategies serving a dual policymaker and donor audience, to promote, enhance, and protect the organization's brand and advance its mission.

• Equip and empower staff in our 20 country offices to effectively and strategically communicate with decision- makers at the country-level.

• Lead IPA’s marketing strategy, emphasizing evidence use and impact in improving lives, while lifting up local voices that are at the heart of our work.

• Push the evidence community forward in both evidence use and diversity, using IPA’s comparative advantage and leveraging communications, marketing, and digital tools.

• Lead communications for donor and funders audiences––from annual reports, to videos, new media, and fundraising appeals, working closely with the Philanthropic Partnerships and Business Development teams.

• In collaboration with the associate director, develop high-influence strategic partnerships with reporters and decision-makers, and oversee IPA’s media strategy and social media messaging, including writing or ghost-writing popular audience pieces, and managing online or media-based reputational risks.

• Serve as communications advisor to IPA’s senior leadership.

• Create opportunities for, ghost write, and support senior IPA leadership in speaking or writing in high-level forum

40% - Lead IPA’s communications function and team 

• Act as vision-setter and operational lead for all internal and external communications across the organization, identifying and resourcing gaps, taking advantage of opportunities for growth and development, and executi