Posted on August 24, 2012

print

Communications Director

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Up to eight communications posts plus administration staff (some of which the Director will be tasked with recruiting)

BACKGROUND

The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood ® (www.whiteribbonalliance.org) is an advocacy alliance working towards a world where the right of all women to be safe and healthy before, during and after childbirth is upheld. WRA works with members around the world and National Alliances in 15 countries.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

You will drive forward the White Ribbon Alliance’s communications work with high expectations, passion, tenacity, imagination and good judgement, to help achieve dramatic change for women.

As Communications Director you will provide strategic direction for, oversee and support all communications activity by the WRA. This is a new position in a rapidly growing, hugely ambitious international Alliance, where you will lead a new Communications Team and oversee the management and professional development of up to eight communication posts at the Global Secretariat.

As a member of the Management Team you will contribute to the development of the future strategy and organisational development of the WRA, working closely with the Executive Director, Campaigns Director, Creative Director, Director of Program Operations, and Fundraising Director and CFO to deliver your role. Principal responsibilities include:

• Delivering effective, high quality communications strategies and advice in a fast-moving international Alliance.
• Coordinating a clear, focused strategy and consistent brand across all WRA efforts
• Strengthening and supporting communications in National Alliance countries, and internationally where appropriate, and to promote the WRA’s work with multiple key audiences.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• To lead on the development of the WRA’s overall communications strategy including support to National Alliances on how to communicate with their key stakeholders.
• To oversee and coordinate all WRA communications, including M&E of the impact of our communications work
• To contribute to a narrative about the organisation and the issue for different audiences and unite messaging across the whole organisation
• To oversee all media for the Alliance, including materials and ideas for the fundraising strategy and all organisational PR.
• To manage the brand to ensure consistency and quality, including who can use it when.
• To ensure that the values of the WRA are reflected in our communications.
• To maintain strong, supportive relationships with new NA communications officers - focused on supporting NAs to communicate to multiple audiences (their membership, donors, other NAs, national and international media).
• To keep an eye on the social, political and cultural environment in which we’re operating – and aim to change that status quo & change the debate.
• To be networked into the best global change-makers; and have good contacts externally and internally at every level.
• Manage a WRA spokesperson database (patrons, champions, expert), including messaging and method.
• To coordinate on the process of collecting stories about the WRA’s impact.
• To work with the communications team to create an ideas bank.
• To oversee all internal communications, website and social media content, IT administration, writing and editing of WRA materials, knowledge management for the WRA with a strong link to grants team, including archiving all material.
• To oversee the technical accuracy and up to date analysis on MH in all our communications.
• To represent the WRA as needed
• To perform other duties as required
• To travel up to 10%

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Extensive experience in developing, managing and leading implementation of effective communications strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in making change happen through communications
• Track record of ensuring effective collaboration and integration of communications work across the whole organisation
• Excellent international media contacts and knowledge of global media environment.
• Proven ability to use all forms of conventional and new media to build audiences for an organisation or an issue
• Self-motivated, creative, able to lead a team in an inclusive and participatory way
• Ability to effectively manage, motivate and develop a high performing team.
• Excellent written and spoken English; ability to write with flair for a range of audiences and edit copy with a keen eye for detail.
• Experience of working with a range of partners to deliver effective communications outcomes.
• Sensitivity and understanding of different cultural contexts.
• Crisis and reputation management experience; maturity and discretion.
• Well organised, able to multi-task and work under pressure.
• A flexible attitude: able to manage multiple activities, resolve problems and adapt plans if required.
• Knowledge of foreign language/s highly desirable.

WRA is an alliance that relies on the power of strong and effective relationships to deliver the changes that we seek. Therefore how we work together, across GS and with our membership, is as critical to success as what we choose to do.

• Commitment to the WRA’s mission, values and approach.
• Administratively self-servicing and IT literate.
• Openness to change and flexibility: Exhibits a readiness to deal with changing organisational demands and external context.
• Ability to inspire confidence in others, working with strong sense of personal credibility, professionalism and integrity
• Tenacity/drive: ability to remain focussed on executing the organisation’s objectives and strategies.
• Personal effectiveness: Possesses high standards of integrity and confidentiality

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should email their CV and cover letter to admin@whiteribbonalliance.org with the subject line: Communications Director.

Please note that qualified candidates must hold legal status and authorization to work in the U.K.

Applications are due no later than Friday, August 31st