Deadline: 04 February, 2024

Location: Washington, DC

The Centre for Global Development (CGD) is seeking to fill the position of Director of Communications.

CGD is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit policy research organisation in Washington, DC and London, UK, that focuses on the issues and institutions that are critical to inclusive development.

Responsibilities

• Have a working knowledge of emerging trends in policy communications and a point of view on how CGD should take advantage of the new communications landscape
• Develop and implement communication strategies to increase awareness of the Centre’s policy research and influence key decision-makers
• Define an articulate success within the department and for the organisation’s communications activities overall
• Lead the digital communications strategy across the centre’s website, blogs, social media channels, and multimedia content
• Serve as a senior advisor to CGD’s president and contribute actively as a member of the Centre’s executive leadership team
• Convey the scope of the Centre’s influence and impact to the board, funders, and other supporters and implement creative strategies to communicate impact
• Manage a team of communications professionals (staff, freelancers, and agencies) including writers, designers, web developers, and media specialists
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality
• Ensure the Centre’s values surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of its communications strategy and activities
• Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications functions, including budgeting and staff
• Oversee public relations efforts, including media outreach, article placements, press releases, etc
• Craft messaging that conveys the Center’s mission and impact to external audiences and ensure these messages are adequately amplified across channels
• Track communications analytics to identify opportunities and trends, and optimise activities
• Raise the visibility of CGD’s president and other staff by securing high-profile media placement opportunities
• Ensure high standards of excellence in all external communications through oversight of CGD’s publications, website, blog, newsletters, events, podcasts, social media, and press outreach
• Oversee a lively events programme, recruiting high-level speakers and providing guidance on the type and format of the event and target audience. The director may be called upon to moderate or participate in select CGD events
• Provide counsel on and oversee crisis communications plans as needed

Requirements 

• BA degree (advanced degree in International Affairs, Communications, Public Policy or Development Studies, or the equivalent in experience is a plus)
• Experience in a government, political or nonprofit setting is strongly encouraged
• Experience using technology for communications (specifically Pardot, Drupal, Meltwater, etc.)
• Experience using social media and other online and physical channels to support a mission and tell compelling narratives
• Eight years, minimum, of experience in communications efforts for nonprofits, policy organisations, or foundations
• Experience leading a team of professionals with various levels of experience
• Comfort defining and maintaining a departmental budget
• Experience speaking and presenting information to large and small audiences
• A passion for reducing global poverty and inequality
• A strategic, creative individual able to synthesise communication and policy goals and develop and implement customised, outcome-oriented communication strategies
• Be able to quickly digest complex research, identify key findings and policy implications, and then translate the research for a broad policy audience
• Ability to continually assess and improve the complex systems of people and processes that make up the communication function at CGD, including team structure and roles

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: US Army