Summary

The Marketing, Communications and Fundraising (MCF) Division, reporting to the Chief Marking Officer (CMO), is a highly dynamic and collaborative team that is committed to creating a clear and compelling brand positioning driving greater awareness and understanding of our advocacy and programmatic impact, and encouraging long-term, sustainable and diversified financial commitment to Save the Children. We want to inspire and deepen relationships with of our key audiences including the American public, corporate partners, large public institutions, policymakers, advocates, strategic foundations and employees.

Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, the Head, Media and Communications is responsible for designing and managing communications and media activities in support of our mission, vision, and values, for all internal and external audiences. You will lead a team that drives strategic communications, media relations, message development, crisis management and executive communications, and will own, steward, and protect Save the Children’s reputation as a leading child rights organization. You will create and implement communications plans that reinforce our positioning, acting as a central information source to ensure  it is adapted to be relevant to key audiences and stakeholders and tracking the impact of our communications to ensure delivery against divisional and agency-wide objectives.

The Head of Media and Communications will manage a team of talented and dedicated media and communications professionals.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

The following are the key areas of responsibility:

Communications Strategy (15%) 

Develop and implement a comprehensive communication strategy designed to support our business objectives with priority audiences, including U.S. general public, staff, Corporate Partners, Foundations, Elected Officials, Advocates and Institutions, aligned with the organization's brand, mission and goals.  Adapt strategic plans in real time based on constantly changing complex geo-political contexts and the global development landscape.  Ensure consistent and effective messaging across all communication channels.  Work closely with Global Communications and Media function to provide advice and thought leadership on global communications strategy.

Oversee Core Communications Functional Areas (40%) 

Public Relations and Media Outreach - Ensure Save the Children builds and maintains strong relationships with all relevant media outlets, journalists, and influencers; coordinate and oversee media campaigns, press releases, media training and media appearances.  Humanitarian and Emergency Communication  - Oversee development and implementation of humanitarian and emergency communications.  Reputation Management and Crisis Communications  - Ensure best practice processes are in place to monitor, protect and enhance organization brand perception from a communications perspective; lead and manage crisis communications. Executive Communications - Work with senior management and other subject matter experts within the organization to develop and execute thought leadership communications to specific key audiences. Internal Communications  - Foster effective internal communication to ensure staff are informed and engaged; support leadership in communicating with employees and stakeholders.  Communications Content - Oversee the production of high-quality communications content; develop and maintain core positioning documents that communicate Save the Children’s expertise in strategic focus areas; manage strategy and delivery of reports, thought leadership, newsletters, videos, and other materials needed to support communications strategy.  Monitoring and Evaluation - Measure the effectiveness of communication strategies and campaigns; use data and feedback to continuously improve communication efforts.

Management of Communications Team (30%) 

Structure and oversee the communications department, including staff, budget, and resources to ensure its functioning as a high performing team.   Design priorities, goals and objectives for team aligned to overall strategy. Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise staff, clearly communicating organization, division and department priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission, ensuring that the working environment continually fosters diversity, inclusion, and belonging – supporting Save the Children values.

Stakeholder Engagement:(15%) 

Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.  Establish and share objectives, metrics and strategies that help achieve integrated divisional and agency-wide goals. Work with other departments and divisions to create data-driven audience segments and corresponding communications plans. Act as a counsel and contributor to divisional and other senior leadership with media training, executive visibility and messaging. Lead the development of an agency-wide calendar and messaging approach to align staff – most specifically the Office of the President and Human Resources.

Required Qualifications

Minimum of a Bachelor Degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field or equivalent experience, plus at least 15 years of relevant experience.

Professional Experience:

Demonstrated experience in communications, media relations, public relations, or a related field. Previous experience in a leadership or management role, overseeing a communications team or department. Deep understanding of the geo-political context within which Save the Children operates as well as in depth understanding of the global and development landscape. Experience with communications and media support for U.S. based advocacy work driving policy change at the local, national and global levels. Knowledge of or experience working with media and communications supporting rural communities in America is a plus.

Strategic Communication:

Proven ability to develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies for consumer and B2B audiences. Experience in brand management and strategic messaging.

Media Relations:

Demonstrated network of media contacts and experience managing media relations. Experience in handling press releases, media inquiries, and public statements. Experience in organizing and managing events, such as press conferences, thought leadership events, and public engagements.

Crisis and Reputation Management:

Proven experience in crisis communication, reputation management and managing communication during emergencies or sensitive situations.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Experience in engaging with diverse stakeholders, including donors, partners, beneficiaries, and the public. Demonstrated interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Leadership and Management:

Proven leadership skills with the ability to inspire and manage a team. Experience in budget management and resource allocation. Professional proficiency in MS Office suite. Professional proficiency in spoken and written English. Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals and teams at all levels, both internally and externally. Demonstrated commitment to fostering and maintaining an environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in large global NGO, non-profit, or public sector is highly preferred, ideally with experience in organizations with both global and U.S. operations.

Compensation

Save the Children is offering the following salary ranges for this position, dependent on candidate location:

Geo 1 - NY Metro, DC, and other locations with labor costs significantly above national average: Target Salary for this position is $188,700 – $210,900 base salary Geo 2 - Locations around the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $171,700 – $191,900 base salary Geo 3 - Locations significantly below the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $154,700 – $172,900 base salary

The salary ranges listed above are for US based candidates. For candidates located outside of the US, salary ranges will be based on the salary scales of the local employer of record.

Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location (more information on job structure is available here). Employee may be eligible for an incentive program. Save the Children US also offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, a retirement savings plan with employer contribution, paid vacation leave, safety & wellness leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, caregiver leave, and much more.  

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond.  As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.