Director of International Advocacy Communications

Position description

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (Campaign) seeks applications for a Director of Advocacy Communications (Director) to ensure earned, paid, owned and social communications channels are being used as effectively as possible to support policies to reduce tobacco use in priority low-and middle-income countries. The Director will work closely with our country teams, country-based colleagues, partners and grantees to put in place effective, results-driven communications campaigns and increase the capacity and skill of local partners to design and implement communications campaigns. The Director will also oversee a roster of workshops and other opportunities to orient journalists about the tobacco epidemic and the tactics of the tobacco industry.

The Director will support country teams in creating compelling narratives to persuade the public and policymakers that the policies we support will save lives, and in the long-term lead to stronger social and economic benefits for the country.   Using earned, social, paid media and owned channels and strategies, the Director will assist local partners and in-country teams to design and implement robust communications campaigns. In addition, they will ensure that the full spectrum of advocacy “voices” calling for change – particularly youth - are empowered in our campaigns by helping refine their messages, facilitating their participation in communications campaigns, and helping find new ways to deliver their messages.

This position is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative public health movements. The Director will work closely with an accomplished communications and tobacco industry accountability team in Washington, DC and colleagues around the world. The job is fast-paced and will provide the Director with constant opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in communications for policy change, project management, training, and partner coordination – combined with a healthy dose of creativity.

This Washington, D.C. based position reports to the Head of Global Communications.  The Director will focus on critical duties including:

• Closely partner with country teams to develop and implement robust communications strategies and mobilize diverse voices in priority low- and middle-income countries.

• Ensure communications campaigns and activities are well-designed and executed.

• Develop communications strategies to fully reflect the growing variety of voices – with an emphasis on youth - calling for government action to reduce tobacco use.

• Strategically increase and enhance communications ability of grantees and in-country communications team through training workshops and hands-on coaching.

• Design and implement systems, including but not limited to traditional and social media monitoring, to track progress to ensure that we are achieving our stated objectives.

• Oversee media landscape analysis when needed to inform communications strategies in priority countries.

• Lead the implementation of polls and focus groups in selected countries to inform message development and communications strategy.

• Manage annual and monthly reports to the funder, working with other units and country teams to compile information and develop compelling reports that communicate and illustrate our success and progress.

• Partner with the Press Secretary to stay informed about global media trends and design orientation for journalists in priority countries, informing them about the tobacco epidemic, policy gaps, and tobacco industry tactics in their countries.

• Work closely with the Director of TakeAPart to stay informed about tobacco industry tactics to undermine tobacco control policy, and incorporate information about the tobacco industry into communications activities.

• Collaborate with the Director of Digital Advocacy to ensure that social media best practices are employed in communications campaigns, and help oversee social media capacity building for partners and grantees.

• Supervise two staff responsible for supporting communications in priority countries.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate should possess the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experience:

• Customer service and client management experience. Ability to set priorities and diplomatically provide support and feedback to a range of internal “clients”, which will include our own country teams and external partners. Communications consulting and PR firm background are a plus.
• Efficient and able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience designing and implementing communications campaigns to advocate for social issues, with international experience and cross-cultural experience a strong advantage.
• Excellent English writing, speaking and editing skills are critical. Fluency in another language including any of the United Nations languages is a plus.
• Demonstrated dedication to ensuring equity for people of diverse race, gender and other backgrounds in programmatic goals and activities will help ensure a good fit in our organizational culture.
• Ability and desire to travel overseas.
• Desire and experience to supervise, coach and develop smart and dedicated staff at various levels of seniority.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 10 years’ relevant experience.

Application instructions

.

TO APPLY

Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume or CV, salary requirement,  and information – including communications materials or web links – about communications campaigns or activities you have worked on should be sent to [email protected].  Please reference code: DAC/08. Further materials, including writing samples, will be requested of short-listed candidates.

This position is based in Washington, DC and is open to US citizens and other applicants possessing work visas permitting long-term, permanent employment in the US. Currently all staff are working remotely until reentry to the Washington office is approved. 

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from individuals who will contribute to its diversity.