Director of Communications

About NetHope

NetHope enables humanitarian and conservation organizations to better serve people and places throughout the world through digital and data technologies and partnerships. Working at the intersection of the international NGO sector, private business and digital innovation, NetHope is a Membership organization currently serving over 60 leading humanitarian, development, and conservation organizations around the world. NetHope empowers our Member organizations to collaborate, innovate, and leverage the full potential of information and communications technology to support their work in 190 countries. NetHope and our Members partner with over 50 of the world’s leading technology firms to create innovative solutions to existing and emerging challenges, and to reimagine how technology can improve our world.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting time at NetHope as the organization builds on strong relationships within the INGO, private sector, and philanthropic community and seeks to amplify its innovative program and services, while highlighting its collaboration with Members and partners. Reporting to the Chief Partnerships and Philanthropy Officer, the Director of Communications will play an important role and work with a dynamic and passionate group of colleagues in achievement of our mission.

Director of Communications

NetHope is seeking an experienced, organized, and enthusiastic professional to develop and implement the overall communications strategy for the organization. The Director will work closely with the Chief Partnerships and Philanthropy Officer (CPPO), and across the organization to generate content and create multi-channel communications campaigns in support of our Member, partner and funder outreach as well as to build an external audience of champions. Your priority will be to excite an external audience by using your creative expertise to elevate impact stories, spotlight collective action, and amplify NetHope’s mission. The right candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment and loves the challenge of creating engaging and innovative content.

Specific responsibilities include:

Storytelling and Content Creation

• Serve as lead writer and continually generate high-performance strategic communications across mediums that elevate impact stories, spotlight collective action, and amplify NetHope to build an external audience of champions. Assets under the Director’s responsibility include but are not limited to digital communications; email marketing; fact sheets; printed materials; video; social media; websites; online assets; annual report; talking points; infographics; presentation templates; speeches; press releases and media advisories; op-eds; relevant fundraising and partner collateral, messaging, and appeals; Global Summit marketing and communications; and other promotional materials.
• Create and oversee production and style of key electronic and print outreach materials including, for example, annual reports, collateral, merchandise, stationery, and event materials.
• Develop core messaging, talking points and collateral that effectively communicate NetHope’s mission, values, priorities, and impact. Curate a narrative strategy that is communicated across the organization to unify messaging and be utilized as a tool for driving impact.
• Work across NetHope to establish and curate regular cadence of relevant, easily accessible, and coordinated content is delivered through various communication and marketing channels and create organic campaigns that align with the mission.
• Lead website strategy and updates, posting news as-it-happens, creating website content regularly, creating pages and making architecture changes, evaluating ongoing needs by tracking and interpreting analytics and SEO work, and design opportunities for greater lead generation, conversion and engagement in collaboration with Digital Communications Manager and website consultant and in consultation with CPPO.
• Develop and manage all marketing and communications efforts for the NetHope Global Summit in collaboration with the Director of Engagement, Digital Communications Manager, and CPPO to include website, social media, email marketing, live event and platform assets, signage, attendee messaging, emcee and senior leader remarks, press inquiries, media sponsorship, sponsorship marketing and collateral, and other promotional materials as assigned.
• Prepare and implement emergency NetHope communications, including donation appeals and messaging to funders, during key crises.
• Craft communication campaigns that align and amplify NetHope strategic priorities around key activations and global events. May support senior leaders in creating speaking submissions, preparing for public speaking engagements and media interviews by providing or coordinating talking points and/or presentation materials.
• Work with Digital Communications Manager to design and edit visually appealing digital assets including social media graphics, infographics, short-form video, etc.
• With the support of the CPPO, develop and deploy communications and collateral to engage new donors and achieve philanthropic goals. Support the conceptualization and execution of multiple giving campaigns annually.

Program Management and Execution

• Continually develop and execute strategic, multi-channel communications and marketing plan and editorial calendar aligned with strategic priorities that 1) outlines the goals, targets, and strategies to build brand awareness for programs and services and 2) amplifies voices, conveys impact and outcomes, heightens event awareness and engagement, and builds an external champion audience.
• Guide the organization communication strategy to ensure NetHope is effectively and consistently telling its story to our broad audience in collaboration with CPPO and colleagues across the organization.
• Negotiate contracts with, and manage, supply chain of creative agencies and freelancers for organization communications. Collaborate with workstream leads to support and/or source, organize, and support program specific communication contractors as aligned with workplans and supported by budget.
• Utilize technology and tools used to implement communications strategy. In collaboration with the Head of Digital and Data Solutions and CPPO, assess these resources for alignment with goals and adjust technology as strategy, budget and workplans allow.

Brand Management

• Create and manage a unified brand and voice across all including appropriate use of logo, consistent look and feel, and messaging in collaboration with CPPO, senior leaders and colleagues.
• Establish, maintain, and promote high standards for writing, editing, style, format, design, and production for all materials.
• Responsible for providing communications subject matter and editing expertise for staff to ensure collateral and messaging reflects NetHope’s brand and strategic goals.
• Develop impactful media relationships and partnerships to amplify NetHope’s work. Serve as lead point of contact for press interactions.

Leadership:

• Assist CPPO with departmental planning and the evaluation, assessment, and monitoring of communication strategies and tactics.
• Monitor systems and procedures for efficient and effective functioning of the department and foster an environment that encourages growth, collaboration and culture of philanthropy.
• Manage projects working proactively, collaboratively, and effectively across departments demonstrating teamwork at all levels of the organization.
• Attends workshops, conferences, events, as requested to keep current in the fields of communication, fundraising, digital transformation, and tech for good.
• Participate in Management Team, appropriate committees, task forces, and other groups that increase knowledge of NetHope, Members, partners, and other areas relevant to the department.
• Develop, manage, and gain approval for a budget and workplan area of responsibility.
• Recruit, hire, retrain, develop, coach, manage, and evaluate staff and contractors as needed to support NetHope goals. This position currently manages the Digital Communications Manager.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Passion for NetHope’s mission and for working collaboratively and nimbly in a fast-paced dynamic global environment.
• Proven ability to develop a comprehensive communications strategy that aligns with the organization’s goals and objectives.
• Ability to think creatively and develop innovative content that stands out.
• Cultural sensitivity across all aspects of work.
• Values and encourages diversity of thought, backgrounds, and perspectives.
• Solid judgement including handling of sensitive information.
• Integrity and ethics beyond reproach.
• Excellent at working in a networked and virtual team environment.
• Ability to work independently; strong organizational and time management skills with ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; able to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
• Strong organizational and collaboration skills, with experience setting up systems and processes.
• Commitment to collaborating with cross-departmental staff to understand the needs and strategy they want to resource and the ability to navigate complex conversation.

Knowledge and skills

• A creative thinker, strategist, and do-er who has a proven track record of developing creative ideas and communication/marketing campaigns and driving implementation with a variety of stakeholders. Ability to recognize and curate narratives to highlight impact.
• Superior writing, editing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to quickly synthesize detailed program information and professionally prepare strategic communication materials to an external audience.
• Demonstrated success in complex project management and advancing multiple projects with tight timelines; outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Results oriented; meets or exceeds goals regularly and uses a combination of analysis, fact-finding, experience, and judgement to improve and problem solve.
• Strong understanding and demonstrated skill in the use of social media, digital media, and the engagement of audiences through technology. Interest in innovating as new technology and best practices in the field emerge.
• Ability to project manage, multi-task, and prioritize among competing needs with limited resources across a broad spectrum of collaborators in a fast-paced environment. Can navigate complexity, change, and ambiguity while continuing to function productively and strategically.
• Initiative to take on new projects and exhibit a positive, proactive attitude. Willing to take a ‘hands on’ approach, enjoys working hard and looks for solutions to challenges; able to act and react as necessary; even if limited information is available.
• HTML or other web programming and proficiency in programs/systems related to web design strongly preferred.
• Usage of data to drive insights and action plans to further strategic goals of the organization
• High energy and leadership, with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels

Education and Experience

• Ten to Twelve years of experience in progressively responsible positions in communications, marketing, public relations or a similar discipline and minimum of five years managing others. Experience in global nonprofit organizations a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution preferred or equivalent work experience.
• NetHope Member experience highly valued, other NGO experience a plus.
• Experience with managing budgets and budget forecasting.
• High level of literacy and ability to leverage applications such as Asana, Salesforce, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Miro, Slack, Zoom, Adobe Creative Suite, Hootsuite, WordPress, Google Analytics, Cvent, email marketing software, project management systems, and equivalent programs.

Reporting and Working Conditions:

• This position is a full-time position that reports to the Chief Partnerships and Philanthropy Officer and works closely with colleagues across the organization. The Director is part of the Management Team.
• Supervises the Digital Communications Manager and may manage external contracts or additional staff in the future.
• NetHope is a virtual organization, so our team, our Members, and our Partners are located around the world. Due to the global nature of the organization, meetings may thus be required at any time of the day to meet with our stakeholders in varying time zones. To meet these needs, NetHope embraces flexible schedules for team members, and we work with each other to be located globally, but still maintain a reasonable work time balance.
• As a global organization, we welcome qualified applicants with diverse backgrounds from various locations, and who may have non-traditional work patterns.
• NetHope is a networked team-oriented environment with staff working across functional areas to produce high-quality programs, services, and connections with our Members. We value open communication and believe that a staff working as a team produces the best outcomes.
• This position is 100% remote and virtual. A good internet connection (preferably broadband) is required as you must be able to join video calling.
• International or domestic travel may be required for 2-3 NetHope events annually and external events up to 30%.