Director of Communications – Washington, DC or East Coast Remote

Location Washington, DC, or US East Coast Remote Position Status Full-time Salary Level: Starting Minimum Salary: $91,000 commensurate on experience.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Program / Department Summary

The global communications team is a small but dynamic group of communications professionals dedicated to getting the word out about Mercy Corps’ outstanding work to help people around the world survive through crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. The team strives to raise Mercy Corps’ public profile by working with top tier international media and supports the agency’s fundraising and advocacy efforts to advance our mission.

The mission of the Marketing and Communications department is to advance the organization’s strategic goals and support our worldwide team by raising funds, profile and influence. Our job is to tell the Mercy Corps story to the organization’s most important audiences in a clear and compelling way. We boldly share Mercy Corps’ global impact with our audiences, with a focus on building trust, engagement and long-term relationships among our global team members and with our supporters. We inspire financial support and partnership through transparency, inclusivity, creativity and best-in-class storytelling. The RD team encompasses several dozen dynamic professionals who possess a wide range of expertise. We are marketers, fundraisers, web designers, storytellers, media professionals, creative visionaries, brand champions, and social media experts. Most of all, we are passionate about Mercy Corps’ mission and believe a better world is possible.

The Position

As an integral member of Mercy Corps’ Global Communications team (within the Marketing and Communications department) and deputy to the Senior Director of Communications, the Director of Communications will support team management and development/execution of a cross-team, global communications strategy focused primarily on top tier earned media. They will build and maintain key media relationships, manage team members across time zones, develop strategic communication strategies, reach out to the press around newsworthy Mercy Corps initiatives and content, serve as an on-the-record spokesperson, and manage inbound media inquiries. As needed, They will travel to countries with Mercy Corps presence to assist in the management of media opportunities, particularly during emergency moments. They may be tasked with sensitive reputational or risk-related media issues. In addition, they will work closely with program and advocacy staff, executives and fundraisers to develop strategies and plans for telling Mercy Corps’ most compelling stories to external audiences.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

• Collaborates with and supports the Senior Director of Communications to ensure the global media relations strategy aligns with overarching communications and marketing goals; contribute to overall profile-raising, influence and fundraising strategies.
• Works directly with the office of the CEO. Evaluates and recommends opportunities for raising the profile of the Chief Executive Officer in partnership with the Senior Director of Communications.
• Represents the Communications Team in internal and external forum related to CEO and organizational profile-raising; serves as an on-the-record spokesperson.
• Works closely with colleagues from development, programmatic, policy and operational departments to ensure our media and communications initiatives advance fundraising, advocacy, marketing and mission goals.
• Successfully leads media relations function during global emergency responses, including deployment to manage media engagements when needed.
• Manages issues related to reputational risk and crisis communications, in partnership with the Senior Director of Communications,
• Maintains an uncompromised ability to respond quickly to current events with a strong sense of urgency and present insightful interpretations and corresponding recommendations for action and public relations posturing.
• Partners with the Corporate and Foundations team to support and advance corporate communications opportunities.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Organizes and runs press briefings for staff/executives returning from the field or otherwise in the media spotlight.
• Develops and implements media outreach plans; coordinates with fundraisers, brand marketing and web content experts to align storytelling and maximize value of outreach.
• Travels to country offices when needed to research stories, conduct media outreach, accompany reporters and gather stories, photo and video content.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Develops the capacity of direct reports, deepening understanding of their roles and assisting with career development.
• Assists team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promotes accountability, communicates expectations and provides constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Supports the senior director in the day to day responsibilities of team management.
• Creates and sustains a work environment of diversity, mutual respect and belonging where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hires, orients and leads team members as necessary.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Serves as liaison to key national and international media – includes developing relationships with journalists, serving as on-the-record spokesperson, writing and editing press materials, pitching Mercy Corps experts to the media, and preparing them for interviews.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

Communications Managers, Officers

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Senior Director of Communications

Works Directly With: Multiple fundraising teams, Policy and Research, Marketing and Communications teams, program and country teams, CEO, Chief of Staff, Executive team.

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

• BA/S or equivalent required.
• 8 years of professional experience in communications, media relations or journalism required.
• Demonstrated ability to manage operations of a geographically dispersed team; direct supervisory experience.
• Established track record of generating positive media coverage in top tier international media outlets, experience serving as an on-the-record spokesperson.
• Superior written and verbal communications skills a must; ability to “translate” technical language into compelling stories needed. Experience writing and placing op-eds a plus.
• “Nose for news” and understanding of what makes a story viable to the international press.
• Strong leadership skills with a proven track record of excellent communication, ability to delegate and commitment to inspiring and growing a high-performing team.
• Experience in international development or knowledge of development issues preferred.

Success Factors

The successful Communications Director will be a proactive PR professional with an active network of established media contacts. They will be an excellent storyteller and writer with a nose for news. They will be a self-starter who can work independently or in a team setting, can take on a leadership and mentoring role for staff, and is able to forge productive relationships with colleagues throughout the agency. They must have a deep interest in Mercy Corps’ programs and a commitment to the goals of the organization. They need to be able to prioritize, multi-task and organize many urgent tasks. This person will demonstrate creativity and flexibility, as well as a proven ability to learn quickly and be accountable for results. Even temperament and a good sense of humor appreciated.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position will be based on the US east coast, either in Washington, DC or US East Coast remote. Travel is estimated at 10% of the time, including to Mercy Corps program locations, which may be in remote and insecure locations. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in an international posting or on a visit/TDY to an international posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times.

As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. Any offers of employment or continued employment are dependent on the successful completion of the screens which include, but are not limited to our Background Check and Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme processes,

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees

Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status.

This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.

For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment. Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations. Failure to comply may impact your employment. Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.