Vice President of Communications

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Since 1944, Heifer International has worked with more than 39 million families around the world to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Working with rural communities in 21 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including the United States, Heifer International supports farmers and local food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods that provide a living income.

FUNCTION:

The Vice President of Communications leads Heifer International’s Global Communications Team and is responsible for the development and implementation of a communication strategy, activated in the United States and globally. They lead with innovation and agility, driving strategy into all communications work, ensuring a coherent brand narrative, and building the profile of Heifer’s work.

The Vice President leads a full-service communications team that includes public relations, content and product delivery, internal communications, knowledge management, executive communications, and campaigns, with the goal of increasing the profile of Heifer’s work with core audiences, managing the organization’s reputation and building an engaging culture for staff and other key stakeholders. In building communication and brand strategy, the Vice President will support the evolution to an increasingly localized and decentralized organization, unified by brand, strategic vision and culture. The Vice President works closely with senior leadership and the Board of Directors to manage Heifer’s reputation and build the organization’s profile as a thought leader in the development sector, always elevating the voices and needs of the smallholder farmers we serve.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS:

Activist-oriented with a passion for using media and networks to drive change; mission and justice motivated with values aligned with Heifer’s core values; developed understanding of international development – the practice and the sector; willing to push for quality and getting things done; networker; creative; adaptable; global interests; at ease with ambiguity and rapid change; critical thinking and judgment; self-starter; coach.

Responsibilities & Deliverables:

A. Communications strategy and leadership (25%)

• Develop and lead Heifer International’s global communication strategy, positioning the organization as a leader in the international development field.
• Collaborate with teams across the organization to evolve the brand and develop core positioning.
• Lead Communications Team (currently 14 people) and oversee the management of team budget.
• Ensure systems and tools are in place and regularly updated for effective communications management across the organization.

B. Advise and support senior leadership positioning (15%)

• Lead internal communications function, working across teams to promote a culture of sharing across the organization.
• Work with senior leadership and Board of Directors to communicate key initiates and actions, ensuring consistency.
• Advise, support, and implement senior leadership communications internally and externally.

C. Strategic positioning with development sector audiences, donors, and partners (20%)

• Oversee Heifer’s public relations and content productions teams.
• Represent Heifer in relevant international development spaces and serve as a media spokesperson.
• Oversee content partnerships and key collaborations.
• Support country communications strategy development.
• Oversee development of key campaigns.
• Oversee development of knowledge management tools and shift to a learning culture.

D. Lead management of Heifer’s reputation globally (20%)

• Identify and manage reputational risks to the organization and its work.
• Implement risk management tool working closely with Risk Management and Audit function, as well as national and regional teams.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to teams across the organization on reputation issues as they relate to communications.
• Serve as crisis management lead, spokesperson, and represent Communications Team on emergency response task force.

E. Lead development of key products and initiatives (15%)

• Oversee production of key products including Annual Report and Ends Report.
• Communications lead for key organizational initiatives.
• Build, develop and strengthen relationships with partners and other key stakeholders.

F. May perform other work-related duties (5%)

Minimum Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s Degree in communications, international relations or other relevant subject.
2. At least 15 years job-related experience in an international environment.
3. Experience leading a team in international development sector or related field where work is increasingly localized and decision-making decentralized.
4. Extensive successful writing experience for a variety of print and online media.
5. Experience leading communications strategy processes.
6. Strong communicator who can build and leverage relationships within organization to increase communication’s impact.

Preferred:

1. Master’s degree.
2. Fluent in Spanish and/or French.
3. Lived or traveled internationally for extensive period (months or years).
4. Experience running mobilization or advocacy campaigns.

Most critical proficiencies:

1. Strong writing, editing and presentation skills.
2. Demonstrated knowledge and skills building networks, partners and collaborations for media and positioning.
3. Negotiation skills including the ability to listen and persuade.
4. Knowledge and understanding of international development issues, practices, funders, partners and sector audiences.
5. Able to apply development experience to interpret program results.
6. Global mindset with experience working at local, national and global levels with diverse cultural groups and gender equity approach.
7. Experience taking complex ideas and capturing them in accessible ways and multiple formats – briefing papers, positioning pieces, publications, press releases, social media, and collateral.
8. Experienced in identifying and managing sensitive media issues and crisis communications.
9. Ability to collaborate and build positive working relationships with multiple internal partners.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

1. Ability to bring Heifer’s mission to life through different communications channels and inspire and support team.
2. Ability to work across time zones with colleagues from different cultures.
3. Ability to confidently give oral presentations and impromptu speeches to a wide range of audiences, including board members, executive members, local and international media.
4. May require constant sitting and moving; working at a computer for extended periods of time, as well as occasional bending and lifting.
5. Ability to assign and review the work of direct reports, motivate team members and coordinate work with multidisciplinary teams.
6. Ability to effectively plan, prepare and present material and speeches for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
7. Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally, as needed.
8. Willingness and ability to work outside of normal business hours, as needed.
9. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
10. Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public.

Salary Information:

Starting salary for this position is $165k USD annually. Salary will be commensurate with experience and competency.

**Disclaimer: Salary for this position is based on U.S. labor market and salary scale.”

WHAT WE OFFER:

Heifer International offers a variety of benefits for U.S.-based employees working 30 or more hours per week.

• Health and wellness benefits including Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Saving Account
• Employee assistance program
• 403(b) retirement plan (match 1% employee to 2% employer up to a maximum of 4% match + 3% employer discretionary contribution regardless of employee contribution)
• 22 vacation days in addition to 12 statutory and discretionary holidays, and 10 sick days per year
• Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
• Professional development and annual merit increase opportunities
• Optional critical illness insurance, legal assistance plan and pet protection
• And more!