Director of Communications

Type of Position:

Exempt, Full Time

Location:

Remote; candidates should be able to overlap with business hours (9am to 5pm) in the U.S. Eastern Time Zone for a few hours each day.

Reports to:

Executive Director

Start Date:

March 2024

Compensation:

Starting at $110,000*

Women Enabled International (WEI)

is now accepting applications for the position of Director of Communications. We are seeking an experienced communications professional to join our growing team at an exciting moment in the organization’s trajectory. Following a period of rapid growth and a recent leadership transition, WEI recently adopted a new strategic plan to guide the organization’s work over the next 5 years.

The newly established position of Director of Communications recognizes that strategic communications will be an essential component of the successful implementation of our new strategic plan. This is a key leadership role that supports the organization’s vision to solidify our identity, build our reputation and credibility, and cultivate support from key changemakers to join us in our efforts to advance human rights and justice at the intersection of gender and disability.

ABOUT WOMEN ENABLED INTERNATIONAL

As feminists with disabilities and allies, Women Enabled International (WEI) advances human rights and justice at the intersection of gender and disability to challenge exclusionary, unjust systems and support the leadership and center the voices of women, girls, and gender-diverse people with disabilities globally.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Communications will provide strategic oversight for Communications to advance WEI’s strategic objectives, as well as our external positioning as an organization. This is a position that requires someone who is both a big-picture thinker and a doer, who can work in collaboration with the Executive Director and other senior leadership to lead the planning and delivery of strategic communications and public relations initiatives to effectively convey WEI’s mission, activities, and impact to internal and external stakeholders.

A self-starter, the Director of Communications will bring the start-up mentality necessary to strengthen a nascent communications department by establishing core systems and processes, while also bringing experience in established communications environments to ground these department-building efforts in real-world knowledge of what works and what bureaucracy to avoid.

The incumbent will uphold WEI’s guiding values of disability justice, intersectional feminism, community, accountability, and respect and dignity—working with other senior leadership to foster an organizational environment that promotes collaboration and communication across departments in the collective pursuit of WEI’s strategic priorities.

Key responsibilities include:

Management and Leadership:

• Provide cross-functional leadership in the development and implementation of WEI’s strategic priorities.
• Serve as a champion of WEI’s mission, vision, and values internally to foster a positive organizational culture and create a collaborative and impactful work environment.
• Inspire, energize, coach, and develop a diverse international team with multiple perspectives and complementary skills, actively seeking input from all staff and fostering recognition of leadership and expertise at all levels.
• Provide oversight and guidance in the development and maintenance of relevant policies, procedures, and systems to advance the strategic positioning of WEI.
• Engage the Leadership Team and Board through strategic reporting and advisory pertaining to communications and public relations.

Strategic Communications:

• Develop the organizational communications strategy to support advocacy and awareness-raising for the rights of women, girls, and gender-diverse people with disabilities within the organization and in the broader community, leveraging thought leadership and partnerships across funders, media, and other constituents and allies.
• Build strategic communications to support the ED and Leadership Team in building and stewarding relationships with regional and international stakeholders including human rights experts, advocates, UN agencies, community leaders, governments, policymakers, and the public to cultivate a network of support and advocacy.
• In close collaboration with the ED, Director of Development, and Director of Strategy, strategically leverage WEI’s communications channels to engage with donors, philanthropic foundations, and supporters to update them on the organization’s impact, cultivate buy-in for WEI’s mission and strategic priorities, and express gratitude for their contributions.

Public Relations:

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with media outlets, journalists, and influencers to secure positive coverage, interviews, and feature stories that promote WEI’s mission and impact in line with the organization’s strategy.
• Oversee the creation of compelling content, including press releases, articles, social media posts, and marketing materials, to communicate the organization’s initiatives and achievements.
• Provide oversight and strategic guidance around the organization’s online presence, including the website and social media channels.
• Build and maintain relationships with external partners, donors, and supporters, promoting collaboration and raising the organization’s profile.
• Address inquiries and provide information to promote the organization’s mission and activities.

Team Operations:

• Build and lead a team in advancing WEI’s strategic priorities through the Communications function, including engaging third-party resources as needed.
• Establish clear objectives, key performance indicators, and timelines for communications and PR initiatives.
• Grow and strengthen a nascent communications department by establishing core systems and processes.
• Empower team members to build processes and capture insights to support continuous improvement across WEI’s Communications function in line with the organization’s strategic priorities.
• Oversee the budget for Communications activities, ensuring resources are efficiently utilized to achieve team objectives.
• Lead with transparency and accountability by engaging with Communications team members to keep them informed about key developments, organizational achievements, and changes in strategy or priorities to create a sense of alignment and purpose among the team.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Strong leadership and people management skills, including setting departmental goals, and managing resources effectively in a nonprofit organization or similar environment. Familiarity with human rights, intersectional feminism, and/or disability rights and justice. Knowledge of/lived experience with the challenges and barriers faced by women and/or gender-diverse people with disabilities with disabilities preferred. Lived experience with disability is a plus. Demonstrated experience with advocating for a cause or mission through strategic communications and public relations efforts, driving support and awareness. Understanding of the non-profit sector and its unique dynamics, including fundraising strategies, donor relations, and advocacy efforts. Proven success in cultivating and maintaining relationships with media outlets, journalists, policymakers, and other stakeholders. This includes securing positive media coverage and managing media inquiries effectively. Demonstrated experience in managing communication and PR teams. This includes a track record of leading and developing staff members, setting departmental goals, and managing resources effectively. Proficiency with digital communication, content creation, graphic design, and social media tools and technologies. Advanced written and verbal communication with the ability to adapt communication styles for the speaker and the audience. High level of comfort with content creation, including writing press releases, and thought leadership pieces. Proficiency with overseeing the budget for communications and PR activities ensuring efficient use of resources to achieve communications objectives. Proficiency in Spanish preferred, as WEI Communications are developed in both English and Spanish. Ability to travel, including to/within the United States and other global locations, for conferences, activities, staff meetings, and stakeholder engagement (up to 5% of the time).

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field—or the equivalent in work experience. A master’s degree in a relevant field is a plus. Candidates should have at least 5-7 years of professional experience in strategic communications and public relations, with a proven track record of success in promoting non-profit organizations and advocacy campaigns. Ideal candidates will have at least 2-4 years of management experience.

• Annual salary is dependent on experience and reflective of a position based in our headquarters of Washington, D.C. Salary may be subjected to a locality adjustment depending on work location.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates are requested to submit their resume, cover letter, and a portfolio containing 1-2 examples of communications campaigns, press releases or other communications successes, via the following portal: WEI Communications Director Application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. We will accept applications through March 1, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Women Enabled International is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law. Whatever your identity, we encourage you to apply. WEI is committed to working with individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of this position due to a disability or medical condition.