Head of Communications

Position description

We are looking for strong, passionate candidates with a proven track record of responsible management of communications, stakeholder engagement and content dissemination for a research institution, think tank, philanthropic consultancy or similar organisation. 

Our mission: 

Power for Democracies is a new international pro-democracy research initiative with a mission to protect and strengthen liberal democracies around the world. Our goal is to identify the most relevant and effective pro-democracy projects by civil society organisations in the context of current and emerging threats to democracies. 

Power for Democracies identifies these projects by systematically synthesising and analysing existing research and, where necessary, conducting and commissioning new research. We aim to publish recommendations that private and institutional donors, as well as civil society actors, can use to decide how and where to allocate their limited resources to best serve democracies. 

Communication and outreach are critical to the success of our mission. We seek to combine evidence-based research with academic knowledge and practical, results-oriented civil society experience. Our communications, online publications and other public-facing interactions address complex and dynamic issues, but must be accessible, transparent and informative to a range of audiences. The successful, targeted dissemination of our recommendations to the international donor community, their advisors and institutional grant-makers is critical to our mission. The attention that the assessed and recommended projects receive, and ultimately the funding that goes to these highly effective civil society initiatives, is key to achieving the positive change we aim for. 

Your responsibilities as the Head of Communications:   

• Help position Power for Democracies as the “go to” evidence-based research and evaluation entity in the pro-democracy field with relevant stakeholders, donor groups, networks, institutions, and civil society spaces.
• Recruit and build the small communications team in charge of Power for Democracies’ communication and distribution formats, channels, and tools. 
• Develop Power for Democracies’ outreach and dissemination strategies (in close collaboration with the Knowledge + Research team) to gain meaningful attention from experts, the pro-democracy space, and donors alike. 
• Develop effective media and communication formats that best address the needs of our target groups (websites, white papers, podcast/videocast features, talks etc.). 
• Oversee the successful translation and adaptation of our research outputs into concise, informative, and engaging content. 
• In collaboration with our research experts, develop and plan our publication formats and oversee the Power for Democracies publishing calendar. 
• Provide support and advice to management and research professionals on all aspects of communications and outreach. 

As head of our small communications team, you are part of the management team and have a decisive role for Power for Democracies’ success. Given the startup nature of the organization, additional tasks may arise ad hoc, such as contributions to networking and fundraising of the organisation. You report to the Executive Director. 

Qualifications

What you bring: 

• At least 6-10 years’ practical experience in communications, media, publishing/editing or fundraising, including substantive experience in or for a research institution, think tank, science editorial team or equivalent. 
• At least two years in a senior role and solid experience of working with teams of content producers and publishing content on time. 
• A solid and nuanced understanding of the relevant spaces and stakeholders. 
• Experience in developing media, communication and distribution strategies tailored to highly specific audiences to ensure we select and develop the most effective communication and distribution channels. 
• Familiarity with the current cutting-edge digital formats and channels and an ability to implement them in a targeted and professional manner with your small team and our service providers. 
• Strong listening and excellent writing skills, with a keen interest in translating complex issues into compelling yet precise language and visuals. 
• A can-do, objectives-oriented mindset. 
• A bachelor’s degree in relevant areas, such as public relations, journalism, media design, or communications. 

We offer: 

• The opportunity to be part of a team that drives positive change for democracies by connecting evidence-based research, academia, philanthropy, and the vibrant global civic space. 
• A meaningful role in an appreciative environment and as part of a growing, highly committed, international team. 
• An exciting development situation. 

Application instructions

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