Associate Program Director – Communications

Visa Hunt; India; On-site; INR 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

Visa Hunt is seeking a senior communications leader to steer the organization’s strategic communications, align priorities, and enhance visibility across digital, print, media, and stakeholder engagement platforms.

You will drive high-quality communication products, strengthen brand identity, and mentor the communications team while collaborating with programme, fundraising, and leadership teams.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Mass Communication, Marketing, or related discipline.
• 10–12 years of progressive experience in corporate and strategic communications, branding or stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in developing and executing organization-wide communication strategies.
• Excellent writing, editing, storytelling and presentation skills.
• Strong experience in media relations, digital communications, brand management, and campaigns.
• Proven ability to engage with senior leadership, donors, partners and government stakeholders.
• Experience in leading teams and managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Advantage from development, sustainability, social impact, research, or consulting sector.
• Knowledge to work in a matrix organization and sourcing stories.
• Understanding of digital space and AI technologies to support communications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization's strategic communications function aligned with priorities and long-term goals.
• Develop and implement integrated communication and branding across channels.
• Lead creation of annual reports, publications, thought leadership material, and leadership communications.
• Strengthen brand identity with consistent messaging and visual standards.
• Build and manage relationships with media, partners, donors, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Lead media engagements including press releases, briefings, interviews, and crisis comms.
• Provide strategic support to programmes, partnerships, events and knowledge dissemination.
• Guide and mentor the communications team across functions.
• Monitor performance using metrics and analytics; suggest improvements.
• Identify emerging trends and storytelling approaches to enhance public profile.

Skills

Strategic communications

Media relations

Brand management

Storytelling

Leadership

Digital communications

Education

Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, PR, Mass Comm, Marketing

Tools

AI technologies

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the organization's strategic communications function, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and long-term organizational goals.

• Develop and implement integrated communication and branding strategies across digital, print, media, and stakeholder engagement platforms.

• Lead the creation of high-quality communication products, including annual reports, publications, thought leadership articles, campaign materials, presentations, multimedia content, and leadership communications.

• Strengthen the organization's brand identity by ensuring consistency in messaging, visual identity, and communication standards across all channels.

• Build and manage relationships with media, strategic partners, donors, government agencies, and other key stakeholders to enhance organizational visibility and influence.

• Lead media engagement, including press releases, media briefings, interviews, and crisis communication, where required.

• Provide strategic communication support to organizational programmes, partnerships, events, and knowledge dissemination initiatives.

• Guide and mentor the communications team while fostering collaboration with programme, fundraising, and leadership teams.

• Monitor communication performance using relevant metrics and analytics and recommend improvements to maximize outreach and engagement.

• Identify emerging communication trends, digital platforms, and innovative storytelling approaches to strengthen the organization's public profile.

Skills and Experience Required:

• Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Mass Communication, Marketing, or a related discipline.

• 10–12 years of progressive experience in corporate communications, strategic communications, branding, public relations, or stakeholder engagement.

• Demonstrated experience in developing and executing organization-wide communication strategies.

• Excellent writing, editing, storytelling, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences.

• Strong experience in media relations, digital communications, brand management, and campaign development.

• Proven ability to engage with senior leadership, donors, partners, government stakeholders, and the media.

• Experience in leading teams and managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

• Prior experience in the development, sustainability, social impact, research, or consulting sector will be an advantage.

• Knowledge to work in a matrix level organization for sourcing the stories and as a support function.

• Have a good understanding of the digital space and emerging AI technologies that support communication space.