Assistant Director of Communications

Socket.dev; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

IDEA (Islamic Development & Empowerment in America) seeks an Assistant Director of Communications to lead the communications and media relations team from the Alexandria, VA office. The role drives the organization’s storytelling strategies, engages media, and mentors a diverse team across departments to advance mission impact.

The ideal candidate has 7–10 years in communications, strong leadership, crisis management, and a track record of strategic programmatic storytelling in humanitarian

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in related fields.
• 7–10 years of experience in communication and media relations.
• 3–5 years of supervisory experience leading a multidisciplinary team.
• Mastery of humanitarian and development sector, media environment, crisis management, and project management.
• Strong management skills with ability to mentor and coach staff.
• Creative in using new media technologies; adaptable to change.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Willingness to travel internationally and eligibility to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Execute strategic direction for IDEA’s communications and media relations.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, KPI setting, workflows, budgets.
• Liaise with internal teams to ensure aligned messaging and timely work.
• Engage media and promote IDEA’s work in humanitarian sectors.
• Develop crisis response protocols and protect organizational reputation.
• Manage external vendors and partnerships.
• Assess opportunities and design/execute communications strategies.
• Evaluate protocols and report progress to senior leadership.
• Interview, hire, and onboard communications staff and consultants.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on planning and initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Media relations

Crisis management

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring / coaching

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree in international development / related fields

Job description

Title: Assistant Director of Communications

Status: Full-time

Location: Alexandria, VA

Division: Department of External Affairs

Position Summary

Islamic Development & Empowerment in America (IDEA) is seeking an Assistant Director of Communications based in the Alexandria, VA Office. This position is responsible for overseeing the communications and media relations team to assist in the delivery of the organization's mission. The Assistant Director of Communications plays a vital leadership role within IDEA by leading the execution of the organization’s overarching communications, media, and programmatic storytelling strategies. The candidate must possess and demonstrate superior leadership, communication, management and creative problem solving skills. The candidate must also demonstrate a commitment to IDEA’s faith inspired values and principles as well as a commitment to the vision and mission of the organization. This position requires travel as needed to support organizational activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Executes the Executive Team’s strategic direction and alignment of IDEA’s communications team; collaborates with the Executive Team to identify organizational challenges and spearhead effective solutions.
• Stays highly informed about political developments, international standards for relief and development work, and humanitarian needs around the world and in the United States.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the communications team, establishing key performance indicators (KPIs), editorial workflows, project priorities, and budget priorities under the guidance of the CEAO.
• Serve as the primary communications liaison to internal teams—including Marketing, Fund Development, U. S. Programs, International Programs, etc. —to ensure aligned messaging and timely workflow.
• Effectively engage media sources to promote and highlight IDEA’s work and impact in the humanitarian sector.
• Develop crisis response protocols, drafting reactive statements, and protecting the organization’s reputation during emergency responses or sensitive situations.
• Research, vet, retain and manage services and relationships with external vendors.
• Identify and propose solutions to challenges and emerging issues faced by IDEA; work with the senior leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communication opportunities and solutions; and design and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
• Conduct ongoing evaluation of IDEA’s communications protocols and recommend improvements as necessary.
• Reporting to upper management about the status of ongoing projects and campaigns to ensure that they are progressing according to schedule and achieving desired results.
• Establish metrics to evaluate the reach and effectiveness of communications initiatives, delivering regular performance reports and recommendations to the CEAO.
• Interviewing, hiring, and overseeing the onboarding and training of employees and consultants.
• Engage and participate in discussions and planning with executive and senior leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in related fields required, Master’s degree in international development, economics, sociology or other relevant disciplines preferred.
• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in communication and media relations in progressively more responsible roles.
• Preferred 3-5 years of direct supervisory experience managing multi-disciplinary communications professionals.
• Mastery of the humanitarian and development sector, media environment, crisis management, and project management.
• Superior management skills; ability to influence and engage direct and indirect reporting staff members, senior management and executive leadership. Demonstrated experience in effectively building, mentoring, and coaching a team of communications and media specialists.
• Demonstrated creativity and effectiveness when utilizing new media technologies and mediums; ability to make decisions in a rapidly changing environment and anticipate future needs.
• Strong project management, and ability to handle multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Must possess excellent interpersonal/oral communications skills, with the ability to communicate skillfully with internal and external stakeholders; must possess effective written communications skills.
• Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking and planning into actionable plans, and output to achieve tangible results. Must exhibit strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Proven leadership ability and change management facilitation skills.
• Proven ability to exhibit cultural competence and sensitivity to work with a wide array of ethnicities.
• Ability to travel internationally for field supervision and monitoring visits and for specialized programs’ events and meetings.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

At IDEA (Islamic Development & Empowerment in America), we are committed to safeguarding and protecting all individuals we come into contact with through our work. IDEA representatives must adhere to its organizational values: Integrity, Service, Resilience, Social Innovation, and Collaboration. In accordance with these values, IDEA operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Code of Ethics, and Anti-Harassment and Discrimination.