Communications Manager, Global Programs

ijm; United States; Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

International Justice Mission (IJM) is seeking a Communications Manager to lead messaging strategy that translates IJM's work into clear, compelling marketing communications for broad audiences.

The role collaborates with Global Programs, Revenue Resources, and Global Marketing Communications to define content strategy and develop repeatable messages for priority audiences, campaigns, and media. It is hybrid in DC or remote for non-local candidates.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in strategic communications or related roles.
• Experience developing messaging for multiple audience profiles, including mass audiences, donors, institutional partners, media, and senior leaders.
• Experience working across cultures and functions with program experts, regional teams, communications partners, and senior leaders.
• Strong strategic communications and messaging architecture skills with ability to develop repeatable frameworks and reusable content assets.
• Advanced writing, editing, and editorial judgment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and operationalize messaging strategies that align programmatic evidence, organizational priorities, and IJM's Brand Platform.
• Lead mass audience positioning for key portfolios and translate programmatic truths into clear external messages.
• Create and maintain messages, frameworks, and content adaptable across audiences, platforms, and uses.
• Ensure communications are accurate, survivor-centered, and aligned with brand and ethical storytelling standards.
• Coordinate with program, regional, marketing, fundraising, and media teams to align communications.

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, writing, marketing, journalism, English, nonprofit management, or related field

7+ years of experience in strategic communications, marketing communications, campaign communications, content strategy, brand messaging, or related roles

Job description

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.

The Need

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM's Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking a Communications Manager to lead messaging strategy that translates IJM's casework and innovative protection programs into clear, compelling marketing communications for mass audiences.

This role serves as a key collaborator between Global Programs, Revenue Resources, and Global Marketing Communications. It partners with subject matter experts to define content strategy, position programs for mass audiences, and develop repeatable messages. It then translates that strategy into messaging frameworks and source-of-truth content for priority audiences, marketing campaigns, and media.

This position is hybrid (onsite Tuesdays & Thursdays) if located in the Washington, DC area or remote for non-local candidates and reports to the Global Director, Marketing Communications. This role requires current authorization to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, now or in the future.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and operationalize messaging strategies that align programmatic evidence, organizational priorities, and IJM's Brand Platform;
• Lead mass audience positioning for forced labor slavery/human trafficking, violence against women and children, online sexual exploitation of children, and police abuse of power portfolios. Make complex programmatic truths clear, relevant, and compelling for external audiences;
• Create and maintain key messages, messaging frameworks, and authoritative content that can be adapted across audiences, platforms, and uses;
• Ensure program communications are accurate, culturally sensitive, survivor-centered, dignified, and consistent with brand and ethical storytelling standards, message, structure, and audience experience;
• Coordinate with program, regional, marketing, fundraising, and media teams to align communications and enable consistent adoption of approved messages;
• Lead end-to-end messaging development for priority program areas, ensuring alignment with program evidence, organizational strategy, audience needs, and brand standards
• Lead working sessions that clarify the communications challenge, establish audience priorities, and align partners around a clear messaging direction;
• Lead and produce content strategy, audience positioning, message architecture, and key-message development for IJM's programmatic priorities;
• Build scalable content systems that allow one core programmatic truth to be adapted for different audiences, platforms, and communications objectives without message drift;
• Use audience insights, partner feedback, and content performance to refine messaging strategy and improve clarity and engagement;
• Translate complex program models, evidence, data, and technical language into accessible, accurate, and compelling external communications;
• Apply survivor-centered storytelling and dignified messaging principles when communicating about violence, exploitation, casework, and lived experience;
• Build communications capability by developing practical guidance and repeatable tools that help teams use approved program messaging consistently;
• Provide strategic and editorial counsel to program and communications partners on audience relevance, message hierarchy, cultural context, and ethical storytelling; and
• Participation in IJM's community of spiritual formation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, writing, marketing, journalism, English, nonprofit management, or related field;
• 7+ years of experience in strategic communications, marketing communications, campaign communications, content strategy, brand messaging, or related roles;
• Experience developing messaging for multiple audience profiles, including mass audiences, major donors, institutional partners, media, and senior leaders;
• Experience working across cultures and functions with program experts, regional teams, communications partners, and senior leaders;
• Strong strategic communications and messaging architecture skills, with ability to develop repeatable frameworks, narrative guidance, and reusable content assets;
• Advanced writing, editing, and editorial judgment;
• Demonstrated experi