Deputy Director of Communications Development - US (flexible US base location)

Mercy Corps; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercy Corps is seeking a Deputy Director of Communications to lead content strategy and donor engagement in support of fundraising efforts. The ideal candidate will be an exceptional storyteller with experience in creating tailored communications for high-value individual donors and corporate partners, translating complex programmatic work into compelling narratives. This full-time position can be based in Washington, DC, or remotely.

Benefits

5% dedicated learning time

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of experience in communications, focusing on donor engagement and philanthropic writing.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing cross-functional content projects under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead writer for donor communications materials.
• Manage complex communications projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Collaborate across departments to support donor engagement efforts.

Skills

Exceptional writing

Editing

Storytelling

Donor engagement

Strategic thinking

Education

7-10 years of experience in communications

Job description

Location: Portland, OR or Washington, DC, or remote US

Position Status: Full-time , Exempt , Regular

Salary Level: annual salary range for this role is $76,800 up u00A0to $ 91,200 - commensurate on professional experienceu00A0

Risku00A0Level: Levelu00A03:u00A0 access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability. u00A0

Closing date: Please submit application by June 22ndu00A0u00A0

Application details: PleaseAttach 2-3 writing samples targeting philanthropic audience as part of the application.u00A0u00A0

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.u00A0 In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutionsu00A0 into action u2014 helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.u00A0 Now, and for the future.

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The Program / Department / Team

The Donor Communications and Engagement team exists to strengthen Mercy Corpsu2019 fundraising success by supporting a high-impact donor experience across diverse audiences and global regions through various stages and methods of engagement. As a cross-functional team within the Development department, we align strategy, communications, and project leadership to enhance donor engagement and cultivate strategic partnerships and relationships. We amplify Mercy Corpsu2019 voice and vision, helping drive revenue growth and donor retention.

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The Position u00A0

Mercy Corps is seeking a Deputy Director of Communications to serve as the lead writer and content strategist supporting the Development department. This position develops compelling communications that steward high-value individual donors and engage corporate and foundation partners in our mission. An exceptional storyteller and strategic thinker, the Deputy Director will translate complex global programmatic work into clear, engaging, and tailored donor communications that drive action and deepen relationships. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in philanthropic and donor communications, especially for major gift donors, alongside a strong understanding of the priorities of corporate and foundation funders. This position works cross-functionally to shape content that advances fundraising objectives and elevates Mercy Corps' voice within the philanthropic and private sectors. u00A0

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Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTENT DEVELOPMENT u00A0

• Serve as the lead writer for the Development team, creating a wide range of high-quality, audience-specific materials to engage and steward individual major donors and corporate and foundation partners. u00A0 u00A0
• Develop persuasive and polished donor materials including fact sheets, reports, emails, impact stories, appeals, event talking points, social media copy, blog posts, and other thought leadership content. u00A0 u00A0
• Translate programmatic content into clear, donor-friendly language that highlights impact and aligns with donor interests in areas such as emergency response, food and water security, climate resilience, economic development, and peacebuilding. u00A0 u00A0
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to influence, develop and implement multi-channel communications strategies that support donor engagement and increase Mercy Corpsu2019 visibility across philanthropic sectors. u00A0 u00A0
• Review and edit materials created by external partners to ensure quality, alignment with messaging, and adherence to Mercy Corpsu2019 ethical storytelling standards. u00A0

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CROSS TEAM COLLABORATION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT u00A0 u00A0

• Manage complex communications projects with multiple stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables u00A0 u00A0

• Coordinate across departments to source content, maintain brand alignment, and ensure communications reflect Mercy Corpsu2019 mission and program impact. u00A0 u00A0

• Lead or support the development of emergency response communications and rapid-turnaround donor engagement materials during crises. u00A0 u00A0

• Track performance and outcomes of communication efforts and suggest improvements for increased engagement and donor retention. u00A0 u00A0

• Balance advancing team objectives and goals with real-time responsiveness and nimbleness. u00A0

• Track and analyze the effectiveness of donor communications, using insights to refine strategies and improve outcomes. u00A0 u00A0 u00A0

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Supervisory Responsibility

None

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Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Communications, Development

Works Directly With: Deputy Director of Donor Engagement, Development, Director of Major Gifts, High Impact Philanthropy, Director s of Corporate Partnerships, Director s of Foundation Partnerships , Development Officers u00A0

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Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

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Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills u2022 u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0 Minimum of 7u201310 years of experience in communications, with a focus on donor engagement and philanthropic writing. u00A0 u00A0 u2022 u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0 Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to adapt voice and tone for diverse audiences and channels. u00A0 u00A0 u2022 u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0u00A0 Experience managing cross-functional content projects and balancing multiple priorities under tight deadlines. u00A0 u00A0 Success Factors

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of developing strategic, donor-centric content for high-net-worth individuals and corporate and foundation partners. They will bring a strong understanding of the philanthropic landscape, particularly donor motivations within the global development and humanitarian sectors. Highly organized and self-motivated, they excel at navigating complexity and ambiguity and are skilled collaborators who build strong relationships across internal teams and with external partners.

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Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position can be based anywhere in the United States and will work across global time zones. u00A0 u00A0 u00A0

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Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

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Teamu00A0 Engagement and Effectiveness u00A0

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different backgrounds , perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

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We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

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Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme . We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([e-mail]).

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