Senior Communications and Engagement Officer - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Oversight Board UK; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 144,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9% pension

Parental leave

Healthcare and dental coverage

Life insurance and income protection

Job summary

The Oversight Board Administration in Washington, DC, with a global scope, seeks a communications professional to shape how the Board is seen and heard. You will secure high-impact media coverage, counsel Board Members, and lead engagement plans for major events and campaigns.

You’ll craft news releases, talking points, and briefing notes, while managing reputational issues and supporting external engagements across time zones. A strong network in tech or human rights media is a plus.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines, e.g., in newsrooms or busy communications teams.
• Proven experience in cultivating relationships with influential media outlets, pitching news stories and responding to inquiries, including those of a critical nature.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality fact-checked materials (news releases, opinion pieces, briefings, etc.) that distill complex topics for public audiences.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to handle sensitive reputational matters and manage crisis communications effectively.
• Experience working with Executives, providing briefs, advising on reputational matters and staffing engagements.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, setting up and managing events such as symposiums, press briefings, dinners, roundtables, webinars, keynotes and panel events.
• Strong stakeholder and media networks in technology, human rights or related field.
• Experience working in technology, human rights, governmental or related field.
• Strong awareness of current policy debates on AI technology and the impact on human rights and society writ large.
• Understanding of US political landscape and sensitivities.
• Experience working internationally with cultural and political awareness to navigate complex, cross-cultural communications and effectively engage with international colleagues and stakeholders across multiple time zones.
• Ability to project manage and coordinate work across teams and time zones.

Responsibilities

• Engage proactively and reactively with media outlets to secure high-impact, accurate news coverage.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with key journalists, representatives from national and international industry, civil society, and government stakeholders.
• Develop and execute public engagement plans for major events, special projects and campaigns that showcase the Board and advance its mission.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive written materials including news releases, talking points, and briefing notes to support external communications.
• Counsel Board Members in preparation for media and external engagements, providing on-the-ground support at key events and working directly with external stakeholders and media.
• Manage reputational issues, delivering clear guidance and appropriate action in accordance with internal processes and escalation points.
• Craft strategic messaging, op-eds, blogs and policy papers that advance the Board’s thought leadership on complex regulatory and societal issues in the technology sector.
• Work cross-functionally with content policy staff to develop compelling external narratives around case decisions and impact.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis comms

Stakeholder eng

Policy writing

Executive briefs

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Job description

The Oversight Board is an independent governance institution that makes binding decisions on the most challenging content issues on Meta's platforms. Since issuing its first decisions in January 2021, the Board has built a first-of-its-kind model grounded in international human rights law that has driven systemic improvements in how Meta moderates content, enforces policies, and treats its users.

The Oversight Board Administration is the team of full-time staff who support Board Members in fulfilling the institution's mission. The Administration has a presence in London, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and operates with a global scope.

You can learn more about the Board at www.oversightboard.com.

The role

Joining the Oversight Board Administration is a chance to be part of an organisation which is leading on some of the most prominent and challenging issues facing the tech industry and society.

Reporting to the Deputy VP & Director of Global Affairs, you’ll help shape how the Board is seen and heard, securing high-impact media coverage, building relationships with journalists, civil society, industry and government, and turning complex case decisions into clear, compelling stories. You’ll counsel Board Members ahead of media and external engagements, lead engagement plans for major events and campaigns, manage reputational issues, and advance the Board’s thought leadership through op-eds, briefings and policy papers.

The key areas of responsibility for this role include:

• Engage proactively and reactively with media outlets to secure high-impact, accurate news coverage.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with key journalists, representatives from national and international industry, civil society, and government stakeholders.
• Develop and execute public engagement plans for major events, special projects and campaigns that showcase the Board and advance its mission.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive written materials including news releases, talking points, and briefing notes to support external communications.
• Counsel Board Members in preparation for media and external engagements, providing on-the-ground support at key events and working directly with external stakeholders and media.
• Manage reputational issues, delivering clear guidance and appropriate action in accordance with internal processes and escalation points.
• Craft strategic messaging, op-eds, blogs and policy papers that advance the Board’s thought leadership on complex regulatory and societal issues in the technology sector.
• Work cross-functionally with content policy staff to develop compelling external narratives around case decisions and impact.

Skills and Experience

Essential criteria:

• Experience working in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines, e.g., in newsrooms or busy communications teams.
• Proven experience in cultivating relationships with influential media outlets, pitching news stories and responding to inquiries, including those of a critical nature.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality fact-checked materials (news releases, opinion pieces, briefings, etc.) that distill complex topics for public audiences.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to handle sensitive reputational matters and manage crisis communications effectively.
• Experience working with Executives, providing briefs, advising on reputational matters and staffing engagements.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, setting up and managing events such as symposiums, press briefings, dinners, roundtables, webinars, keynotes and panel events.
• Strong stakeholder and media networks in technology, human rights or related field.
• Experience working in technology, human rights, governmental or related field.
• Strong awareness of current policy debates on AI technology and the impact on human rights and society writ large.
• Understanding of US political landscape and sensitivities
• Experience working internationally with cultural and political awareness to navigate complex, cross-cultural communications and effectively engage with international colleagues and stakeholders across multiple time zones.
• Ability to project manage and coordinate work across teams and time zones.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience at the intersection of human rights and technology.
• Experience engaging with US or international government agencies and policymakers.
• Experience working with or in an agency.
• Understanding of US Governmental structures, the political environment and how to engage with policymakers.
• Proficiency in foreign languages.
• Interest in and understanding of the technology sector’s regulatory landscape and societal impacts, particularly around digital rights and user protections.

What we can offer you

As well as an annual salary of circa $160,000, we also offer an excellent market leading benefits package, covering a variety of areas, both professional and personal. These benefits include:

• A generous 9% pension employer contribution with no requirement for you to contribute;
• Progressive family friendly benefits including a robust paid parental leave policy;
• An extensive health support package, including comprehensive healthcare and dental coverage for both you and your family members;
• Comprehensive life assurance, income protection and business travel