Communications and Engagement Director

Womenlift Health; Johannesburg; On-site; USD 60 000 - 100 000; Full time

Job summary

An established organization focused on gender equality in health seeks a visionary Communications and Engagement Director. This role is pivotal in enhancing visibility and impact through strategic communications, amplifying women's leadership in global health. The ideal candidate will lead a global communications strategy, engage with high-level stakeholders, and manage a dynamic team. Join a passionate team dedicated to transforming health outcomes and promoting gender equality. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in a rapidly growing organization that values diverse perspectives and collaborative leadership.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in senior communications roles, preferably in NGOs.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and global strategies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive communications strategies.
• Lead and mentor a diverse communications team across regions.

Skills

Strategic Communications

Leadership Skills

Storytelling

Digital Communication

Cultural Competency

Education

Masters' degree in Communications

Tools

Content Management Systems

Email Marketing Tools

Social Media Platforms

Job description

Job Title : Communications and Engagement Director

Location : Any major cities in India, Southern Africa, East Africa, US, Canada, Nigeria or Europe; with travel internationally up to 20%.

Reports to : Amie Batson, President

Position Type : Full-time

Our Vision and Mission – WomenLift Health envisions a world where diverse, accomplished leaders collectively transform health outcomes.

To realize that vision, we seek to expand the power and influence of talented mid-career women in health and engage with senior institutional and societal leaders to catalyze systemic change for gender equality in health leadership.

Our Work – Established in [Year], we work to advance equality in health leadership through a range of actions at the individual, institutional, and societal levels.

This includes "Leadership Journeys," which focus on equipping mid-career women with tools, along with peer, mentor and coach support, to successfully use their voice, expertise and leadership for impact.

It includes pushing conversations and partnerships with senior leaders in health institutions, taking steps to prioritize gender equality.

It also includes supporting / convening global conversations about the importance of women's leadership, amplifying the voices of national and global health leaders including at the bi-annual WomenLift Health Conference.

Our Culture and Values

We are building a diverse, entrepreneurial team of people who bring unique cultural and technical perspectives and experiences.

We welcome results-oriented problem-solvers of any nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability.

We are a growing organization that is committed to building a culture with our partners that values:

1. Collaborative leadership that celebrates diverse perspectives and experiences and ensures everyone contributes to their full potential.
2. Partnership grounded in humility, respect, empathy, and inclusion.
3. Transformative change based upon bold, strategic thinking combined with adaptability and pragmatic action.
4. Spirit of learning ensures we are open, forward-looking, constructive, and committed to growing collectively and individually.
5. Achieving impact by improving global health and gender equality.

Position Summary

WomenLift Health is seeking an experienced Communications and Engagement Director to raise awareness, foster change, support fund-raising and inspire concrete actions to advance women's leadership in global health.

The Communications and Engagement Director will be responsible for the development and execution of a global communications strategy that enhances the visibility and impact of WomenLift Health.

This role will play a key part in amplifying our work, driving engagement across diverse stakeholders, and positioning the organization as a thought leader on women's leadership in global health.

Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Communications and Engagement Director will represent WomenLift Health on an international platform, engaging with high-level leaders across sectors, and managing a small cross-regional team.

The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record in strategic communications.

They should be a visionary leader with a passion for gender equality and an understanding of the global health landscape.

The ability to navigate a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment is essential, as WomenLift Health is in a phase of rapid growth.

The ideal candidate should also have experience managing cross-functional teams, ensuring collaboration across regions, and navigating diverse cultural contexts.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications

1. Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy to enhance global and regional awareness of the organization's mission, programs, and impact.
2. Oversee the creation and dissemination of high-quality multi-media content across platforms, including social media, website, newsletters, and owned and earned press.
3. Support communications with key stakeholders including the Global Advisory Board and other WomenLift Health partners to effectively champion WomenLift and its impact.

Thought Leadership

1. Develop Thought Leadership Strategy: Position the organization as a recognized leader on women's leadership, highlighting its relevance to global health.
2. Lead the creation and dissemination of thought leadership content such as white papers, research reports, and op-eds that inform public discourse and policy and identify relevant speaking opportunities for WomenLift Health leadership.
3. Engage with Global Health Networks: Contribute to building relationships with key stakeholders, including international agencies, health institutions, and gender equality and women's leadership advocates, to further the organization's thought leadership.

Matrix Management of Global Communications Team

1. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working within WomenLift Health's matrix management structure, coordinate efforts between global communications staff, regional program teams, and external partners / consultants, ensuring alignment with the organization's broader mission.
2. Global Coordination: Work closely with regional communications managers based in different Hubs to ensure that global messaging is culturally relevant and strategically aligned with regional priorities.
3. Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse and dispersed communications team, ensuring collaborative approaches.

Storytelling and Content Creation

1. Play a leading role in developing the platform, templates and dissemination strategies for compelling storytelling of women leaders in global health, highlighting how their leadership drives systemic change and improves health outcomes.
2. Oversee content creation for a range of channels and platforms, including blogs, reports, videos, op-eds, press releases, and social media.
3. Ensure consistency and alignment with the organization's key messages.
4. Contribute to the development of compelling, targeted messages to support fundraising proposals.

Media Relations and Digital Strategy

1. Cultivate relationships with international media outlets to secure coverage of WomenLift Health's work.
2. Serve as a spokesperson and ensure the organization's voice is well-represented in the media.
3. Oversee the digital strategy, including website management, social media, and email campaigns, ensuring that content reaches and engages a global audience effectively.

Stakeholder Engagement and Brand Management

1. Develop strategies to engage key stakeholders, including donors, program participants, and global and public health leaders.
2. Contribute to partnerships that support the organization's mission and goals.
3. Ensure brand consistency across all communication channels, aligning with the organization's values and mission to drive global awareness and engagement.

Event Management

1. Plan and execute conferences, workshops, and other events to engage stakeholders and promote WomenLift Health's work including conceptualizing goals and formats, identifying and preparing speakers, shaping dynamic programs, organizing content-capture opportunities and supporting seamless event logistics.
2. Evaluate the success of events and make recommendations for improvements.

Impact Reporting and Metrics

1. Contribute to the production of annual reports, donor impact reports, and other key communications that showcase WomenLift Health's achievements and impact on global health.
2. Track and measure the effectiveness of communications efforts using key performance indicators (KPIs).
3. Crisis Communication: Develop and implement crisis communication plans to effectively manage reputational risks.
4. Train staff on crisis communication protocols and procedures; respond to crises in a timely and effective manner.

Qualifications

1. Masters' degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
2. Minimum of 15 years of experience in a senior communications role, preferably within an international non-profit or NGO setting.
3. Proven management experience including coordinating cross-functional teams across multiple regions and time zones.
4. Strong leadership skills with demonstrated ability to manage global communication strategies and collaborate across dispersed teams.
5. Demonstrated expertise in contributing to thought leadership for global health and gender equality.
6. Proficiency in digital communication platforms (e.g., social media, content management systems, and email marketing tools).
7. Exceptional storytelling abilities and experience crafting impactful messages for a global audience.
8. Strong written and verbal communication skills in English (additional language proficiency, particularly in French, is a plus).
9. Ability to travel internationally up to 20%.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities (Required) : Experience working in low- and middle-income countries or within global health sectors.

Familiarity with international development, gender equality, or public health communications.

Strong cultural competency, with the ability to tailor communications strategies to regional contexts.

How to Apply

To apply, submit resume and cover letter through Jobsoid link.

Please also include 3 professional references and desired annual salary in USD.

Please also include three writing samples.

Hiring Statement

WomenLift Health is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a (c) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs.

NVF is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential.

NVF's work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and / or state in which you are working.

WomenLift Health intends to hire the selected candidate employment via a PEO (Professional Employer Organization).

Candidate must live and be authorized to work in the respective country you are applying from.