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Global Director of Communications & Strategic Engagement

Employer
Wallace Global Fund
Location
District of Columbia, United States
Salary
$220,000.00 - $235,000.00
Posted Date
May 14, 2024
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Global Director of Communications & Strategic Engagement

 

About the Wallace Global Fund

Wallace Global Fund (WGF) is an unabashedly progressive philanthropy that advances the values and legacy of its donor Henry A. Wallace, former Vice President of the US, Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce, and one of the principal architects of the New Deal. His grandson and great grandson serve as Co-Chairs of the Wallace Global Fund’s board. Henry A. Wallace issued prescient warnings on the dangers of fascism which inform WGF’s call for action on corporate accountability and government’s responsibility to defend and advance the rights of all people over economic and authoritarian interests. This progressive legacy shapes WGF’s values and strategies today.

WGF is committed to building people-powered movements for systemic change and uses all of the tools in its toolbox to do so, from making grants, to aligning investments, to using its convening authority, and amplifying its advocacy voice. Corporate accountability, youth leadership development, and movement building are all cross-cutting priorities for grantmaking initiatives focused on Democracy, Environment, Women’s Rights, Corporate Power, and Just Transitions in Africa. The foundation is known for the strategic partnerships it forges with the movements it supports and has played a prominent role in seeding and supporting a youth-centered climate movement that has taken on the fossil fuel industry.

A commitment to progressive values led the foundation to 100% mission-aligned investing, endowment spending at higher levels than required to address the intersecting crisis of climate, fascism, and injustice, and an eventual process of spend down. Additionally, the foundation has been vocal in challenging philanthropy to invest differently, pay out more, and support movements.

Position Description

Wallace Global Fund seeks a visionary, dynamic, and seasoned professional to serve as Global Director of Communications & Strategic Engagement. They will join an energetic and collaborative team and serve as an internal thought leader and expert on the Fund's communications strategy development and implementation. As a member of the senior management team, they will contribute to a culture of high standards and continuous improvement that emphasizes learning, curiosity, collegiality, and collaboration and that values social justice, anti-racism, gender equity, diversity, inclusion, respect, and transparency.

The Global Director of Communications & Strategic Engagement will report directly to the Executive Director and lead all external and internal communications and strategic engagement needs of the organization. They will work to optimize WGF's ability to engage as an influential thought leader, deploying a broad range of creative communications strategies. They will focus on developing and executing communications strategies that: 1) amplify WGF's role within philanthropy and strategically advance the Fund's efforts toward transforming the philanthropic sector in service of social justice and environmental change; 2) amplify the work of national and global WGF grantees in areas of strategic priority to support their sustainability and the movements they are a part of; and 3) promote, protect, and enshrine the legacy of our founder, Henry A. Wallace, and that of the Fund’s work. 

The Global Director of Communications & Strategic Engagement will be a strategic leader who is able to create compelling content in support of WGF's internal and external needs and priorities. They will also oversee the development of creative content to communicate with various audiences. They will develop strategy to advance WGF's programmatic, policy and field leadership initiatives and elevate knowledge of the Fund's grantees and partners. They will also champion and drive WGF's signature issues and platforms, including the legacy of Henry A. Wallace, while positioning the Fund as a leader in the ecosystem of social justice funders and changemakers.  Ultimately, they will be a critical team member who will help the Fund articulate its strategic priorities in addressing the most urgent challenges of our time: the global climate crisis, corporate capture, assaults on women's rights, and mounting threats to the health of our democracy.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

The Director is responsible for raising the visibility of the Fund as an impact driven philanthropic leader and advancing the overall narrative through a comprehensive communications strategy. In partnership with the Executive Director, they will lead the conceptualization, design and implementation of a communications plan that complements the Fund’s overall strategic direction.  Additionally, they will manage contracts and relationships with public relations and communications firm(s) and consultants to further the strategic goals of the Fund’s grantees, partners, and the Fund itself. They will also be responsible for creating and deploying marketing, public relations, social media, and earned media strategies that will allow WGF to engage and deepen relationships with targeted audiences, including political leaders, current and prospective grantees, global thought leaders, influencers, and the press.   

Reputation & Legacy Management 

The Director will advise and counsel on all matters of reputational risk and rapid communications response with a particular focus on preserving and protecting the reputation and legacy of Henry A. Wallace, by coordinating and organizing rapid responses and crisis communication, and through the development, management, distribution, and maintenance of primary institutional WGF print and electronic communications. They will also be responsible for leading the process to identify key pillars of the Fund’s work and legacy to highlight, amplify, and engrain as part of the Fund’s legacy and contribution to movement building philanthropy. 

Public Relations

The Director will play a catalytic role in enhancing the visibility of the Fund and the work of our grantees, leading the creation of strategies and content that engage a variety of audiences via various platforms. They will be instrumental in partnering with a variety of key external stakeholders ranging from executives, government and tribal officials, and philanthropic partners, deciding how to disseminate, track and measure the effectiveness of our influence strategies and lead the development of all external positioning and messaging strategies. 

Internal Communications

The Director will work collaboratively with all internal stakeholders to ensure communications are aligned, deliver measurable outcomes, and are in the best interests of WGF, its grantees, partners, and the communities who benefit from WGF initiatives. They will support the Executive Director in the development of Board materials, such as docket preparation, planning documents, investment presentations, and other materials as needed. They will also partner with WGF colleagues to develop communications plans for strategic initiatives and special opportunities on issues that are important to WGF. Additionally, they will coordinate website maintenance - ensuring that new and consistent information (article links, stories, and events) are posted regularly to the website and related microsites, while providing support for the Fund on crisis management and other internal communications needs.

Candidate Profile

WGF seeks a talented professional with relevant experience in communications, who will embrace and employ a collaborative approach. The new Global Director of Communications & Strategic Engagement will relish working with and supporting a committed team, with an appetite for supporting WGF’s social justice values, priority issues, strategies, approaches, and partners. Ideally, the Director will be strong in as many of the following areas as possible: media relations, issue framing, branding, storytelling, cognitive science & linguistics, traditional and online/social media, and rapid communications response strategies and tactics.

More specifically, WGF seeks an experienced professional who has:

  • Demonstrated thought leadership and political savvy in communications, branding, news, and media relations. Experience in corporate communications is a plus;
  • Outstanding writing and editing skills, with an ability to create compelling, persuasive narratives that are strategically focused and aligned with the Fund's priorities;
  • A track record of strategic communications planning and crisis management experience;
  • A proven ability to work well on a range of issues, using communications as a way to demonstrate their interdependencies and strategically reinforcing the nature of the Fund's work;
  • Experience in overseeing and executing successful and strategic digital and social media campaigns with proven results;
  • A successful record of publications and/or high-visibility media placements, promoting critical thought leadership and essential issue framing;
  • Exceptional interpersonal and management skills, and the ability to exercise both in a team-oriented, supportive fashion;
  • A demonstrated ability to manage and leverage resources;
  • An orientation to collegiality and a sense of humor;
  • Strong leadership and management skills, preferably with the ability to counsel and mentor colleagues humbly and respectfully; 
  • Excellent knowledge of the media ecosystem, including media relations;
  • An ability to identify compelling narratives, and to story tell, so as to lift the voices of WGF grantees, their interconnections, and their impact.
  • PR agency management, experience purchasing paid advertising and marketing a plus;

The selected candidate will have a bachelor's degree and a minimum of 15 years professional work experience.

Timeframe:  Expected start date of August 12th, 2024.

Compensation: $220,000 - $235,000

To Apply:

We are accepting applications on a rolling basis through June 14th. All applications are held in strict confidence. Please submit resume and portfolio to wallaceglobalfundjobs@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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