The Role:

Reporting to the Senior Regional Director for Europe, the Senior Communications Manager will create and lead the implementation of traditional and online media strategies and outreach in Europe so as to advance the Center’s work and visibility in Europe and across the world. The Senior Communications Manager will also support collaborative work with key partners to create joint communications strategies in support of joint initiatives and will also provide support to the Chief Program Officer in relation to media engagement.  The role is for a 2-year period initially. This role is based in Europe.

The Senior Communications Manager, Europe will be based in Europe.

Primary Responsibilities: 

The Senior Communications Manager’s primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Design and develop impactful European communications strategies to advance the Center’s work in Europe and across the world and build awareness of the Center’s work and profile among key European stakeholders.
• Provide communications support to the Chief Program Officer and Senior Regional Director for Europe, and other Europe based staff as relevant.
• Draft and edit press materials (press releases, statements, op-eds, talking points, press kits, etc.) for a European media audience, related to the Center’s work in Europe and across the world.
• Prepare Center spokespeople for press interviews and public appearances, including drafting talking points and key messages and providing prep sessions prior to each interview or event.
• Proactively pitch Center spokespeople and secure Center placement in target media markets.
• Cultivate, maintain and expand a robust network among media contacts in Europe who regularly cover gender equality and reproductive rights issues and proactively develop relationships with journalists and editors.
• Create and manage a database of media contacts for the Center in Europe.
• Create and manage a European communications calendar for the Center to track upcoming opportunities for media engagement and outreach, develop content and ensure advance planning.
• Draft and edit communications content for use across multiple channels including, but not limited to, website and social media.
• Manage the Europe program’s social media accounts including by planning and developing content, managing community engagement, developing innovative ways of connecting with and expanding engagement, tracking and monitoring performance and developing the program’s use of social media tools to broaden its visibility and networks in Europe.
• Coordinate the production of design and other assets to support digital communication streams.
• Identify opportunities for joint traditional and/or online communications initiatives with Center partners in Europe and provide technical communications support to partners as relevant.
• Where necessary, identify and supervise local media and communications consultants and firms to support and complement the Center’s communications efforts in Europe.
• Work closely and collaborating effectively with other departments to ensure strategies are aligned across the organization.
• Execute special projects as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's or advanced degree in communications, journalism, public/media relations, languages or a related field.
• At least 10 years of demonstrated progressively responsible experience working in communications or public relations, ideally including experience working in media relations for an NGO.
• Strong awareness and deep understanding of the European media landscape and current and developing strategies for communicating effectively in a continually and rapidly evolving media environment.
• Successful track record of developing and executing communications strategies and campaigns in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment in Europe, including for NGOs.
• Successful track record of pitching and securing traditional media coverage and placement.
• Deep understanding of online tools and strategies to grow social media audiences and influence and experience in managing social media accounts.
• Excellent English writing and communications skills including drafting, editing and proofreading skills. Demonstrated ability to research, write, fact-check, and edit a variety of communication pieces for target audiences with minimal supervision.
• Experience developing content for a variety of materials (e.g. press releases, articles, newsletters, web content, advocacy resources, and email marketing materials, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to meet tight deadlines, handle simultaneous assignments, and work within a team setting across varied time zones.
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly, digest large quantities of information and apply transferrable skills to new areas or types of project.
• Strong organizational skills and a proven ability to concurrently manage a large number and wide variety of projects with strict deadlines.
• Proven ability to manage the workflow of projects, including facilitating project scope, identifying goals and deliverables, planning and scheduling project timelines, and monitoring project progress.
• Experience working on communications strategies or media outreach in the field of human rights, women's rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights or other fields of social justice desirable.
• Experience working within traditional and online media organizations or as a journalist desirable.
• Must be flexible and adaptable and able to work proactively and independently, multi-task, and deliver high quality work under tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and to exercise discretion and good judgment;
• Ability to give and receive feedback professionally, and to provide openness and honesty in communications;
• Ability to travel for work;
• Ability to work in a multicultural, diverse, and performance-driven environment.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At the Center, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.  You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.