REPORTS TO:VP, Innovations & Strategy
LOCATION:New York Office – 355 Lexington Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Concern Worldwide
Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental international humanitarian organization dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working toward the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries. Concern’s Innovationsfor Maternal, Newborn & Child Health* is an initiative that field tests new and novel ways to overcome barriers to and improve access and delivery of health services for women and children in Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi and Sierra Leone.
Innovations for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
Launched in 2009 with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Innovations for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (Innovations) has developed and implemented nine projects in four African countries and Odisha state in India. These innovations, designed to save the lives of women, infants and children, have been or are now in process of being rigorously evaluated for their effectiveness and acceptability. From the outset, Innovationshas had a central mandate to share results and learnings from the most successful pilots so that they can be adopted, adapted and taken to scale in low-resource contexts where women and children lack access to lifesaving care.
The Role
The Associate Director of Communications and PR will develop and execute strategies to communicate the most compelling results of the innovations, promote uptake for the innovations among NGOs, social enterprises and other investors, and leverage the achievements of the Innovationsinitiative to increase Concern Worldwide U.S.’s reputation. Innovations has generated excitement through its use of approaches more typically found within the private sector and social enterprise than public health, namely: human-centered (or user-centered) design; extensive prototyping and iteration; and systematic tapping of unconventional voices to inform interventions.
The associate director will ensure messaging that is fresh, credible and enthusiastic. The role requires strong communications and public relations expertise and the ability to pivot from strategic thinking to practical execution. This leadership role is key to Concern’s evidenced-based work and brand-building efforts. Depending on candidate credentials, the position may be retitled director.
The associate director reports to the VP for Innovation and Strategy and plays a key role in the Innovations senior management team. S/he works closely with all members of the New York HQ staff, oversees a NY-based Communications Officer, collaborates with field staff in all Innovations countries, manages external consultants and contractors, and liaises with Concern Worldwide staff in Dublin.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Strategic leadership on communications and PR to disseminate learnings and enlarge the reputation of Innovations for MNCH
o Conceive an integrated communication plan to increase the profile of Innovationsamong target audiences and advance its mission
o Identify key audiences and avenues for disseminating Innovationslearning to policy actors; lead the development and execution of strategies to reach those audiences through global health meetings, conferences, speaking opportunities, earned media, opinion/editorial pieces and content placement
- Management and Execution
o Create or guide creation of compelling content: research and write editorials, blogs, and opinion pieces on Innovations’ ambitions,approaches, achievements and adaptability
o Oversee online and print communications channels: manage a Communications officer to produce marketing communications, including the design and content management of collateral
- Measurement and Metrics
o Develop and track ongoing metrics to ensure that Concern’s communications and media outreach reach the right audiences
REQUIREMENTS
- Ten or more years’ communications experience that includes a blend of advocacy and public relations/media relations
- Strong track record of positioning organizations to achieve tangible outcomes in a competitive communications environment
- Exceptional ability to write for diverse audiences, synthesizing and translating technical information into compelling and readable narratives; skill in creating excitement around ideas
- Familiarity with international development and/or global health issues, ideally including nutrition
- Ability to manage staff responsible for technical and graphic aspects of digital and print production
- Creative thinking with demonstrated ability to translate goals into action and results
- Exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills with the ability to engage cogently and persuasively with partner organizations, government officials, business leaders and other global health and nutrition stakeholders
- Ability to coach and support senior leaders as thought leaders and “evangelists” for the organization’s work
- Flexibility to adapt to a fast-changing environment and to anticipate and address emerging needs
- Enthusiasm for social change
TERMS
Two-year renewable contract. Salary is commensurate with experience and salary history. Concern Worldwide US provides an excellent and comprehensive benefits package.
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