Women For Afghan Women

Afghan Women Rising

Communications Director, NY HQ (US)

by

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Communications Director at Women for Afghan Women (WAW) serves as an important component of WAW’s senior management and operations teams in the United States (US) and Afghanistan. The Communications Director determines the strategic communications and marketing functions that drive the organization’s objectives and outcomes, promotes WAW’s mission and vision, and supports the Executive Director’s, Board of Directors, and Development Team’s fundraising functions, efforts, and objectives, while educating the public and the media about the impact of WAW’s work in the US and in Afghanistan, and actively promoting how beneficiaries can access WAW services.

The Communications Director also leads the effort to create, maintain, and expand messages and narratives to engage WAW’s supporters and other target audiences, to help WAW expand the scope of its programs and services, and to illustrate the value and impact of WAW’s transformational work. Through messaging, engagement with partners, supporters, and newsmakers, written content, consistent and creative branding, and maintaining the organization’s visual identity, the Communications Director leads, manages, and supervises the work and efforts of the WAW communications team and consultants in achieving and staying the course with WAW’s strategic communications plan and goals.

The Communications Director reports to the Deputy Executive Director (?) and ensures the communications team at WAW is efficiently run, and that team members are aligned on priorities and resource allocation. The Communications Director ensures the department’s training, professional development, vendor management, onboarding, and performance indicators/metrics are synchronized to the department and organizational goals. The Communications Director designs and runs strategic planning processes annually and as needed, in collaboration with the communications team, digital and other consultants, graphic designers, organizers, lawyers, lobbyists, state advocates, vendors, and any other affiliate partners and donors to maintain visibility of WAW and its work.

  • Salary: $80,000 a year
  • Job Type: Full-time/Hybrid (In-Person + Remote)
  • Supervisor: Executive Director

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Communications Director at Women for Afghan Women:

STRATEGY

  • Determines and executes a strategic communications plan that is aligned with organization-wide operational targets, fundraising strategies, and budgets, and supports WAW’s services and programs delivery and efforts across all lines of the organization.
  • Develops communications plans for new programs, policies, and changes on all new and existing communication platforms
  • Supports leadership teams in communicating the mission, vision, and values of the organization to increase engagement and retention of staff and volunteers.

MEDIA RELATIONS AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

  • Develops and help executes approved media relations and social media strategy, including social media platform engagement and maintenance, media contact management, news/press release content development, distributions, pitching, etc.
  • Serves as the organization’s spokesperson.
  • Responds to international and local media inquiries by coordinating interviews and developing and providing WAW approved content and information, as appropriate.
  • Trains and prepares WAW staff and leadership for media interviews, and develops and executes effective talking points, speeches, and interview responses.
  • Monitors and analyzes public relations and social engagement data.

BRAND MANAGEMENT & STORYTELLING

  • Leads brand strategy development, including articulating WAW’s unique value proposition, key messages, and core attributes.
  • Leads the development of WAW narratives, stories, and original content.
  • Leads the communications team brand maintenance and story-telling impact across platforms, including digital storytelling (blog, video, and photography) and institutional/fundraising communications, campaigns, appeals, and annual appeals.
  • Ensures visual and editorial integrity of WAW’s brand in all public-facing communications.
  • Maintains updated visual and editorial style guides.
  • Supervises the application of WAW’s brand to all design, print, electronic, and digital promotional communications materials, including annual and impact reports, campaigns and fundraising appeals, signage, paraphernalia, and/or any other product or material physically or virtually representing the organization, internally or externally.

MARKETING & OUTREACH

  • Leads the communications team to develop innovative marketing strategies across print, digital, and community engagement platforms.
  • Supervises WAW’s marketing functions to ensure execution is consistent and effective.
  • Leads, manages, and allocates marketing budgets.
  • Advises on programming strategy to maximize program attendance, impact, and exposure.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS

  • Develops and implements crisis communications strategies in collaboration with the organization’s Board of Directors and senior management team.
  • Supports crisis management response in and outside of all WAW fields of operations in the US and in Afghanistan and may be tasked to conduct public affairs staff and volunteer training and development across the organization’s field of operations.

MANAGEMENT

  • Manages WAW’s communications team, consultants, and any other related subcontractors.
  • Serves as a member of WAW’s leadership team.
  • Reviews, updates, maintains, interprets, and administers media and communications policies, processes, and procedures that impact WAW’s operations, standing with donors, compliance requirements, and the privacy and protection of all WAW staff and beneficiaries.
  • Leads in the development of annual communications department budgets.
  • Leads the communications team in the ethical use of personal data, photography, and representation of WAW-related content.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree required in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Public Affairs, and/or related field, or a minimum of 5-7 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and related experience in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Public Affairs, and/or a related field.
  • 5-7 years of increasingly responsible experience in institutional or non-profit communications.
  • Documented experience with building and managing teams, achieving results, and successfully encouraging community engagement around a product/project.

SPECIFIC POSITION REQUIREMENTS

  • Experience building and implementing complex, multi-functional communications plans.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office suite and products; digital advertising; social media; Adobe Creative Suite; Canva; the technical requirements for all design, print, and electronic production.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate clearly, diplomatically, and effectively.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to be held accountable for results.
  • Strong organizational, multi-tasking skills.
  • Ability to problem solve, take initiative, set priorities for an entire department, handle multiple projects, and exercise good judgment in a fast-paced, dynamic, deadline driven environment in an organized and professional manner.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing people and budgets within the resource constraints of a non-profit.
  • Outstanding oral and written communication skills required, with proven knowledge of AP Style.
  • Manage experienced professionals.
  • Fully proficient in work and industry.
  • Experience managing professional, business, and individual social media accounts.
  • Willingness to serve as a media spokesperson as required.
  • Able to work a flexible schedule that occasionally involves work on weekends and holidays.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Please email your application to jobs@womenforafghanwomen.org. Your application package must include:

  • One-page cover letter
  • Resume
  • A brief writing sample (1-2 pages)
  • Sample social media campaigns/ publications

Please type Communications Director–[your last name] in the subject line. Position to be filled immediately.

Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.