Director of Communications

Director of Communications

Director of Communications 150 150 trickle up
Trickle Up
Published
May 24, 2023
Location
New York, NY
Job Type
Contact Name (not public)
Daynelle Williams-Edmonds

Description

About Trickle Up:

Since 1979, Trickle Up has focused on the poorest and most vulnerable, working with participants who live in extreme poverty and face multiple levels of exclusion due to gender, ethnicity, religion, and disability. The organization has worked with over 450,000 participants and their families, helping to sustainably lift over two million people out of extreme poverty in India, Africa, and the Americas. Our mission is to partner with women in extreme poverty to build economic opportunity and drive inclusion. Trickle Up works through partner organizations, to build paths to savings, food security, and agency, resulting in sustainable poverty reduction at scale.

Position Overview

Reporting to the President, the Director of Communications leads the implementation of Trickle Up’s global communications strategy and annual plans; reinforces key messaging, branding and content policies and procedures; supports fundraising and internal communications; and drives public relations and marketing initiatives. The Director supports Trickle Up staff and board to effectively reach their intended audiences. He/she manages the Communications Officer and coordinates the Global Communications Team. The Director will also work closely with Trickle Up’s senior leadership as part of the Direct Report Team (DRT).

Principle Functions

Working closely with Trickle Up leadership and staff, as well as regional heads and communications specialists, the Director is responsible for leading Trickle Up’s principal communications functions, including:

Communications strategy & operational planning:

  • Lead updates and reviews of the Communications Strategic Plan and department budget to translate organizational goals to specific programs and local contexts.

Brand management:

  • Manage brand identity through standardization of policies and procedures, staff training, developing relevant templates, and monitoring compliance.

Content Development and Thought Leadership:

  • In collaboration with our fundraising and programs departments, direct and contribute to the creation of campaigns and messaging that are accurate, compelling, consistent, and timely; fulfill Trickle Up’s core communications outputs (e.g., fund-raising appeals, annual reports, posts to trickleup.org and social media, etc.), and meet periodic outputs (e.g., learning products) aligned with organizational goals and priorities.
    • Print & collateral: Oversee the design, editorial, and production of print materials (e.g., newsletters, fact sheets, research reports, case studies) and collateral (e.g., signage) to meet the internal needs of Trickle Up.
    • Events: Help plan and execute Trickle Up’s external events, including participation in development sector fora and Trickle Up thought-leadership events. Drafting talking points and presentations alongside senior leadership and ensuring consistency in event collateral.

Media & platforms:

  • Demonstrate expertise in Trickle Up’s utilization of diverse media and platforms, including:
    1. Digital: Supervise Trickle Up’s digital assets, including content and traffic drivers for trickleup.org, social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn), and other platforms. In addition, provide regular reports and analysis of www.trickleup.org traffic and other online metrics.
    2. Press Coverage: Support the development and publication of OpEds and thought pieces by staff and manage relationships with media and PR firms.

Grant compliance:

  • Work with global programs teams and senior leadership to ensure compliance with branding and communications requirements from funders.

Internal communications and training:

  • Facilitate change management communications and internal organizational alignment. Build staff and board communications capacity, including publishing internal news to Trickle Up’s intranet (TULIP), and facilitating board and staff messaging training.

Supervision of staff, volunteers/interns:

  • Supervise direct report(s) and guide dotted-line relationships with global staff in coordination with their direct supervisors. Establish short-term projects to make effective use of interns, volunteers, and short-term staff.

Manage vendors:

  • Comply with organizational policies on procuring and coordinating with reliable, cost-effective vendors. Build relationships with vendors to support longer-term initiatives.

Qualifications

Education and language requirements

  • BA degree required, Master’s in Communications, Public Relations, Media, Journalism, International Development, Business Administration, or other relevant field is a plus.
  • Full professional fluency in written and spoken English.
  • Working proficiency in Spanish is strongly desirable.

Experience requirements

  • Minimum of 10 years experience in external and internal communications, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
  • Demonstrated record directing the development and execution of print, digital, and other communications products; speechwriting or supporting leadership appearances and visibility at high-profile events; and marketing campaigns.
  • Demonstrated record developing and pitching stories to media, raising the profile of an organization using social media and digital assets, and functioning as an organizational representative.
  • Demonstrated experience managing staff, volunteers, and interns, as well as procurement and retention of vendors and suppliers.
  • Experience supporting organizational change management.
  • Preference for New York-based candidates. This role is expected to be hybrid with 2 days per week in the office.

Preferred knowledge and skills

  • Technical capacity or familiarity with using Adobe Creative Cloud software, Google Analytics (G4), WordPress (Divi Builder), SEO Optimization (Semrush), and Muck Rack.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentations and public speaking.
  • Attention to detail for messaging and context-relevant revisions.
  • Expertise in communications best practices and the intersection of organizational communications and fundraising.
  • Superior organizational, prioritization, and project management skills.
  • Leadership and supervisory skills.
  • Knowledge and enthusiasm for poverty eradication, women’s empowerment, nonprofit international development, and/or rural development.
  • Experience and ability to perform remote management with Trickle Up’s global team.

Behavioral competencies

  • Self-directed and self-motivated.
  • Ability to work collaboratively.
  • Patience, flexibility, and responsiveness to a fast-paced environment
  • Cultural sensitivity to the work of Trickle Up and its participants
  • Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Uphold Trickle Up values of respect, collaboration, and commitment.

Salary and Benefits:

We offer a salary between $80,000 - $95,000 commensurate with experience along with benefits for this full-time position. The successful applicant will join a dynamic, passionate, multicultural team deeply committed to the alleviation of extreme poverty. Trickle Up promotes a collegial, high-performing organizational culture in which staff communicate clearly and openly, and are reflective, innovative, and mutually accountable.

To Apply: 

To be considered, please click the link, and follow the instructions to upload your cover letter and resume by June 5, 2023. We are sorry we are unable to entertain phone calls related to this posting.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which include criminal records checks and other reference-check databases  Trickle Up participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this initiative, as part of the referencing process, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment during employment.  By applying, you confirm your understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Trickle Up requires that employees be vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to visiting or working in a Trickle Up office or conducting any travel or in-person meetings on behalf of our organization. If you are hired for this position, Trickle Up will require proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.

Trickle Up is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and extend equal opportunity to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform essential job functions.