Application Deadline: 18th July, 2022
In June 2020, the foundation established a new Communications Division, led by the Chief Communications Officer, to oversee the foundation\u2019s global communications strategy. The division brings together internal and external communications to advance the foundation\u2019s mission of a more equitable world. This candidate will sit on the Communications Leadership Team. In addition, this candidate will be a senior member of the Europe, Middle East and East Asia Leadership Team (EMEEA) and, as a result, a de facto member of the Global Policy and Advocacy Team.
The Global Communications team is responsible for shaping internal and external use of foundation voice to protect the foundation\u2019s reputation and advance its priority advocacy and program objectives and ensure that employees are meaningfully connected to the foundation\u2019s mission and community. The team is responsible for comprehensive voice planning for foundation leadership and key spokespeople as well as driving engagement with media.
The EMEEA team is the \u201cambassadorial network\u201d of the foundation operating out of offices in London and Berlin. In addition to the two offices, the team\u2019s country representatives are embedded in the political capitals of each major government donor and based in country (London, Berlin, Brussels, Paris, Stockholm, and Tokyo). As a team, we bring deep insights on the political landscape, media and public attitudes, and the foundation\u2019s ability to influence decision making on our issues to the rest of the foundation. Through our network of representatives and advocacy partners in these capitals, we advocate on behalf of our programme teams to relevant decision makers to build support for our programmatic objectives. Our currency is the strength of our relationships with decision makers, our credibility as an effective partner co-investing alongside our donors, the depth of our political analysis and intelligence, and the influence of our co-chairs. Our ultimate objective in EMEEA is to secure sustained and/or increased funding for the foundation\u2019s key programmatic priorities as well as a supportive policy environment.
Our culture shapes our choices about what we do and how we do it. We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment can do extraordinary things. We expect foundation employees to intentionally and consistently embody our values of optimism, collaboration, rigor, innovation and inclusion.
The Deputy Director, EMEEA Communications, will be a key member of the Communications Leadership Team within the foundation\u2019s Communications division and a member of the EMEEA Leadership team. They will work collaboratively with colleagues across the foundation\u2019s offices to ensure the foundation uses media and external relations to advance its mission across the EMEEA region. The Deputy Director will work to advance the foundation\u2019s external communications strategy and manage foundation reputation through proactive and reactive engagement with media, partners, and foundation colleagues across the EMEEA region. They will lead a core team of country communications professionals and agency resources in support of these objectives. The role will report to the Managing Director \u2013 Global Policy & Advocacy (Europe, Middle East and East Asia) with a dotted line to the Director \u2013 Europe (Europe, Middle East and East Asia).
Core Responsibilities
Provide overall strategic direction to the EMEEA communications team, including input and sign off on plans, progress tracking, and ensuring alignment with Global Communications and EMEEA strategy.
Senior counsel and implementation support for crises or communications challenges which undermine the reputation of the foundation or the work that we do.
Facilitate the overall integration of the EMEEA communications team with relevant partners across the foundation as well as external grantees and partners to advance the foundation\u2019s mission.
Day-to-day management of the EMEEA communications team, ensuring that team members are well supported in the execution of their work plans and helping team members to effectively prioritise their work.
Overall management of key external contractors and other grantees and partners to ensure we get solid strategic advice, excellent execution and overall good value for money.
Support the professional development of the EMEEA comms team, ensuring the team are able to develop their professional skills and expand their range of expertise.
Act as the senior communications interface to internal partners, ensuring the team has strong relationships with key internal partners such as Global Communications, the private offices, and PAC leadership and communities as required and that we are able to work effectively with these teams.
Act as the senior communications interface to key external partners, principally media at the editorial and executive levels, communications leadership at our advocacy partners and other external partners that we work with to implement our plans.
Additional implementation resource for our work plans, in particular, in the support of co-chair and other leadership trips to the region and other major projects that are being led by the team.
Strong network with credible media organizations, editors, and journalists across EMEEA region.
Strong preference for communications experience across EMEEA and shown cultural competency.
Strong background developing proactive communications strategies and working opportunistically with communications channels to place stories and drive organisational positioning.
Experience in a dynamic, result oriented environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple and challenging demands and establish priorities, while providing continual attention to detail.
Demonstrated ability to achieve results and drive complex work to conclusion, including getting results through others.
Outstanding people skills and a demonstrated ability to influence a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds and at different levels.
People management skills with the ability to inspire and lead a small but capable regional team.
Strategic problem solver with demonstrated ability to use quantitative and qualitative data to present options for decision making, highlight trade-offs, and propose recommendations.
Experience using data to measure communications activities and guide approaches.
Successful experience leading crisis communications and issues management for a major organization.
Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills, in positions requiring communication with a broad and diverse audience on a range of complex and technical issues.
Ability to offer creative solutions to complex problems and translate the options into concrete solutions.
Teammate with a sense of humor and humility.
Real passion for the foundation\u2019s mission.
Knowledge of EMEEA languages desired.
Extensive professional experience in a similar role, including management experience, collaborative experience with a wide range of internal and external partners, and excellent communications skills.
Experience working in non-profit/public health, government, communications agency, or private sector organization is preferred.
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
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Hiring Requirements
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Depending upon your work location, we may require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 and any recommended booster doses. All employees based in the United States are to provide proof of full vaccination upon hire and any recommended boosters, subject to applicable laws.
Accommodations
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to hr@gatesfoundation.org.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We\u2019re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve\u2014in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs\u2014and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.
All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.
This vacancy is archived.