Job Description
Chief Communications Officer
San Francisco, CA ( Hybrid)
Full-Time
The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by seven decades of experience and deep local knowledge, our work is focused on governance, climate action, education and leadership, gender equality, inclusive growth, and international cooperation. We work in more than 20 countries through our permanent offices and programs across Asia and the Pacific, supported by a headquarters in San Francisco and an office in Washington, DC. Our funding comes from a diverse array of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.
The Foundation is seeking a dynamic and experienced Chief Communications Officer (CCO) to lead the transformation of our communication strategies and elevate and advance the Foundation’s outreach, institutional profile, and articulation of program impact. To this end, the CCO will play a pivotal role in reimagining and revitalizing our institutional and program communication across multiple platforms, ensuring a cohesive and compelling narrative that resonates with the Foundation’s diverse audiences. In addition to overseeing the Foundation’s internal and external communications, the CCO will play a crucial role in elevating the visibility of the Foundation’s program initiatives at the country and regional levels. This includes driving the development of multimedia content, disseminating reports, publications, and other thought leadership products, and supporting fundraising campaigns.
Reporting to the President, the CCO will lead a dynamic team of communications professionals, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration within the team and between the team and the multiple units it engages with. This role requires a visionary and strategic-minded leader who can leverage the power of storytelling and digital platforms to amplify the Foundation’s messaging and impact and reach new audiences.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership
- Develop and Implement Communications Strategy: Craft and execute a comprehensive and forward-thinking communications strategy that aligns with the organization’s mission, vision, and values, informed by broad internal and external consultations. Closely collaborate with country offices, program teams, and external partners to ensure alignment between communications efforts and organizational objectives.
- Support the Communications Practices of Country Offices and Program Teams: Advise country offices and program teams in developing and executing communications strategies, including those associated with specific projects that have dedicated communications plans and obligations.
- Enhance Visibility: Create and facilitate opportunities to raise the visibility of individuals in leadership roles at the country, program, and executive level through media interviews, public speaking engagements, and op-eds, blog posts, and other thought leadership contributions.
- Innovate and Revitalize: Lead the development and implementation of innovative communications initiatives to reinvigorate the organization’s public profile and messaging.
2. Organizational Communications
- Content Creation: Oversee the design, crafting, and production of compelling communications materials to effectively convey the organization’s messages across multiple media platforms.
- Social Media Management: Oversee the organization’s social media presence and strategy, tapping platforms with greatest outreach and readership, and ensuring alignment with organizational messaging.
- Engagement Tracking: Develop and monitor engagement metrics across multiple platforms, leveraging data to make informed decisions, refine strategies, and optimize communication.
- Internal Communications Oversight: Ensure the coherence and transparency of messaging across all organizational levels by managing internal communications channels.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to enhance collaboration and mutual understanding.
- Campaign Communications: Collaborate with other executives in crafting compelling and persuasive fundraising campaign communications (including donor appeals, emails, and social media content) to drive donor engagement, cultivate relationships, and meet fundraising goals within established timelines.
- Thought Leadership: Collaborate with country offices and program teams in ensuring consistent adherence to high standards in publications.
3. Brand Management
- Brand Development: Drive the development and evolution of the organization’s institutional brand, ensuring a strong and positive identity that aligns with our mission.
- Crisis Communications: Develop and implement effective crisis communications plans to protect and enhance the organization’s reputation in the face of sensitivities or challenges encountered.
4. Digital and Media Presence
- Digital Strategy: Spearhead digital communications strategies, leveraging online platforms, social media, and multimedia content to expand organizational reach and engagement.
- Media Relations: Manage media relationships and cultivate partnerships to enhance the organization’s visibility in traditional and digital media.
5. Team Leadership and Development
- Build and Lead a High-Performing Team: Lead and mentor a team of communications professionals and consultants, fostering a collegial and innovative work environment and productive collaboration within the team and with other units.
- Capacity Building: Facilitate professional development training opportunities and support to staff across the organization to enhance communications skills and ensure a unified approach, including communications specialists attached to country offices and specific projects.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 12 years of experience in communications roles, preferably in international NGOs or similar settings. Experience serving in a leadership-level role is preferred.
- Advanced degree in communications, media, or other relevant field.
- Exceptional leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate trends and adapt strategies in response.
Willingness to travel internationally, as required.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted by visiting our website. To be considered, please upload your cover letter and resume/CV in one document. You can also upload both in separate documents but please note to do so, you will have to sign out of the system and go back into your record for additional documents.
The Asia Foundation offers excellent salaries commensurate with experience. We are an equal-opportunity employer. Women and people of color are encouraged to apply.
Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.
No relocation assistance will be provided for this position.
No phone calls, please.
Salary Range $160k to $220k
