Children International
Senior Manager, External Communications
Children International, Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 64101
Reports to: VP of Global Philanthropy and Marketing
About Children International
Children International is a nonprofit humanitarian organization working to eradicate poverty around the world. At CI, we believe that ending poverty starts with children. Without help, children in poverty become adults in poverty. Our vision is to bring people together to put an end to that through programs focused on health, education, empowerment through life skills and, ultimately, employment. Ours is a unique, long-term, customized approach that allows us to stay with our children for the first two decades of their lives. We’re in it for the long haul because we know that the 220,000 children we support in 10 countries around the world deserve a fighting chance.Children International’s work is made possible by generous and caring sponsors, donors, corporations, more than 4,000 dedicated volunteers and approximately 1,200 employees. To ensure our programs give children the best possible chance of breaking the poverty cycle, we are elevating our practices for growing our people talent worldwide. That’s where you come in.POSITION SUMMARY
As the Senior Manager of External Communications, you will be responsible for the development of Children International’s (CI) external communication strategy which contributes to CI’s strategic vision to create a diverse, strong, and growing resourcing engine to fuel significant programming and impact. Working closely with the VP, Global Philanthropy and Marketing, your role will help design and generate an External Communications muscle for CI, directly managing communications activities that promote, enhance, and protect the organization's brand reputation. Your goal is to advance Children International’s position with relevant audiences, as well as to drive broader awareness, credibility, and support for the organization. You would be responsible for CI's diverse and integrated external communications products and services.RESPONSIBILITIES
Communications Strategy
Collaborate with the Resourcing Leadership team to develop communications strategies that will broaden programmatic reach and deepen impact; increase the visibility of CI programs across key stakeholder audiences.Create public relations approach that will allow CI’s leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers.Identify significant media and public policy issues that can be leveraged to support Children International’s work and create and implement plans to communicate CI’s response – through strategy, thought leadership, program expertise and case studies.Work with the Global Director of Strategic Partnerships on developing CI’s thought leadership and narratives aligned with brand positioning and trending news topics/issues.Coordinate the integration of all communication/messaging strategies across channels to ensure alignment.Communications Operations and Public Relations
Serve as the lead point person on media interactions and brand ambassadors that help promote and/or impact the organization. Oversee organizational response to inquiries about Children International.Actively engage, cultivate, and manage press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding CIs programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects.Work with Global Director, Strategic Partnerships to coach and support CEO and Executive team, as well as leaders throughout the organization, on public speaking opportunities and throughout leadership platforms. Support through talking point development, media training and coaching, and preparing/editing of materials for posting/publication.Lead Crisis Management Communications that are aligned with the Executive Committee and key stakeholders.Stay up to date on general INGO reputational communications, with an eye to understanding any risk to CI. Integrate industry best practices in terminology into CI’s communications and messaging strategy.Oversee development and/or review of organizational communications including the annual report, program data reports and programmatic collateral materials.Generate and amplify news releases and key messaging strategy through organizational content (blogs, articles, digital channels, etc.).Work with Care Team and social media team on monitoring channel engagement, tone, and responses. Help develop FAQs for projects and initiatives for consistence messaging from staff.Integrate external plan with internal communications team to elevate all organizational messaging.BRAND AND VOICE
Work with VP and Resourcing Leadership team to develop a distinctive brand voice and core messaging strategy that guides all CI communications. Lead the interpretation of CI's change model into external facing communicationsWork with Design Manager to develop and oversee overall brand implementation and style guides; ensure that relevant information for targeted segments is easily accessible through efficient site navigation and functionality. Coach and train colleagues on brand implementation and guidelines.Serve as a point person for industry comparisons and validation ratings: BBB, Candid, Charity Navigator, Great Non-Profits, etc. ensuring resources and information needed for inputs is clear and accessible. Develop a proactive strategy for CI comparisons, working with Finance on data elements and creating bold content to amplify CI’s mission and impact on change.PSA AND AWARENESS
Collaborate with Resourcing Leadership team to determine Public Service Announcement (PSA) strategy and campaign themes.Implement and monitor yearly strategy with awareness and media targets. Serve as point with external partners.Develop a strategy to monitor awareness and results with key segments (current supporters, potential new supporters, INGO community).Work with Agencies on best practices and key messaging for in-country external communications.QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field is required, an advanced degree is preferred.Minimum 5 years’ experience in a management role either in-house or with an agency.A minimum of five years’ experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print publications and directories.Fluency in key international development concepts/programming, such as: child safeguarding, health equity, education, and workforce development. Knowledgeable on UN’s Strategic Development Goals (SDGs).Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements.Demonstrated experience in managing a comprehensive strategic communication, media relations, and branding/content program to advance an organization's mission and goals.Strictly observe confidentiality and strong ethics with respect to all beneficiary information/financial and other organizational data.Comply with and ensure adherence to the agency’s policies, safety and security protocols and child safeguarding norms and guidelines by self as well all stakeholders both internal and external.Promote diversity and inclusion, value other cultures, and demonstrate respect while relating with all organizational constituents irrespective of their race, color, faiths, gender, sexual orientation, age, caste, disabilities, experiences, beliefs and ethnicity.Creative and thoughtful on how new media technologies can be utilized.Self-reliant, good problem solver, results oriented.Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive.Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management and staff.Passion for Children International’s mission.
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About Children International
Children International is a nonprofit humanitarian organization working to eradicate poverty around the world. At CI, we believe that ending poverty starts with children. Without help, children in poverty become adults in poverty. Our vision is to bring people together to put an end to that through programs focused on health, education, empowerment through life skills and, ultimately, employment. Ours is a unique, long-term, customized approach that allows us to stay with our children for the first two decades of their lives. We’re in it for the long haul because we know that the 220,000 children we support in 10 countries around the world deserve a fighting chance.Children International’s work is made possible by generous and caring sponsors, donors, corporations, more than 4,000 dedicated volunteers and approximately 1,200 employees. To ensure our programs give children the best possible chance of breaking the poverty cycle, we are elevating our practices for growing our people talent worldwide. That’s where you come in.POSITION SUMMARY
As the Senior Manager of External Communications, you will be responsible for the development of Children International’s (CI) external communication strategy which contributes to CI’s strategic vision to create a diverse, strong, and growing resourcing engine to fuel significant programming and impact. Working closely with the VP, Global Philanthropy and Marketing, your role will help design and generate an External Communications muscle for CI, directly managing communications activities that promote, enhance, and protect the organization's brand reputation. Your goal is to advance Children International’s position with relevant audiences, as well as to drive broader awareness, credibility, and support for the organization. You would be responsible for CI's diverse and integrated external communications products and services.RESPONSIBILITIES
Communications Strategy
Collaborate with the Resourcing Leadership team to develop communications strategies that will broaden programmatic reach and deepen impact; increase the visibility of CI programs across key stakeholder audiences.Create public relations approach that will allow CI’s leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers.Identify significant media and public policy issues that can be leveraged to support Children International’s work and create and implement plans to communicate CI’s response – through strategy, thought leadership, program expertise and case studies.Work with the Global Director of Strategic Partnerships on developing CI’s thought leadership and narratives aligned with brand positioning and trending news topics/issues.Coordinate the integration of all communication/messaging strategies across channels to ensure alignment.Communications Operations and Public Relations
Serve as the lead point person on media interactions and brand ambassadors that help promote and/or impact the organization. Oversee organizational response to inquiries about Children International.Actively engage, cultivate, and manage press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding CIs programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects.Work with Global Director, Strategic Partnerships to coach and support CEO and Executive team, as well as leaders throughout the organization, on public speaking opportunities and throughout leadership platforms. Support through talking point development, media training and coaching, and preparing/editing of materials for posting/publication.Lead Crisis Management Communications that are aligned with the Executive Committee and key stakeholders.Stay up to date on general INGO reputational communications, with an eye to understanding any risk to CI. Integrate industry best practices in terminology into CI’s communications and messaging strategy.Oversee development and/or review of organizational communications including the annual report, program data reports and programmatic collateral materials.Generate and amplify news releases and key messaging strategy through organizational content (blogs, articles, digital channels, etc.).Work with Care Team and social media team on monitoring channel engagement, tone, and responses. Help develop FAQs for projects and initiatives for consistence messaging from staff.Integrate external plan with internal communications team to elevate all organizational messaging.BRAND AND VOICE
Work with VP and Resourcing Leadership team to develop a distinctive brand voice and core messaging strategy that guides all CI communications. Lead the interpretation of CI's change model into external facing communicationsWork with Design Manager to develop and oversee overall brand implementation and style guides; ensure that relevant information for targeted segments is easily accessible through efficient site navigation and functionality. Coach and train colleagues on brand implementation and guidelines.Serve as a point person for industry comparisons and validation ratings: BBB, Candid, Charity Navigator, Great Non-Profits, etc. ensuring resources and information needed for inputs is clear and accessible. Develop a proactive strategy for CI comparisons, working with Finance on data elements and creating bold content to amplify CI’s mission and impact on change.PSA AND AWARENESS
Collaborate with Resourcing Leadership team to determine Public Service Announcement (PSA) strategy and campaign themes.Implement and monitor yearly strategy with awareness and media targets. Serve as point with external partners.Develop a strategy to monitor awareness and results with key segments (current supporters, potential new supporters, INGO community).Work with Agencies on best practices and key messaging for in-country external communications.QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field is required, an advanced degree is preferred.Minimum 5 years’ experience in a management role either in-house or with an agency.A minimum of five years’ experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print publications and directories.Fluency in key international development concepts/programming, such as: child safeguarding, health equity, education, and workforce development. Knowledgeable on UN’s Strategic Development Goals (SDGs).Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements.Demonstrated experience in managing a comprehensive strategic communication, media relations, and branding/content program to advance an organization's mission and goals.Strictly observe confidentiality and strong ethics with respect to all beneficiary information/financial and other organizational data.Comply with and ensure adherence to the agency’s policies, safety and security protocols and child safeguarding norms and guidelines by self as well all stakeholders both internal and external.Promote diversity and inclusion, value other cultures, and demonstrate respect while relating with all organizational constituents irrespective of their race, color, faiths, gender, sexual orientation, age, caste, disabilities, experiences, beliefs and ethnicity.Creative and thoughtful on how new media technologies can be utilized.Self-reliant, good problem solver, results oriented.Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive.Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management and staff.Passion for Children International’s mission.
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