Global Communications Director

Project Background

The seven year (2019-2026) Feed the Future Policy LINK project strengthens the capacity of local actors and institutions to lead and manage the agricultural transformation process and contribute effectively and collectively to improved, broad-based food security policy outcomes.

Specifically, the program aims to strengthen food security policy systems by investing in and reinforcing productive human and social capital and developing strategic partnerships that help bring these innovations and capacity investments to scale to achieve a critical mass of local actors with the ability and opportunity to effect positive policy change through collective action.

Policy LINK is a global program that plays an integral role in transforming agricultural policy systems worldwide and improving food security outcomes in line with the U.S. Global Food Security Strategy and advancing countries on their journeys to self-reliance. Rather than developing policies or directing policy-making processes outright, LINK strengthens the capacity of local actors and institutions to lead agricultural transformation processes in their respective countries and regions. It builds on USAID’s and DAI’s almost nine years of experience on the Africa Leadership Training and Capacity Building Program (Africa Lead) and Building Capacity for African Agricultural Transformation (Africa Lead II).

Position Objectives

As a project in its fifth year, Policy LINK’s communication needs are evolving and require a modern, responsive, and efficient communication function. This position will therefore develop and lead the global communications function on Policy LINK by: 1) leading the development, implementation, and review of Policy LINK’s global communications strategy to meet client expectations; 2) providing ongoing thought leadership and proactive engagement to develop and execute communications efforts to strengthen LINK’s overall goals and objectives, and 3) overseeing a pipeline of high-quality communication deliverables and products targeting diverse audiences that are compliant with USAID and DAI policies and procedures. The holder of this position will be expected to proactively manage and respond to USAID needs as they relate to communications.

The Global Communications Director will be part of the LINK senior management team and will advise the Chief of Party (COP), the Deputy Chief of Party, Programs (DCOP), and other senior leaders on all significant communications issues, ensuring that major project decisions, strategies, and activities are implemented with a strategic eye on communication.

The Global Communications Director will continually reinforce Policy LINK’s agreed-upon core purpose and principles and ensure all decision-making is rooted in the purpose and principles. S/he will contribute to a learning environment in which personal and team growth is supported, with a shared understanding that the “team” always comes before the “individual.”

The specific responsibilities of the Global Communications Director will include:

• Strategy – The Global Communications Director will oversee the development of a strategy that guides communication and knowledge management within the project, identifying key messaging, audiences, channels and strategic opportunities for advancing awareness, ownership, and scaling of key project outputs.
• Implementation – The Director will manage implementation of global communication activities, consistent with strategy and in close collaboration with project Buy-In staff, global managers, and other staff on a continuous basis.
• Thought Leadership - bringing innovative thinking in communications to enhance design and implementation of LINK’s USAID/W funded technical programs, with a particular focus on the CAADP Program. To this end, the Director will be expected to advance the latest thinking, products, or ideas for communicating complex issues for LINK global purposes (i.e. targeting the USAID/W audience), but also leading efforts to train, equip and infuse this innovative thinking among the Communications Leads on the buy-in teams. A deep and practical knowledge of the ways in which communications can drive strategy and delivery will be essential. The Director will, as much as practically possible, contribute to activity design to help integrate communication as early as possible in activity life cycles.
• Learning - Proactively support and enhance dissemination and engagement of key audiences in LINK’s learning and programmatic evidence. This may include:
• Creating and implementing an external events strategy; identifying key learning events and other opportunities to share Policy LINK knowledge and evidence;
• Developing communications channels and products that communicate Policy LINK lessons learned and good practices to a diverse array of audiences;
• Supporting USAID with planning and executing communication strategies and activities, including effective communication events, high-quality materials, social media content, and content for Agency outreach campaigns by translating materials into visually rich and interactive formats.
• Knowledge Management – Design and lead the strategy to capture, share, and utilize project insights and best practices based on existing learning function / plans for evidence generation. The Communications Director will be responsible for proposing tools and platforms for knowledge sharing among project teams, stakeholders, and beneficiaries, leveraging existing platforms and / or proposing new ones.
• Compliance and Quality control – the Director will, ultimately, be responsible to ensure that Policy LINK communications products meet all award requirements and consistent standards of excellence, including USAID Branding and Marking guidelines, coherent content, professional design, and grammatical and stylistic correctness.
• In this role the Director may be involved in providing templates, actionable guidelines, tools, training, feedback and other resources as necessary to improve quality outputs;
• To ensure a high standard of quality, oversee final review of all program deliverables and externally facing communications products.
• Ensure reports and deliverables are uploaded to DEC per award requirements.
• Client Management - Lead or oversee USAID/Washington facing communications initiatives which include communications relating to Policy LINK’s CAADP program, Communities of Practice, and the timely production of corporate products such as annual reports, project briefs amongst others.
• Strategic Advisory - Serve as a strategic advisor to the COP and the senior leadership team on internal and external communications and engagement matters.
• Other Duties – Other duties or on-demand tasks as may be required in the course of evolving project implementation.
  
  
  

Reporting and Supervision

The Global Communications Director will report to the Policy LINK Deputy Chief of Party, Programs. The Global Communications Director will supervise the global communications team including STTA and consultants, ensuring that the entire communications function is functioning as a team and contributing to overall strategy.

Performance Criteria

Policy LINK is a performance-based project, highly dependent on individual and team core competencies. Each staff member will participate in an annual evaluation process and receive feedback.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or a related field; master’s degree preferred;
• At least 12 years of experience in strategic communications, outreach, and engagement with USAID and high-visibility campaigns and issues;
• Strong relationship management skills with demonstrated experience managing high profile stakeholders;
• An understanding of USAID and USG priorities, with experience framing messaging appropriately and the ability to navigate complex or politically sensitive organizations;
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, experience with data visualization and digital storytelling;
• Basic graphic design skills;
• Experience with copy editing and product quality control;
• Experience managing creative contractors and consultants, such as graphic designers, video producers, and web developers;
• Ability to work in a fast-moving, fluid team setting with multiple stakeholders;
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Authorized to work in the United States - Applicants must specify their preferred work country in their application.
• Based in one of the following U.S. locations where DAI is registered: District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
  
  
  

Compensation & Benefits

For employees working in the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $140,000 - $170,000 . Salary for part-time employees will be prorated based on actual hours worked. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Eligible U.S.-based employees will be able to enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus a 401(k) retirement plan with a company match. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation and holidays), sick leave, and parental leave, as well as short—andlong-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to preventing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, as well as other ethical breaches. Therefore, all our positions are subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.