Director of Communications, U.S. Policy and Partners (Remote)

Title: Director of Communications, U.S. Policy and Partners 

Department: Communications

Reporting to: Head of Communications

Compensation: $145K - 165K USD Annually

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Remote - USA

Who We Are:

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.  

About The Opportunity: 

The Director of Communications, Policy and Partners will have primary responsibility for external communications in support of the goals of the USP&P and MAF teams’ activities in the United States, ensuring they advance and align with WES’ strategic plan and priorities. You will provide bespoke, targeted thought partnership and strategic, creative counsel to the leadership teams of USP&P and MAF, understanding their priorities, organizational context and external landscape in order to develop effective and engaging strategies and communications plans, to advance WES’ influence and ability to deliver on our mission. You will build and socialize compelling narratives and play a critical role in strengthening and protecting the WES brand. You will work in close partnership with Director for Communications in Canada to ensure complementarities across communications planning. All references below to the Fund are specific to work in the United States.

What You'll Do:

• Act as a thought partner to USP&P and MAF Leadership Teams on influence thinking and WES positioning across the United States, providing strategic counsel, guidance, and advice on leveraging communications strategies to realize organizational objectives.
• Responsible, in partnership with the senior leadership team, for developing, implementing, and adapting clear and compelling communications strategies in support of influence and public affairs goals for USP&P and MAF.
• Develop and drive the influence strategy, including designing and implementing campaigns to advance the influence goals for the USP&P and MAF teams.
• Lead the framing and development of key messaging and narratives that engage external partners and communities with the work of the USP&P and MAF teams and their priorities and objectives.
• Leads work to shift national narratives around immigration and the contribution of immigrants to economic prosperity.
• Leads conference strategy for the USP&P and MAF teams, ensuring WES presence at external convenings is deliberate, aligning with the strategy, and that messaging is on point
• In partnership with the USP&P and MAF teams, oversee creation of policy briefs, briefing materials for external meetings, talking points, events, partner engagements, and other collateral or deliverables.
• Works with the leadership team to support managing the US Government Relations firm, ensuring high-quality services and outputs and complementarities with what’s produced in-house.
• Align with the specialist teams within the communications department to ensure timely and effective delivery of content, campaigns, events, insights, and analytics in support of strategic plans and priorities.
• Track and report on success against metrics to support impact evaluation and continuous improvement of communications strategies and programs.
• Lead and guide the team, building understanding of the context for USP&P and MAF and the external landscape, as well as nurturing and developing talent across the Communications function.
• Collaborate across the Communications Leadership team to manage media relations within the US, building relationships in support of the organization’s external influence goals and strengthening the profile and positioning of WES.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders, including regional partners, community leaders, customers, and influencers, keeping them informed on activities, programs, and initiatives.
• In partnership with the Head of Communications and the Executive team, develop and execute crisis communications plans to address potential negative publicity or incidents.

Your Experience:

The ideal candidate will have:

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• 5+ years of experience in senior communications roles, with experience working in an US organization focused on social impact or change or is community based.
• Proven ability as a trusted advisor to business leaders and other influencers at all organizational levels, based on subject matter expertise and collaborative leadership style.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategy in a global organization.
• Experience of managing external vendors and agencies.
• Has a proven track record and deep experience of broad thinking and using innovative approaches to achieve influence goals.
• Understands and has strong experience of implementing strategies, processes and frameworks that leverage the connective and influential power of communications across organizations, systems and networks.
• Experience managing a team of communications professionals.
• Deep interest in WES’ work and understanding of the external landscape.

Skills

• Superlative writing and listening skills with the ability to tailor written and verbal communications to wide range of audiences.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with proven knowledge of managing and delivering influence strategies in organizations operating across community organizations, governmental or higher education institutions.
• Has the ability to effectively and appropriately challenge to drive the most effective outcomes.
• Has the ability to be flexible and adaptable, seeking alternative solutions and pathways, understanding when to push and when to give in the best interests of the organization.
• Strong leadership, team and relationship building, influencing, and collaboration skills.
• Proven ability to communicate and synthesize complex issues in a concise, clear, and convincing fashion.
• Ability to work both strategically and hands-on to deliver results.
• Strategic and forward-thinking with strong business acumen and the ability to identify and proactively address enablers and derailers of major change and transformation initiatives.
• Proven ability to communicate and synthesize complex issues in a concise, clear, and convincing fashion.

Desired

• Prior government relations or agency experience.
• MA or higher degree in a social science or subject that is related to WES’ work, or relevant work experience.

What We Offer:

Joining our team at WES means embarking on a purpose-driven career with a global impact, where you contribute daily to making a tangible difference in the lives of people worldwide. You'll thrive in an employee-centric environment, with access to learning opportunities, pathways for personal and professional development, and recognition of your achievements. Our inclusive, mission-driven culture values employees and focuses on investing in our people through our culture, people framework, and programming while offering the flexibility of remote work options.

• Work-Life Harmony: We believe that success is all about maintaining balance. Enjoy the freedom of remote work and flexible scheduling, paired with generous time-off policies designed to assist you in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between your personal and professional commitments. Our comprehensive wellness programs and work environment are focused on fostering your well-being.
• Rewards and Recognition: Your dedication and achievements are the cornerstone of our success. We recognize the importance of valuing your hard work which is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and tangible rewards to celebrate your contributions.
• Professional Growth and Development: We are committed to nurturing growth within our team, recognizing that growth is essential to providing opportunities for career advancement and ongoing professional development. To prioritize your learning and success, we invest in comprehensive training programs and offer tuition reimbursement opportunities. We promote a culture of continuous learning that empowers you to thrive and evolve in your career.
• Innovation and Impact: Engage in work that directly transforms lives and empowers individuals and communities by expanding access to global educational and professional pathways. Join us in fostering a culture that values innovation, embraces new approaches, and leverages transformation to implement and drive impactful change.
• Community and Connection: Our team is made up of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds who have varying perspectives and ideas. Our diverse workforce reflects the global community we serve, and we take pride in it. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Experience the power of connection by participating in a range of activities, including employee-led resource groups, town halls, collaborative team events, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that promote equity, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a strong sense of belonging within our organization.

Our Values: 

• • Opportunity - We open doors so people can build better futures.
  • Inclusion - We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
  • Equity - We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
  • Enterprising - We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.
  • Expertise - We challenge ourselves to be the best at what we do.

Inclusive Recruitment Process:

We welcome all applicants, irrespective of their experience perfectly fitting the job description, as we value diverse and innovative viewpoints. At our organization, individuals who thrive in a culture of continuous learning and inclusive teamwork excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

Our Commitment:

At World Education Services, we're committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

If you encounter challenges accessing or using our career site due to a disability, you may request reasonable accommodation by contacting us via email at hiring@wes.org. Our Talent Acquisition team is dedicated to supporting qualified candidates by providing solutions that can meet their needs. 

Please be advised that this email address is intended to receive and respond to inquiries concerning the accessibility of the online application system, and requests for assistance and accommodation during any part of the recruitment process. Résumés or applications sent to this email address will not be reviewed.

For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.