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ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND
For 25 years, the National Council for Research
on Women has helped shape the future for women and girls. The Council is a
network of 109 member research and policy centers and more than 2,000 top-level
researchers. We provide the information and research needed to foster more
equitable futures for women and girls. While women have made progress on many
fronts, much remains to be done. Our network’s evidence-based research provides
hard data to inform new policy and legislation that can make long-lasting
differences in women’s and girls lives. We put women’s needs, perspectives, and
solutions on the radar screen and make them part of the public debate.
We believe that women and girls should have full
and equal participation in society. We are not there yet. Without women’s full
participation, children, families, and communities suffer, and half the world’s
talents are squandered. We know that behind every great force for change is the
information and research that drives it forward. When we understand an unmet
need or an injustice, we can address it and resolve it. Women and societies
need accurate data and analysis in order to chart their futures.
The key to the Council’s past and future success
is highly-focused, accessible, timely research. Through Research-Action groups
organized around urgent issue areas, rapid-response communications campaigns,
and a website that features the research, expertise, and information produced by
our network, the Council delivers the facts, promotes informed activism, and
ensures positive change.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
This is a new full-time position that reports
directly to the President of the Council and is part of the Council’s senior
management team. The Communications Director will be responsible for
conceiving, developing and implementing a communications vision and plan for the
organization. The successful candidate for the position will be expected to
increase awareness of the Council, solidify its role as a leader in women’s
research, and contribute to reframing debate through a gender lens.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Continue to build the Council’s role as a
thought leader in the field of women’s research.
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Participate in strategic planning sessions
for the Council, offering effective multi-media, high-impact strategies that
contribute to the achievement of overall organizational goals;
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Develop and implement an integrated national
communications strategy and plan for the organization that encompasses media
strategies, targeted outreach to key audiences, strategic partnerships,
online web activities, and marketing/branding; ensure that all materials
produced reflect Council’s values, commitment to quality, and standards;
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Work in collaboration with Council Member
centers, Corporate Circle members, college and university President Circle
members and other Council audiences to guide the implementation of the
Council’s collaborative initiatives such as the publication and
dissemination of Taxes Are a Woman’s Issue: Reframing the Debate;
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Act as a senior counselor to the President,
offering advice and direction for internal and external methods of
increasing the Council’s impact on the media, policymakers, and leaders in
the corporate sector.
Define the Council for external audiences (via
the web, written materials, and speeches).
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Strengthen the organization’s visibility and strategic outreach efforts to
its key audiences, including corporations, donors, congress, Council
members, the media. policy makers, nonprofit organizations, and the general
public;
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Lead and supervise all aspects of a communications and marketing effort,
including branding and messaging, publications, public relations, web site
development, marketing, and support for fundraising;
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Pitch and place feature stories on Council and Council members’ initiatives;
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Write speeches, op-eds, talking points,
press statements and press releases;
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Manage new website launch and ongoing
maintenance;
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Oversee production of publications and
develop marketing strategies for distribution to key audiences.
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Proactively identify communications
opportunities for the organization, including speaking engagements and
conference appearances.
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Oversee and assure successful completion of
all communications and promotion work, including the supervision of
consultants and vendors supporting the annual work plan.
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Support organizational efforts to develop
key partnerships with corporations, other nonprofits, and other potential
parties.
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Represent the Council outside the
organization and within the women’s research community.
Contribute to Council’s mission of reframing the
debate through a gender lens.
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Proactively and effectively integrate communications strategies into the
organization’s program and development efforts.
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Develop communications advocacy strategies on specific issue areas relevant
to the Council and its members, including economic security and justice,
human security, racial and gender diversity in leadership, and corporate
women’s issues.
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As part of the senior management team, help
develop innovative and creative ways to expand society’s view of women and
girls’ leadership.
IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND
QUALIFICATIONS
The
Communications Director should have 5 to 7 years experience and be an
entrepreneurial and strategic thinker, combining a proven track record in a
variety of communications methods with the skills necessary to work effectively
in an organization working to meet an enormous growth opportunity.
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Proven track record in creating and implementing effective communications
strategies;
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Successful conception and implementation of communications plans that
encompass policy advocacy and a respect for research;
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Proven track record in media pitching and placement;
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Excellent writing skills;
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Articulate, diplomatic, and able to work constructively and deftly under
pressure and deadlines;
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Experience in women’s and/or social justice issues related to the Council’s
mission and that demonstrate a commitment to social change;
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Successful experience in providing strategic guidance to senior management
on communications challenges and opportunities;
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Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities;
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Collaborative and energetic work style, superior people skills, and ability
to motivate and delegate.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
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Sound judgment, excellent interpersonal and communications skills, a strong
work ethic, attention to detail, and the ability to think strategically;
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A
strong commitment to the Council’s values, mission, goals, and program; an
appreciation of the value of research, and particularly feminist research,
to influence public agendas and policy;
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Intelligence and inspiration to anticipate, conceive, express and create
opportunities;
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Independence and self-confidence to act decisively and, at the same time, an
ability to receive and integrate others’ ideas and suggestions;
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Flexibility and ability to work collaboratively and productively in a
dynamic, change-driven office environment;
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Comfort with managing multiple tasks simultaneously and hands-on work;
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Equal parts humor, compassion, and sensibility necessary to address the
practicalities and desires of an entrepreneurial non-profit.
To apply,
please send a letter of inquiry, resume, short writing sample, and names and
contact information of three references to jobs@ncrw.org. Please write
“Communications Director” in the subject line.
The National Council for Research on Women is
committed to women's full and equal participation in a just and inclusive
world. The Council works to advance women's leadership across professional
sectors and encourage the development of young women leaders, both in the US and
globally. The Council reaches out assertively to diverse constituencies to
promote human rights and international cooperation and understanding among women
across differences of generation, race, ethnicity, nation, sexual orientation
and perspective. The Council embraces the principle of women's rights as human
rights and works with diverse organizations to project that understanding on the
national and global landscape. The Council works affirmatively to maintain a
diverse staff and Board.
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