Director of Communications

New Lines Institute Director of Communications
Location Washington DC, USA
Application deadline 30 August 2024
Contract type Permanent
Hours Full-time
Salary $110,000-$130,000
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About New Lines Institute

The New Lines Institute exists to provoke principled and transformative leadership based on peace and security, global communities, character, stewardship, and development. We do that by shaping U.S. foreign policy based on a deep understanding of regional geopolitics and the value systems of those regions. This role is based in Washington, D.C.

 

About the role

We are recruiting a Communications Director, a new role integral to our success. You will manage our strategic approach to communications; oversee a team to deliver across events, public affairs, and digital; and perhaps most importantly centralize and bring consistency to a communications function that has in the past been dispersed around the organization.

 

Key roles and responsibilities

  • Developing and implementing the overall communications strategy for the Institute;
  • Elevating the New Lines brand and positioning the organization as an institute of substance, including managing our flagship event (launching 2025);
  • Overseeing all communications channels owned by the Institute, including our website, social media, and podcasts.
  • Ensuring that the Institute’s communications are effective, enabling colleagues to align with clarity on New Lines’ strategic priorities and how to realize them;
  • Recruiting and managing a high-quality communications team capable of delivering the organization’s goals, and advising and mentoring those in other teams as required;
  • Positioning the communications team internally as key delivery partners for the organization;
  • Supporting the delivery of an ambitious external outreach program that enhances the reputation of the Institute;
  • Providing support with marketing Institute’s analytical products;
  • Contributing to the evolving framework to monitor and measure the impact and effectiveness of all the institute’s communications activity and implementing a culture of continuous improvement;
  • Establishing and maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders, including the Institute’s partners, fellows and journalists, and;
  • Managing the institute’s communications budget and liaising effectively with the Chief Financial Officer.

 

Experience and skills

  • 7+ years of experience in a similar role, managing a communications team as a pivotal individual within the organization;
  • Some of your career in a communications or public relations firm is of added benefit;
  • A clear understanding of the environment in which the New Lines Institute operates and the challenges and opportunities for foreign policy think tanks in today’s policy landscape;
  • Experience in monitoring and evaluating communications activities to determine effectiveness and apply lessons learned to achieve continuous improvement;
  • Strong writing skills, honed for a variety of audiences, including media;
  • Experience managing a range of digital platforms, and how to get the most out of them, and;
  • The charisma and gravitas needed to act as an effective function head for the organization.