Director, Internal + Field Communications

Are you an energetic, experienced, mission-driven communicator who specializes in driving information flow and building community and camaraderie within organizations? Are you interested in organizational behavior, do you keep up with evolving forms of communications technology, and do you love to work with dynamic leaders to deliver messages to the teams who advance the mission on the ground? Do you thrive in a collaborative, decentralized environment where you can lead colleagues and work with peers from diverse cultures around the world to deliver key organizational news and help build community? And do you have a keen understanding of the power of words and sensitivity for optics, in developing important messages for employees and considering how they will be received? Then please consider joining the global team of Conservation International, a top-rated international development and environment organization founded in 1987 and dedicated to supporting human well being by ensuring the continued gifts and services that nature provides us. We are currently seeking a proven, experienced, and specialized communications and organizational management leader who will serve as CI's new, global Director of Internal + Field Communications.

Based at Conservation International's headquarters office in Arlington, Virginia, the position works closely with CI's top executives, senior leadership, and colleagues around the world to create and evolve internal communications plans and vehicles that improve information flow, build community and foster understanding and application of our mission, strategy, accomplishments and brand positioning throughout the organization. A position with global reach and Executive access, the Director will work to increase exchange of information and alignment of planning and outreach efforts with our communicators and staff in overseas offices, and play a key role in communicating organizational changes, new initiatives and crisis situations affecting our staff.

1) Direct & enable flow of all-staff communications -- Create internal communications plans and vehicles that improve information flow, build community and foster understanding and application of our mission, strategy and brand positioning throughout the organization. Ensure effective internal communications at three primary and consistent levels:

• Leadership to staff communications: Lead planning and content development for leadership communications and vehicles. Lead efforts as needed to address organizational changes or crisis situations, including developing plans and content to ensure staff have timely and appropriate access to information. Work closely with Chief Operating Officer and other members of senior leadership and their support staff to develop and execute messages for staff, with writing and/or editing support.
• Staff to staff / division to division: Oversee staff work on regular all-staff internal communications channels, including CI's intranet and internal news site, bi-weekly video communication loops for Arlington office, monthly staff video interview series, and weekly staff presentation forum. Promote and encourage participation in these channels by all CI divisions. Leverage existing field communications vehicles (eg. regional newsletters) for all-staff awareness and learning. Conceptualize, develop and launch internal communications campaigns to elicit staff participation and response
• Staff to leadership: Facilitate and create opportunities to enable staff to communicate with leadership and increase direct access. Manage monthly COO-led Coffee Hour with Arlington staff. Participate in current staff feedback task force and ensure follow-up on relevant internal communications activities prompted by recent all-staff survey, in partnership with leaders from Human Resources and the task force.

2) Convening a Global Network of Communicators-- Facilitate an increased, consistent exchange of information and alignment of efforts with our field communicators and field program staff, to optimize planning and outreach.

3) Producing/co-hosting special events for Staff -- Steer development of potential communications symposium or special events like a "communications week" once per year to strengthen information exchange and team building;

4) Capacity Building & Knowledge Sharing -- Create and leverage opportunities for Arlington-based staff to meet with and learn from field staff via remote meetings, google hangouts, or in-person presentations; Plan and execute dissemination of newly finalized guidance on branding and other communications topics.

5) Fostering Collaboration -- Co-lead CI's new Collaboration Task Force (with IT) to ensure that CI's internal communications systems—and the technology that drives them—are meeting the needs of our diverse global staff and providing appropriate avenues for cross-divisional and cross-country collaboration.

6) Measuring/Analyzing Impact -- Routinely measure, monitor and report on impact of internal communications vehicles or campaigns to evaluate effectiveness and continuously adapt, innovate and improve.

7) Team Management -- Direct the assignments and outputs team of two staff (currently Managers), providing strategic guidance, performance reviews, approvals on work products to ensure quality and accuracy, and opportunities for growth and professional development. Products include videos, internal news content, and more.

Required (critical to successful job performance. Applicants not meeting required skills may not be hired)

The position requires a highly experienced communicator who is able to:

• think strategically across communication platforms (print, Web, video, etc.)
• • think strategically across communication platforms (print, Web, video, social media, etc.)

• think creatively to develop, nurture and launch internal communications campaigns or content strategies that elicit staff involvement and use

• write and edit print and electronic communications

• persuade and influence others

• guide development and dissemination of staff communications policies and best practices

• mobilize resources to meet tight deadlines

• maintain confidentiality

• focus on detail while simultaneously thinking "big picture"

• effectively manage staff

Requires a minimum of a B.A. in English, Communications or a related field and 7-10 years of communications experience.

Working Conditions:

The position is based in the Arlington, Virginia, office. Because of the highly collaborative nature of the role, the position requires the majority of the workweek to be spent in the office. Some travel may be required.