Deputy Communication Director, Partnership for Healthy Cities

Vital Strategies is a global public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury, and death. We currently work in more than 80 countries, supporting data-driven decision-making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include noncommunicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, food policy, environmental health, and data for health. Our programs are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries and cities in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.

We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by people with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, actual or perceived age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. As such, our commitment is to promote equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment.

Position Overview:

The Deputy Communication Director, Partnership for Healthy Cities is responsible for executing a wide range of media and communication activities to support high-impact programmatic and policy work in 70+ cities globally aimed at the prevention of NCDs and injuries. The Deputy Communication Director also works closely with the Partnership’s global partners and supervises the Senior Communication Manager, based in the U.S., and two Regional Communication Managers, one based in Africa and the other in Latin America.

This is a full-time, New York City-based role, where candidates are expected to adhere to a hybrid (2-days per week in office) schedule. Vital Strategies offers highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this position is USD $124,000 to $134,000. The candidate must have authorization to work legally in the US at the time of hire.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the communication efforts of a wide-ranging global health initiative at the global, regional, and city-level, and across multidisciplinary partners including government, the donor, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations
• Develop the program’s communication annual goals and strategy and oversee the creation of a communication calendar and budget to support delivery of the strategy.
• Work directly with North American city-level communications officers, project teams and external communication partners to stay informed on project activities, proactively identify project communication milestones, support communication strategies and campaigns, and follow up on media impact
• Direct efforts to enhance capacity of local communication leads in all Partnership cities
• Independently manage planning and coordination with initiative partners on Partnership milestones and events; Lead internal and external communications calls.
• Supervise Senior Communication Manager, and Africa, and Latin America Regional Communication Managers.
• Track and coordinate directly with technical support from the Policy, Advocacy and Communication team on Partnership mass media campaigns.
• Deliver social media and other communication trainings at workshops for city staff
• Write and edit blogs, briefings, brochures, media kits, bios, newsletter content, social media content, speaking proposals, presentations, videos and website landing pages
• Supervise communication and marketing strategies for the Partnership’s social media presence via web, email marketing, Facebook, Bluesky, LinkedIn, blogs, and more.
• Measure and communicate results to Partnership for Healthy City partners on a regular basis through biweekly Roundups, monthly metrics reports and press tracker, as needed.
• Research media outlets, opportunities, and assist in media outreach and coverage with media releases, TV/radio interviews, feature stories, media campaigns, press conferences, as needed.

Qualifications:

Education & Degree -

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (in communications or journalism)
• Background in health or biological sciences communications is a plus

Skills and Abilities -

• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, layout and design, professional printing/publishing skills are essential, including ability to present concepts verbally.
• Proven results in implementing marketing and communications strategic plans
• Excellent organizational and planning skills
• Proven people management skills
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing productive relationships, partnerships and collaborations within international health and development settings
• Create a collaborative team environment that encourages different perspectives and new ideas
• Self-starter with ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams
• Ability to bring new, creative ideas to communicating the organization's work
• Fluency in Spanish and/or French is a plus

Experience:

Required -

• Minimum ten years relevant work experience with at least 5 years' experience managing complex projects within the global health sector
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing productive relationships, partnerships and collaborations within international health and development settings
• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically, to lead and work within diverse teams, to work in multi-cultural settings and with a high degree of independence
• Experience successfully supervising and motivating a global team
• Experience in the operating systems of and working with donors, multilateral organizations, foundations, and technical assistance agencies
• Ability to effectively address multiple complex activities and tasks concurrently and to work under the pressure of deadlines
• Strong skills in organizing resources and establishing work priorities and timely meeting of deadlines and milestones

Preferred -

• Experience in media and public relations
• Industry experience in public health / advocacy work

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Travel Requirement (up to 15%)