Director of Communications

DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS US

Cambridge, MA

Who We Are

NewGlobe supports visionary governments to transform public education systems, the cornerstone of a prosperous, equitable, and peaceful society.

With a comprehensive system transformation platform and data-driven educational services, NewGlobe delivers rapid and dramatic improvements in learning outcomes at state and nationwide scale. Through building impactful partnerships and programmes, NewGlobe ensures that all children have access to an education that will develop their full potential and create a foundation for growth and prosperity.

NewGlobe leverages more than a decade of educational experience and proven impact in integrated school management, teacher professional development, instructional design innovation, technological system support, child-centered classroom practice, and parent engagement -- all grounded in learning science -- to ensure each teacher is empowered to engage children in transformational learning, and all children have the opportunity to develop to their full potential. Every day, NewGlobe supports governments to solve what were once seen as intractable problems, and by doing so, ensures this generation will be able to grow up to lead more fulfilled lives, while simultaneously building economic prosperity for themselves, their communities, and the globe.

NewGlobe’s high-touch, intensive professional development programs, along with integrated school management, teacher support, and assessment software, enable schools to succeed. NewGlobe works within state and national curriculum and syllabi, ensuring all children are empowered to learn their own history, and master local content, while being globally competitive in mathematics and languages. The science of behavior change and the science of learning is at the foundation of all programming.

NewGlobe works with urgency because youth quickly becomes adulthood and relentlessly because improvement requires continuous problem-solving. NewGlobe is honored to serve and to help rebuild trust in public systems.

NewGlobe’s work is all encompassing and will challenge you to use your full mind, and heart, each day. We need bright minds who want to be part of building a new globe -- a more equitable globe -- to join us.

Corporate Affairs

The Corporate Affairs group is the eyes, ears and public face of the organization. It leads on strategy and is responsible for influencing and strengthening the internal and external landscapes that surrounds and impacts NewGlobe and its growing portfolio. The Corporate Affairs group is responsible for the public reputation of NewGlobe and its programmes, creating environments that support programmatic growth through engaging with stakeholders, influencing policy making and designing impactful communications.

The Corporate Affairs strategy is based upon a deep understanding, and awareness of, national and global trends, policies, regulatory changes and current affairs. It leads the overall strategic direction and implementation of initiatives and strategies across multiple channels, audiences and geographies.

The Corporate Affairs group always takes both a national and global perspective and is highly attuned to the nuances of frequently evolving politics and policy issues. Its work is based upon both an in depth understanding of NewGlobe, its programmes and the broader global and national education landscapes in which it operates. Through this, it devises strategies that connects NewGlobe’s programming with a diverse, and ever-expanding set of stakeholders.

Communications
The Communications team is housed with the Corporate Affairs group. It collaborates across departments and programs to create and execute compelling strategies; locally and globally.

Communications has a wide portfolio of responsibilities including external and internal relations, strategy, digital, reputation management and media relations. We are focussed on ensuring that the exceptional achievements being made across a wide portfolio of programming are effectively and impactfully communicated.

We lead, develop and support strategies in multiple programs and continents simultaneously; shaping and influencing the external environments in which we work. We pride ourselves in being able to respond quickly and effectively at all times.

About the Role
We are looking for a Director of Communications (US) to join our global team. You will lead in developing and executing a US communications strategy designed to position NewGlobe and its programs as a core participant in global and development policy conversations for US audiences.

Our ideal candidate will have significant national communications experience within the education sector, working for a disruptor or leading communications for a national public policy organization. They will have developed impactful communications strategies and approaches to drive conversation and shape the agenda on policy issues.

They will be a passionate storyteller and have worked at a senior level in communications for a high impact organization preferably in a global context. They will demonstrate a strong track record of achievement in communications; excellent knowledge of a broad range of communication channels and tools and their use; strong interpersonal skills and an ability to influence across a broad range of internal and external audiences at all levels, in particular with US outlets, and audiences, both specialist and general.

They will also be an excellent writer, planner, and creative thinker. A keen sense of ownership, speedy execution, and determination are a must. Experience of dealing with crisis and navigating risk is essential.

What You Will Do

• Adapt and execute an impactful communications strategy for the US stakeholders to protect, define and enhance NewGlobe and its programs, as part of a global communications team.

• Influence conversations and debates - publicly and privately - in the national education and development space to ensure that NewGlobe is a core participant.

• Develop and manage relationships with US outlets and audiences, including both specialist and general media. With responsibility for engaging in emerging policy conversations and issues centered on global education in the US.

• Proactively seek and develop new platforms, channels and partnerships to promote the work of NewGlobe and its portfolio programs. Identifying and managing upcoming communications opportunities and priorities.

• Be an impactful storyteller with a keen understanding of the news agenda.

• Write and oversee production of both routine and complex communication products that strategically communicate the efficacy of NewGlobe programs. Work closely with academics, data scientists and measurement and evaluation teams to communicate their work effectively.

• Work with internal colleagues and stakeholders to develop a continuous pipeline of produced and impactful content suitable for US outlets, audiences and stakeholders.

• Write and edit communications materials, including news releases, op eds / articles, talking points and comprehensive briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.

• Navigate risk and oversee crisis response including media and digital handling.

• Monitor and analyse the media and education landscape including policy changes and announcements. Provide media intelligence and define thought leadership initiatives, messaging and briefing to ensure NewGlobe is presented as an innovative global education leader

• Develop strong relationships with US-based partner organizations who can help amplify the reach of NewGlobe's programs, efficacy and content.

• Contribute to global speaker and event calendars taking the lead for the US.

• Line manages a small US based communications team.

• Deputize for the Director, Communications as required.

• Respond to ad-hoc requests and any other duties that are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the post.

• Travel within - and on occasion outside - the US.

What You Should Have

• A Bachelor’s Degree is a relevant field of study, Master’s preferred.

• 10 years experience in a communications team, ideally including within a high profile US education and/or relevant global public policy organizations.

• Demonstrable experience of influencing and shaping a national or global policy conversation over a sustained period to drive change.

• Experience of developing both internal and external thought leadership platforms; to shape understanding of and engagement with policy issues; experience of having worked within a disruptor organization would be beneficial.

• Demonstrable experience of building an effective strategy/implementing a strategic communications plan at a national or global level.

• A strong understanding of policy work and the ability to manage policy-related output.

• Strong experience of generating and executing communication campaigns at a national or global level.

• Experience of dealing with national US media, specialist and general, and a strong media network.

• Experience of dealing with crisis and navigating risk.

• Strong editorial understanding of various social media platforms - Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube - and digital websites

• Experience of developing high quality communications materials and knowledge of latest communication platforms, tools, trends and developments.

• Experience of working as part of a creative team; briefing and working collaboratively with professional colleagues to deliver a work programme across different areas of responsibility.

• Proven ability to prioritize and organize own workload effectively and efficiently and meet deadlines.

• Experience of managing staff and their work.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• A background of working in matrixed organizations with internationally based and remote working colleagues, ideally from Africa and / or India.

• A robust, confident, can do attitude.

You’re also

• A detailed doer – You have a track record of getting things done. You’re organized and responsive. You take ownership of every idea you touch and execute it to a fine level of detail, setting targets, engaging others, and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. You can multi-task dozens of such projects at once and never lose sight of the details. Likely, you have some experience in a start-up or other rapid-growth company.

• A networking mastermind – You excel at meeting new people and turning them into advocates. You communicate in a clear, conscientious, and effective way in both written and oral speech. You can influence strangers in the course of a single conversation. Allies and colleagues will go to bat for your ideas. You have an existing network from prior experience in the country, preferably in the regulatory, education, or business sectors.

• A creative problem-solver – Growing any business from scratch comes with massive and constant challenges. On top of that, NewGlobe works in often fragile, sometimes volatile low-resource communities and with complex government systems. You need to be flexible and ready to get everything done effectively, quickly, and affordably with the materials at hand.

• A relentless advocate –The children we serve and teachers we empower never leave your mind. You know them, get them, have shared a meal with them (or would be happy to in the future). You would never shrink back from shaking a parent’s hand or picking up a crying child, no matter what the person was wearing or looked like. Every decision you make considers their benefit, experience,

and value.

• A malleable learner –You believe you can always do better. You welcome constructive criticism and provide it freely to others. You know you only get better tomorrow when others point out where you’ve missed things or failed today.

• A curious investigator – You ask why a lot. You don’t just take what you see and accept it. You wonder why it is that way, and are aware that the world we see is created by human choices and actions – and it could be different. You wonder, and see the world as wonderful even when you want to change a part of it that is unjust.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Cambridge, MA 02139: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Application Question(s):

• Have you been a spokesperson for any of your prior companies? ie. personally been interviewed or quoted in the media?
• Have you worked with National or Global media outlets previously?

Experience:

• Communication skills: 8 years (Required)

Work Location: One location