Vice President, Communications and Engagement

Organization Description

Vital Voices Global Partnership is a leading international non-profit organization. We invest in women leaders who are tackling the world’s greatest challenges – from gender-based violence to the climate crisis, economic inequities, and more. We are “venture catalysts,” identifying leaders with a daring vision for change and partnering with them to make that vision a reality. What sets Vital Voices apart is that we make long-term, holistic investments in leaders with bold ideas for change — providing them connections, capacity, a network of their peers, financial support, and visibility for their work. We have provided early support for leaders who went on to become Nobel Peace Laureates, US Youth Poet Laureates, Prime Ministers, award winning innovators and breakthrough social entrepreneurs. Over the past 27 years, we have directly invested in more than 47,000 change-makers across 188 countries, who in turn have improved the lives of millions of people in their communities and countries.

Vital Voices’ staff is headquartered in Washington, DC. In the coming years we have a bold vision to dramatically scale our impact. In early 2022, we opened the first ever Global Headquarters for Women’s Leadership, a 30,000+ sq. ft. historic building just blocks from the White House on 16th Street. It is a hub of activity, events, and collaborations — bringing together women leaders and their allies to tackle the world’s greatest challenges.

Mission

Vital Voices invests in women leaders taking on the world’s greatest challenges and accelerates collective action towards an equitable and sustainable world.

Summary

The Vice President of Communications & Engagement is the senior executive responsible for leading Vital Voices’ integrated communications, public relations, stakeholder engagement, and events strategy. Reporting directly to the Chief External Relations Officer, this role advances the organization’s global reputation, visibility, and impact by connecting audiences to the stories, leaders, partnerships, and experiences that define Vital Voices.

The Vice President will develop and execute a comprehensive communications and engagement strategy aligned with Vital Voices’ mission and 2030 goals, ensuring that public relations, media engagement, digital communications, storytelling, and events work together to increase awareness, deepen relationships, and advance organizational priorities. The role will lead efforts to position Vital Voices as a global authority on women’s leadership, gender equity, human rights, climate action, economic opportunity, and social impact.

The Vice President will oversee the organization’s events portfolio, ensuring that internal and external convenings serve as strategic engagement opportunities that strengthen relationships with donors, partners, women leaders, supporters, media, and the broader Vital Voices community.

This position is based in Washington, DC with the option of a hybrid work schedule. We are not accepting remote candidates at this time.

Role Specifications:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Communications, Public Relations and Reputation Management

• Develop and execute an integrated global communications and public relations strategy that elevates Vital Voices’ mission, impact, and global brand.
• Serve as the senior communications advisor to executive leadership, providing counsel on messaging, media engagement, reputation management, and external positioning.
• Lead proactive media relations strategies, including press outreach, media partnerships, interviews, briefings, press releases, and story development.
• Cultivate relationships with journalists, editors, influencers, and communications partners.
• Position Vital Voices leaders and network members as thought leaders on global issues impacting women and communities worldwide.
• Prepare executives and organizational spokespeople for media interviews, speaking engagements, and public appearances.
• Develop crisis communications strategies and manage reputational issues when needed.
• Monitor media coverage, industry trends, and emerging issues affecting the organization.

Brand Strategy, Storytelling and Digital Engagement

• Develop and maintain Vital Voices’ global brand narrative and messaging framework.
• Lead storytelling strategies that amplify the achievements and impact of Vital Voices leaders across 188 countries.
• Oversee content strategy across website, social media, email marketing, newsletters, podcasts, and multimedia platforms.
• Own and optimize the Vital Voices newsletter and email engagement strategy, including audience growth, donor communications, event promotions, and lifecycle campaigns.
• Develop integrated campaigns supporting fundraising, programs, advocacy, and organizational priorities.
• Establish analytics and performance metrics to evaluate communications reach, engagement, and effectiveness.
• Partner with Development to support digital fundraising, donor acquisition, stewardship, and engagement strategies.

Events and Strategic Engagement

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for Vital Voices’ internal and external events portfolio.
• Develop an integrated events strategy that strengthens relationships with donors, partners, leaders, supporters, and global audiences.
• Ensure events align with organizational priorities, brand standards, engagement goals, and fundraising strategies.
• Partner with Development, Programs, and Executive Leadership to maximize the impact of donor experiences, leadership convenings, and signature events.
• Oversee event storytelling, communications plans, media engagement, and post-event amplification.
• Ensure major convenings create meaningful experiences that reflect Vital Voices’ mission and global network.
• Support VIP engagement strategies and executive visibility opportunities connected to major events.
• Evaluate event effectiveness through engagement metrics, feedback, and strategic outcomes.

Internal Communications and Leadership

• Develop internal communications strategies that strengthen employee engagement, alignment, and organizational culture.
• Partner with leadership to communicate priorities, organizational updates, and key initiatives.
• Ensure employees are connected to Vital Voices’ mission, impact, and global work.
• Support internal engagement opportunities through events, communications, and organizational programming.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Communications & Engagement team.
• Directly supervise the Director of Internal Events and Manager of External Events
• Establish team priorities, goals, workflows, and performance expectations.
• Build a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and excellence.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred, plus 12+ years of progressive experience in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, international relations or related field required.
• Demonstrated experience leading public relations strategies, including media relations, earned media, executive visibility, and reputation management.
• Proven success developing relationships with journalists, media outlets, influencers, and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional writing and storytelling skills, including press releases, op-eds, speeches, executive communications, newsletters, and organizational statements.
• Demonstrated experience leading integrated communications and engagement strategies across digital, media, social, and events channels.
• Experience overseeing strategic events, convenings, donor experiences, or stakeholder engagement programs.
• Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong executive presence and ability to advise senior leaders.
• Experience working on global issues, women’s leadership, human rights, international development, or social impact strongly preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English.
• Strong technology skills including MS Office, Salesforce or CRM systems, social media platforms, email marketing tools, and communications platforms. Experience with Meltwater, Mailchimp, Canva, and related tools preferred.

This position is a full-time, exempt hybrid position based in Washington, DC with two days of required in person attendance at the Vital Voices Headquarters. If and when it is safe to travel, domestic and international travel up to 15% may be required for the position.

The anticipated starting salary for this role is $158,100, with flexibility up to $202,500 for candidates who bring additional experience, skills or qualifications beyond the core requirements of the position.

Benefits:

At Vital Voices, we value our employees and their well-being. That's why we offer a competitive and comprehensive compensation package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k match, short and long-term disability, life insurance, HSA, EAP, and more. But that's not all. We believe in giving our employees the flexibility and support they need to thrive in their work and life. That's why we provide generous PTO including wellness flex Fridays, parental leave, earned sabbatical time, and volunteer leave as well as a professional development stipend to support continuous improvement. Join us and be part of a global team that empowers women leaders to transform the world.

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Vital Voices provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Vital Voices complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Vital Voices expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Vital Voices’ employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.