Director, External Affairs

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, External Affairs based in United States. The Director, External Affairs will shape the organization’s profile, reputation, and engagement with influential stakeholders across the philanthropy sector. The role will lead external affairs, media relations, brand strategy, digital engagement, and executive communications. A key focus will be building compelling, evidence-based narratives around climate, health, nature, food systems, and balanced diets. You will work closely with philanthropy, grants, strategy, and impact teams to support fundraising and stakeholder engagement objectives. The position will oversee external communications partners and coordinate initiatives across a globally distributed organization. You will also develop event strategies, strengthen senior-leader profiles, and manage communications across multiple markets and audiences. This is a fully remote, international role suited to a strategic and entrepreneurial communications leader who thrives in a fast-moving environment. Accountabilities - Develop and implement an external affairs strategy in partnership with senior leadership, aligned with organizational growth and fundraising objectives. - Design targeted engagement strategies for key audiences across the climate, health, nature, and philanthropy sectors. - Lead cross-functional communications initiatives, coordinating with teams across the organization and ensuring consistent messaging. - Manage external communications partners, including agencies, designers, and content creators, ensuring their work supports strategic communications goals. - Monitor, analyze, and report on external affairs performance using relevant metrics and insights. - Shape compelling, evidence-based narratives around balanced diets and food systems transformation, adapting messaging for different cultural and geographic audiences.

- Develop messaging frameworks and create or curate written, visual, and storytelling content that resonates with diverse donor audiences. - Develop and oversee an events strategy, including donor and grantee convenings, while coordinating with philanthropy, grants, strategy, and impact teams. - Lead media relations and proactive profile-building initiatives for the organization, CEO, and selected senior leaders. - Build and maintain relationships with specialist and relevant mainstream media, identify proactive opportunities, and manage reactive media enquiries. - Oversee reputation management, brand consistency, and crisis communications planning across external channels. - Develop and maintain brand guidelines and ensure consistency across markets and touchpoints. - Oversee digital communications, including the website and social media channels, in line with broader communications objectives. - Develop high-impact communications materials that strengthen fundraising efforts and clearly articulate the organization’s value proposition. Requirements - Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. - Extensive, proven experience in strategic external affairs, communications, public relations, or a closely related senior role. - Native or fluent English proficiency, both written and verbal; additional languages such as German or Portuguese are advantageous. - Strong track record in media relations, brand development, senior executive profile building, and stakeholder engagement. - Experience managing external communications agencies, consultants, and creative partners. - Demonstrated experience leading international communications for a global organization operating across multiple regions.