Act as the strategic communications lead and facilitate day to day execution of external communications strategy in France and in key Middle East countries (focus on UAE and Saudi Arabia). Provide strategic execution on all aspects of global external communications for the Foundation and its programmes in those markets, including proactive media relationship building, story placement, opportunity tracking, risk management, and management of co-chair and other foundation leadership trips in market. Act as a thought partner to country government relations lead, programme communications team, external communications as well as other internal partners, and also relevant partners and grantees in market to ensure we smartly leverage foundation and partner assets in support of our communications and advocacy objectives in these important donor markets.
Support external communications strategy development and execution for France and Middle East in support of our advocacy objectives, ensuring alignment with Seattle-based communications team and France and Middle East government relations teams
- Work with advocacy and government relations to devise the France and Middle East Communications Strategy and execution plan
- Work with communications colleagues in the planning and delivery of communications activities for the foundation in France and the Middle East in support of the country advocacy and communications strategies
- Prepare all communications activities in support of major foundation initiatives in these countries or related to our work in these countries such as co-chair trips, foundation events, partner initiatives, and key advocacy moments
- Lead on issues and crisis management in market as desired
- Ensure the effective management of the communications agency resources, ensuring that the foundation is well supported in key markets and gains the high value from these agency resources
- Ensure excellent interface back in to the Seattle-based communications team in order to ensure alignment between donor country and Seattle communications strategies
- Act as a thought partner to government relations team, ensuring we develop an integrated government relations and communications strategy and plan for France and the Middle East
Deliver an integrated communications strategy for France and the Middle East – including across media relations, digital communications (as desired), influencer engagement and events
- Work closely with agency resources and the DD, Communications Europe & Middle East to design and implement integrated communications strategies for France and the Middle East
- Maintain the tempo of our engagement in this market beyond the inevitable peaks around co-chair trips/ key advocacy moments, including story pitching, foundation spokesperson outreach, and capitalizing on foundation communications assets with relevance to the market
- Lead the foundation’s proactive response to news cycle in market as deemed appropriate, ensuring we opportunistically inject foundation voice into existing market conversations with relevance to the foundation’s priorities
- Work with the right internal and external stakeholders to develop and deliver the communications content that is going to have the most impact in supporting the advocacy agenda;
- Ensure all issues with implications for the foundation are closely tracked, that we response to risks as required, and that we capitalize on opportunities in market as deemed appropriate
- Strengthen a deep network of digital influencers in France specifically who champion our issues through our digital campaigning work
Lead on media relations activities in France and the Middle East – act as press officer function for this market
- Work closely with agency resources to ensure we have a sustained media relations strategy and engagement programme in place for priority markets
- Manage day to day media requests in core markets, liaising as desired with foundation communications colleagues to ensure that we respond quickly and thoughtfully to media requests as they occur
- Develop the key relationships, particularly with the influential, elite media that will be of value to the foundation
Act as the communications interface into France partner community with a view to creating a more joined up approach to increasing momentum for our issues in these markets
- Strengthen communications coordination with key France advocacy partners to amplify communications in France in support of our priority issues
- Develop a convening framework for advocacy partners in France passionate about aligning on overall communications approaches, maximizing economies of scale and developing momentum for the sector
- Act as day-to-day liaison with grantees and partners in France to ensure clear, compelling and consistent communications on our principle issues and to ensure that we enhance communications opportunities as they arise
We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment in which they thrive, will do phenomenal things.
Core Knowledge and Skills
- Experience of working in the global health and development sector is desirable.
- Excellent experience of working with full range of priority market media, including print, broadcast and digital. Experience of working across broader range of communications disciplines desirable.
- A deep knowledge of the media landscape in France including print, broadcast and digital media is required along with a sound understanding of audiences.
- A deep knowledge of the political, policy and cultural environments in France
- Understanding of the global health and development policy environment is desirable
- Experience of working in the Middle East region is desirable
- Excellent communication skills both written and oral and the ability to influence and negotiate with people at all levels internally and externally.
- Proficiency in French and English. Knowledge of Arabic is valuable.
- The ability to assimilate and understand sometimes complicated new subjects including scientific, medical and policy areas.
- Ability to skillfully represent the foundation when dealing with media, excellent critical thinking and writing skills; sound media judgement
- Ability to synthesize information quickly and express complex concepts in a clear and compelling manner for diverse audiences
- Ability to balance the programmatic rigor of our evidence-based strategies with the need to create influential and engaging communications messages
- Ability to work in an exciting environment under deadline, with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple and competing asks and establish priorities, to remain flexible, and to work collaboratively as part of a team. Ability to effectively cultivate and manage relationships both with internal staff and foundation partners
Education and Experience
- Demonstrated intermediate level of professional experience in public relations or related communications field