Global and UK Communications Director

Job Title: Global and UK Communications Director

Salary: UK salary is GBP77,000 to GBP87,000 depending on experience with excellent benefits. Salaries and benefits for different locations will vary in line with WaterAid's country salary scales.

Contract and Hours: Permanent, Full Time

Location: UK / Hybrid Working – UK (Hybrid Working, 2–3 days in the London office Canary Wharf, ideally with flexibility) or in a country where WaterAid has a presence – subject to cost and communication with the majority of WaterAid countries being practical. This post will have to work closely with colleagues and a line manager that are currently based in the UK, so time zones that make working in another country practicably feasible will be a consideration when choosing applicants. In order to apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the country to which you wish to work.

About WaterAid:

Want to use your skills in global and UK communications to play a vital role in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone everywhere? We need passionate, creative and dedicated people. In return, you will be encouraged and empowered to be yourself at your very best. Together, we will make a bigger difference.

Join WaterAid to change normal for millions of people so they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good. On top of that you'll be joining a 2020 Great Place to Work award–winning organisation.

About the Role:

The Global and UK Communications Director will play a crucial role in championing the importance of Communications in achieving our mission. This is an exciting and unique chance to reposition Communications from service delivery only to strategic force – building relationships across the globe to understand how communications can create greater impact for our activities – from advocacy and influencing to Fundraising and beyond.

In this role, you will use your expertise to develop and embed a clear vision and strategy for Global Communications as well as for the UK.

About the Team:

The Global and UK Communications Director will lead a newly restructured UK Communications Department and establish a new global approach to Communications to work alongside it.

The team, consisting of Media including Celebrity Management, Strategic Communications, Brand, Content and Design, will play a strategic role in helping us to achieve our ambitious Global Strategy, specifically through the growth of our fundraising, advocacy and campaigning, as well as through a renewed focus on elevating our brand and the importance of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) both within the UK and globally.

You'll also:

• Lead on a comprehensive review of our brand personality and positioning to ensure it is fit for purpose to deliver to the new Global Strategy ambitions
• Elevate the importance of Brand within the organisation across all levels of the organisation including the engagement of UK and Global Boards
• Seek opportunities to elevate the importance of WASH on the global agenda, specifically amongst key audiences, and position WaterAid as the thought leaders within the WASH sector
• Lead the team to develop a programme of activity across Brand, Content, Media and Strategic Communications which leads to the growth of our awareness, buzz and word of mouth metrics.
• Lead the team to deliver compelling and impactful audience–centred external communications that build our profile and contribute to the delivery of our fundraising and advocacy objectives.
• Foster an environment for creativity, innovation and high performance that liberates our talent to think creatively, beyond traditional communications approaches and act confidently, by balancing leadership and management within the team.

About You:

• Passionate about ending poverty and want to be a part of making it happen, with commitment to WaterAid's mission and values, and a working style that reflects these.
• Alignment with WaterAid's values and a commitment to driving Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.
• Experience of working within or with Senior Leadership Teams and influencing at an Executive or Board of Trustee level
• Extensive experience of working in Communications roles at a senior level inc. strategic communications, media and brand.
• Inspiring leader who engages, coaches and empowers others through a clear vision, decisive action and strong strategic thinking with proven experience of successfully leading, managing and inspiring high calibre teams and creating a high performance and empowered results–orientated culture.
• Experience of managing and aligning large multi–functional teams
• Experience of driving and managing change (including others) to achieve the organisation's goals and aspirations.
• Substantial experience of strategy development, planning, budgeting and monitoring.

WaterAid benefits vary depending on the country of the successful candidate. For UK–based posts this includes:

• 36 days' holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays)
• Option to buy an extra 5 days annual leave
• We offer a generous pension plan with employer contribution of up to 10%
• Wide range of flexible and agile–working arrangement
• Season Ticket Loan
• Free annual eye tests
• Pay as You Give charitable giving scheme
• Enhanced Maternity and Adoption/Surrogacy pay, Shared Parental Leave and Paternity Leave
• Sabbaticals
• Volunteer Day

How to Apply:

To see the full job pack, please click 'Apply'. Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter into one document in either Word Document or PDF format. Please answer the following questions when submitting your covering letter using no more than 2 sides of A4.

1. What excites you most about joining WaterAid?

2. This role will manage a highly competent and ambitious team of c.38 WaterAid colleagues. Please describe your leadership style and your interest in joining WaterAid as one of our new leaders.

3. What is the depth and breadth of your expertise in communications?

Closing date: Applications will close by 23:59 on Wednesday, 21st September 2022.

Availability for interview:

• First interviews will be held between 27th September to 5th October 2022.
• Second interviews will be held between 10th to 12th October 2022.
• Assessments will be carried during the later stages of recruitment process in the form of a presentation/task.

Our Commitment

An inclusive workplace:

We are committed to being an organisation where everyone is included, respected, and empowered to be their best. We represent and celebrate our staff, partners and everyone we work with, and create a culture where everyone can reach their full potential.

Equal opportunities:

We are an equal opportunity, disability–confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.

Safeguarding:

We are also committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero–tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously.