Director, Co-founder Voice And Communications

About Malala Fund

Registered in the U.K., U.S. Nigeria, and Pakistan, Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn and lead. Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. The girls we serve have high goals for themselves and we have high expectations for leaders who can help them. We invest in local education leaders and front-line organizations, the people who best understand girls in their communities in regions where most girls are missing out on secondary school. We give girls the tools they need to advocate for education and equality in their communities and a platform for the world to hear their voices. We believe girls should speak for themselves and tell leaders what they need to learn and achieve their potential.

About the position

Reporting to the Chief Advisor in the Malala Fund’s Executive Office, the Director, Co-Founder Voice and Communications shapes the strategy, content, and positioning of external communications for the Executive Chair/Co-Founder’s advocacy efforts. Working closely with senior colleagues across the organisation, the Director will serve two primary functions:

• Build and implement a strategy for leveraging media and externally-facing communications to maximise the Executive Chair’s advocacy impact

• Write, edit, and/or oversee the majority of external-facing content for the Executive Chair

This role will be responsible for conceptualising, building, and managing various external communications efforts to support the Executive Chair’s advocacy and thought leadership. This work will involve building a strategy that identifies target outlets, audiences, tone, and positioning needed to maximise her impact. This role will also establish data baselines and measurement tools and systems to better understand the efficacy and impact of her communications.

This role will regularly work and strategize with Malala Fund’s communications, global advocacy, and country teams to inform coordinated external messaging and media engagement across all platforms.  They will also regularly work with other parts of Malala’s teams to ensure improved coordination, planning, and consistency of Malala’s voice and brand across all channels and in all external settings.

Location: Hybrid position preferably in London, UK but would consider remote locations including a hybrid option in our Washington, DC office or New York, NY office

Responsibilities:

Design and implement Executive Chair’s external communications/media strategy

• Collaborate with the Chief Advisor, Chief of Communications, Chief of Global Advocacy and other senior leaders within the Malala Fund to proactively identify high-impact communication opportunities to promote the Executive Chair’s thought leadership and improve her strategic visibility on girls’ education, girls’ rights, and related advocacy topics. As needed, cultivate new or deepen existing relationships with key journalists and outlets.

• Develop an annual external communications strategy for the Executive Chair, underpinned by goals, metrics, and target media outlets/audiences to reach and cultivate. Work with the Chief Advisor to ensure a clear connection between all strategic communications and wider advocacy, fundraising, and influencing goals.

• Internal to Malala Fund work/priorities, manage the Executive Chair’s editorial/voice calendar and related planning exercises, including setting deadlines, information flow processes, briefing timelines, and preparatory windows.

• Stay immersed in breaking news, op-eds, and reports on issues related to Malala Fund’s work.  In partnership with the Chief Advisor and Chief of Staff, ensure the Executive Chair is receiving relevant news clips, newsletters, and other information in timely, streamlined ways. As needed, provide short written memos or verbal updates for the Executive Chair  to inform key messages and talking points.

• As needed, accompany the Executive Chair to specific events/meetings to capture key insights and personal stories to integrate into future external communications.

Shape and support the Executive Chair’s public voice

• Oversee and manage (by conceptualising, drafting, editing, and finalising) the majority of external-facing written content for the Executive Chair related to Malala Fund work and advocacy efforts, including talking points, correspondence, and social media copy. In limited instances each year, this may also include longer-form writing (speeches and opinion editorial pieces), or may involve the commissioning and oversight of external speechwriter support.

• Support the Executive Chair in preparation for public engagements including preparing briefing materials  and providing verbal/written briefings prior to and at the event site.

• Ensure that written communications feel authentic to the Executive Chair’s voice in order to shape and inform her public messaging and brand. Liaise with Malala Fund communications teams, as well as other relevant personal business stakeholders, to ensure consistent storytelling and messaging by the Executive Chair across her total media and public footprint.

• In partnership with the Executive Chair’s personal team, develop and implement a social media calendar to support advocacy and influencing work, including social media copywriting and editing. Coordinate with the Executive Office and personal team to manage social media platform inboxes and respond to relevant inquiries in a timely manner.

• Where relevant, support the management of or direct production of social content (eg: take photos, shoot short videos, etc).

• Throughout the year, support the Executive Chair in specific skills-building efforts related to communications, including periodic media training.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate has at least 10-12 years of relevant work experience, with exposure to high profile individuals/principals preferred and strong writing skills in a variety of formats required.  This candidate has experience building external communications strategies and holds current relationships with relevant media stakeholders, particularly in key geographies in which Malala Fund works. This candidate thrives in a fast-paced, detail-oriented, creative environment. 

• Upholds the values of Malala Fund and actively contributes to making Malala Fund a diverse and equitable workplace through inclusive practice and openness to different perspectives, cultures, and ideas.

• Brings high degrees of discretion and diplomacy; emotional intelligence; humility; and integrity.

• Can communicate effectively and motivate/persuade others, while also demonstrating deep listening skills.

• Maintains behaviour and conduct which upholds the highest standards for safeguarding and professionalism.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Strategic thinking, with a demonstrated track record of building, implementing, and measuring communications strategies for impact. Clear understanding of how communications can serve both advocacy and brand-building goals.

• Deep understanding of global north and south media markets and relationships with relevant platforms and/or journalists

• Strong writing and editing experience, ideally on behalf of high-profile principals and/or organisations. Exemplary written communications, with the ability to adjust tone and content for different audiences and mediums. Comfort and familiarity writing on behalf of a leader from the global south under 30 years old.

• High attention to detail, grammar, and factual accuracy.

• Strong understanding of traditional and digital media platforms and trends to inform content production that is platform- and audience-specific.

• Resourcefulness and ability to work independently and with excellent judgement, taking ownership of a wide range of responsibilities.

• Experience of managing multi-stakeholder projects and processes, and/or of working cross-organisationally to achieve deliverables. Demonstrated ability to navigate and build bridges across internal and external groups of stakeholders in diplomatic, constructive ways.

• Experience handling sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of discretion.

• Written and verbal fluency in English.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Written fluency in any additional language(s) relevant to Malala Fund’s work

• Digital photography and videography skills

• Relationships with relevant social justice or international development organisations and thought leaders

• Lived experience and meaningful relationships with stakeholders in the global south

• Knowledge of AP Style

Living our Values

We aim to center girls in all we do and create a supportive environment where people excel in their craft while never compromising our organizational values:

We aim high. Inspired by the girls we serve, we set ambitious goals for ourselves and push others to do the same. We focus on impact and delivering tangible, purposeful results.

We dare to be brave. We speak truth to power and hold leaders accountable to their commitments to girls. We have the difficult conversations, say yes to tough projects and aren’t afraid to take risks

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We value differences. Our best work happens when we bring many voices to the table. We embrace diverse perspectives and open dialogue. We strive for equity in all we do and are always learning from others. 

We think creatively. Getting all girls in school requires innovative thinking and solutions. We are resourceful and seek unconventional approaches to overcoming challenges. 

We act with integrity. The relationships we build are grounded in trust and accountability. As an organization and with each other, we endeavor to do what’s right and respectful.

If challenging the status quo that limits girls’ potential excites you, we might be the perfect fit!

Please note that due to the very high number of applications we receive when positions are posted, we may only be able to respond directly to candidates who we wish to move forward in the interview process.

Malala Fund is an equal opportunity employer and inclusive organization who welcomes applications from under-represented and intersectional groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are seeking people with different backgrounds, cultures, ages, experiences and identities to provide a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights into the strategy, policies, culture and ambitions of Malala Fund.

Malala Fund is also committed to ensuring the safety of those involved in our work. Our first priority is protecting everyone who comes in direct or indirect contact with our organization.

Malala Fund has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and exploitation by any of our staff, representatives or partners. We commit to ensuring that those who work with Malala Fund or on our behalf are able to work in an environment that is free from harm. To this end, Malala Fund reserves the right to conduct background checks on prospective and current employees.