Strategic Communications Officer

The Communications function plays a mission-critical role in advancing Open Society Foundations’ global mandate. It shapes and safeguards the public narrative of the Open Society Foundations, strengthens the visibility and impact of its work and protects institutional credibility in increasingly contested civic and political environments. The communications team leads strategic positioning across complex and rapidly evolving landscapes—proactively elevating the networks achievements while responding decisively to misinformation and coordinated attacks to open society values worldwide.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute high-impact, regionally grounded  communications strategies aligned with institutional priorities.
• Shape compelling organizational narratives and positioning on issues central to Open Society’s mission;
• Lead proactive risk assessment and reputational strategy, anticipating communications and media risks across the region and develops and executes mitigation strategies; serves as the lead during crisis situations, ensuring values-aligned response management.
• Shape and drive strategic communications opportunities aligned with institutional priorities—leveraging both real-time news cycles and long-term advocacy opportunities to advance Open
• Society values, influence public discourse and shape policy relevant narratives.
• Strategically position key Open Society leadership, experts and thought-leaders across top-tier domestic, regional and international media, cultivating relationships with influential journalist and editorial boards to expand reach, credibility and thought-leadership impact.
• Author and oversee high-impact written communications, including Op-Eds, policy commentaries, thought-leadership pieces, and other press materials—ensuring clarity, narratives coherence and alignment.
• Design and lead strategic media engagements, including press briefings, editorial meetings, high level media convenings and background discussions that deepen understanding of Open Society work and priorities.
• Oversee integrated content strategy and production across digital and print platforms, ensuring strategic coherence, audience targeting and performance impact; manages and coordinates external creative and PR partners to deliver high quality outputs.
• Co-design and delivers communications trainings for program staff, leadership, and partners to strengthen message discipling, media readiness and narrative alignment across the network.
• Contribute to global communications leadership initiatives, partnering with communications colleagues across regions to drive cross-portfolio collaboration, institutional consistency and shared strategic objectives across the highly-matrixed global environment.

Requirements

• Educated to a degree-level (or equivalent) relevant to Communications
• Evidence of continued professional development in media strategy, crisis communications, geopolitical analysis, or digital strategy.
• Substantial relevant communications experience driving strategic communications in complex political and international environments, including journalism OR experience as a communications professional in the not-for-profit or private sector
• Established and active network of high-level media, editorial, and digital influencers across regional and international levels
• Experience managing crisis communications and high-risk reputational environments.
• Experience leading integrated communications strategies across media, digital, and stakeholder engagement platforms.
• Proven track record advising senior leadership on reputational risk, media engagement, and public positioning

Open Society Foundations elaborates on their desired qualifications here.

How to apply

To learn more and apply, please visit this page.