Assistant Manager, Communications

OVERALL POSITION DESCRIPTION:   

World Food Program USA seeks an outgoing, driven, and highly skilled strategic communications professional to help us expand and strengthen visibility of World Food Program USA in support of the mission of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The Assistant Manager, Communications   reports to the Director, Communications and is responsible for liaising across MarComms verticals, Corporate and Institutional Partnership teams, the Executive Office and external stakeholders to build and implement strategic communications plans that amplify awareness and drive engagement. This role will support a variety of external affairs functions, including media relations, executive visibility, communications strategy and implementation, event planning and management, and other duties as assigned. They must be an exceptionally strong project manager and writer, a skilled communications expert, with experience with cause marketing and/or communications campaigns on behalf of nonprofits, large corporations, or consumer brands. We are looking for someone who can thrive in a fast-paced, high performance and growing organization.

Highlighted Responsibilities: 

• Support the team in developing media plans for announcements or event promotion, including developing strategic approach, media angle, conducting media outreach, securing interviews, handling media inquiries, and producing a range of media materials (e.g. press releases, media lists, pitch emails, media audits, media briefs, talking points, key messages and event briefs for the CEO and other senior leadership).
• Support our partnership communications work, helping to develop plans, ideate strategy, or pitch media to promote impact of our corporate/institutional partnerships.
• Draft annual CEO thought leadership plan and manage its implementation. This includes maintaining database of thought leadership speaking engagements, developing speaker proposals, and conducting outreach to secure these placements. 
• Support event ideation, planning, and management for both owned and external events with partners (e.g. panel discussions, fireside chats, salon dinners).
• Conduct daily media monitoring and distribute an all-staff newsletter of daily coverage.
• Cross-functional collaboration with a range of stakeholders across World Food Program USA and the United Nations World Food Programme.
• Manage industry award entries and applications.
• Position may require occasional travel.
• Other duties as assigned.

A well-qualified candidate will possess the following:

• 3+ years of relevant work experience in most of the functional areas (e.g. media relations, executive visibility/thought leadership, cause marketing, communications project management, events)
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field (i.e. public relations/communications, marketing, journalism, or related field) 
• Must live in the greater Washington, DC area and able to work hybrid schedule with 2 days in office
• PR agency experience preferred.
• Strong affinity for World Food Program USA’s mission and program priorities.
• A news junkie whose finger is on the pulse of both national and international news and issues related to international development, global hunger relief and humanitarian issues.

Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced understanding of communications strategies and tactics, including leveraging social media to build awareness.
• Advanced knowledge of media relations strategies, tactics and tools such as Cision.
• Strong understanding of executive visibility/thought leadership strategies and tactics.
• Proven track record developing and project managing the execution of strategic communications plans that have multiple internal and external parties engaged.  
• Excellent writing and proofreading skills required.
• Event experience a plus.
• Nonprofit experience a plus.

Personal Characteristics and Work Style

• Self-starter with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects at the same time with minimal oversight. 
• Extremely organized and detail oriented. Ability to manage multi-faceted, demanding workload.
• Ability to operate, thrive, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial organizational environment. For example, we frequently activate to raise awareness and fundraise around breaking emergencies (e.g. Myanmar earthquake), necessitating occasional work after hours, over the weekend, or on holidays. Willingness and ability to prioritize our mission, activate alongside the team, and demonstrate clear thinking and efficient work under urgent deadlines is preferred.  
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and anticipate leadership needs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Professional, respectful demeanor, and interpersonal style that elicits trust from leadership, funders, staff, and partners.  
• Curious, creative, strategic thinker, and proactive problem solver with a growth mindset.
• Strong team player with a collaborative work ethic and ability to work well within a matrixed team and organization.
• Charismatic, confident, and polished communicator with exceptional presentation skills.
• Exemplifies grace under pressure.