The Director of External Communications is a senior global leadership role responsible for shaping how Plan International is seen, heard, and understood across the world. It focuses on strengthening influence, reputation, and storytelling to support the organization’s mission on children’s rights and gender equality.
This position sits at the center of global communications strategy, ensuring that messaging is consistent, ethical, and impactful across multiple countries and teams.
Core Purpose of the Role
The role is designed to:
- Lead global external communications strategy and brand positioning
- Strengthen the organization’s public influence and credibility
- Amplify voices of girls and young people in global platforms
- Ensure unified messaging across decentralized country offices
- Protect and enhance organizational reputation
At its core, the position ensures that communication efforts directly support advocacy, fundraising, and humanitarian impact.
Strategic Communications Leadership
A major responsibility is developing and driving a global communications strategy that aligns with Plan International’s mission.
Key functions include:
- Designing integrated communication and storytelling strategies
- Aligning messaging across global, regional, and national teams
- Building a strong and consistent global brand identity
- Increasing visibility in international media and public discourse
- Supporting campaigns and advocacy initiatives
This requires both strategic vision and operational execution across multiple regions.
Team Leadership and Organisational Coordination
The Director oversees communications teams across the organization and ensures collaboration across a complex, matrix structure.
Responsibilities include:
- Leading and mentoring direct reports and wider teams
- Managing approximately a dozen communications professionals
- Recruiting and developing high-performing talent
- Strengthening collaboration across global offices
- Embedding inclusive and ethical leadership practices
The role depends heavily on influence and coordination rather than centralized control.
Crisis and Reputation Management
A key component of the role is protecting the organization’s reputation during high-risk situations.
This includes:
- Leading crisis communications during emergencies and sensitive events
- Advising senior leadership on reputational risks
- Ensuring transparent and ethical communication responses
- Coordinating rapid messaging across global offices
- Managing external perception during complex humanitarian contexts
Strong judgment and speed are essential in this area.
Media, Digital, and Campaign Leadership
The role also oversees how Plan International engages with the public through media and digital platforms.
Key areas of responsibility:
- Managing media relations and international press engagement
- Overseeing digital and social media campaigns
- Increasing audience engagement and public awareness
- Driving innovative communication approaches, especially for youth audiences
- Ensuring high-quality storytelling across platforms
This includes adapting to emerging digital tools and evolving communication trends.
Ethical Storytelling and Brand Integrity
A defining feature of the role is ensuring communications reflect strong ethical standards.
This includes:
- Promoting responsible and inclusive storytelling
- Ensuring safeguarding and anti-racism principles are embedded
- Representing communities accurately and respectfully
- Strengthening trust with global audiences
- Maintaining consistency in brand values and messaging
Ethical communication is central to maintaining credibility in humanitarian work.
Strategic Advisory Function
The Director also serves as a senior advisor to leadership.
Key contributions include:
- Providing insight on global communication trends
- Advising on reputational and strategic risks
- Supporting executive-level decision-making
- Translating complex global developments into communication strategies
- Identifying opportunities for influence and visibility
This advisory function ensures communications are aligned with organizational priorities.
Skills and Experience Required
The role requires extensive senior-level communications expertise, including:
- Leadership in international communications environments
- Strong background in brand strategy and media relations
- Experience managing crisis communications at scale
- Proven ability to lead diverse global teams
- Strong digital and campaign leadership experience
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills
Additional strengths include:
- Knowledge of international development and humanitarian issues
- Understanding of child and youth-focused global challenges
- Strong writing and public communication skills
- Fluency in English (French or Spanish desirable)
Key Differences from Similar Roles
Compared to broader communications leadership roles, this position places stronger emphasis on:
- Global coordination across multiple independent offices
- High-level crisis and reputational risk management
- Ethical storytelling in humanitarian contexts
- Direct alignment with advocacy and rights-based missions
- Integration of digital innovation with traditional media strategy
Conclusion
The Director of External Communications role at Plan International is a high-impact global leadership position that shapes how one of the world’s leading child rights organizations communicates with the world. It combines strategic vision, crisis leadership, brand management, and ethical storytelling.
Ultimately, the role ensures that the organization’s mission—advancing children’s rights and equality for girls—is communicated with clarity, credibility, and influence across global audiences.
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