Director of Strategic Communications

Apply For This Job

Location: Headquarters - Washington, DC, USA

Address: Washington, DC

Job Type: Full-Time

Posting Date: 08/12/2025

COMPANY DESCRIPTION
An American non-profit organization established in 1951 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., with country offices and programs in the Middle East and North Africa region and beyond. Amideast provides transformational education, training, testing, and exchanges that enable individuals, companies, and international partners to better address 21st-century challenges at home and abroad. For more information, visit us at www.amideast.org. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Amideast is in the process of instituting an internal team model, in which strategic communications, fundraising, and business development will work in unison to support the entire organization through a strategy-based and systems-led approach to growth. The position of Director of Strategic Communications is responsible for creating and overseeing a unified strategic communications strategy for Amideast. 

Reporting to the Vice President of Development and External Engagement, the Director of Strategic Communications will collaborate closely with the Senior Director for Business Development and the Director of Advancement as part of an integrated core team committed to Amideast’s continued growth. Incumbent in this  role is the need to operate effectively on both strategic and implementation levels. The position  requires an understanding of Amideast’s strategic objectives, priority work areas, and revenue streams, and the impact that an integrated communications approach can play in the organization’s success.

This leadership role requires an innovative and entrepreneurial thinker who can  guide Amideast’s strategic communications processes to maximize results and to enhance revenue-generating and partnership-building initiatives. The Director of Strategic Communications will play a leading role in creating and implementing a unified strategic communications plan across the organization, and in training staff at our Washington, DC headquarters and in our country offices.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy Setting 
• Create and support a strategic communications plan to meet Amideast’s mission goals, working closely with the Vice President of Development and External Engagement and the other members of the Senior Leadership Team
• Ensure all messaging, marketing, fundraising, and events are designed and implemented to support the big-picture goals of the organization
• Design new communications strategies to assist Amideast achieve its  goals of increasing revenue, building new partnerships, and expanding its customer base
• Lead strategy to raise the profile and name recognition of Amideast and its services in diverse markets
• Incorporate tasks and/or projects related to objectives as directed by the Amideast Senior Leadership Team

Marketing Communications/Brand Management
• Create and oversee Amideast’s brand strategy and management, ensuring that Amideast’s brand furthers our mission and that messages are properly and consistently packaged and disseminated across all Amideast offices across the globe
• Develop and execute strategies to promote Amideast’s products, services, and brand 
• Analyze media and outreach performance and make data-driven decisions
• Develop and implement marketing communication strategies.
• Create marketing materials
• Optimize the use of technology to support the brand
• Serve as a key steward of the Amideast brand; work with internal teams to develop a messaging style guide and playbook to package the brand for communications across all areas of Amideast’s work, from specific programs to events to publications, to media and press
• Provide guidance in branding and messaging to be reflected in all Amideast marketing materials and support Amideast leadership in preparing tailored messaging for key engagements with potential new donors and partners

Relationship Management
• Foster strong relationships within the organization and work with fellow staff to ensure a collaborative and team-driven approach among business development, fundraising, and communications team members and other internal partners to support external communications for all Amideast programs and offices
• Ensure the sharing of ideas, expertise, and knowledge among colleagues at Headquarters and country offices

Representational Responsibilities
• Represent Amideast at key events and conferences in collaboration with Amideast teammates as required

General Duties and Responsibilities
• Exercise a high degree of professionalism, accuracy, and ethics in all activities, services, and products
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor

Fiscal Management/Budget Responsibilities/Judicious Use of Resources
• Exercise fiscal responsibility in the utilization of all assigned Amideast resources
• Manage a modest budget, preparing forecasts and plans in line with Amideast budgeting and reporting processes

Problem Solving and Judgement
• Exercise high-level judgement and problem-solving skills particularly when confronted with  situations requiring immediate action

Professional and Organizational Knowledge
• Develop a deep understanding of Amideast, its policies and procedures, its organizational culture, and its regional and departmental  interdependencies
• Demonstrate  an understanding and respect for the organization’s systems and workflow

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field. Advanced degree preferred
• A minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience leading strategic communications  in the non-profit sector
• First-hand understanding of international non-profit organizations, value propositions, and member-driven work environments
• Experience working with and/or leading at a marketing, advertising, digital, client/service-based agency/company (or consultancy) preferred
• Proven record of successful web and social media campaigns as demonstrated by numbers reached and targets met
• Experience in press/media, data and analytics, publishing, editing and content development, automated and data-driven marketing
• Experience with budgeting process and resource management
• Demonstrated experience in crisis communication and change management
• Ability  to demonstrate effective influence and leadership across the organization

Skills and Abilities
• Demonstrated interest in advancing education in the international not-for-profit sector
• Strong commitment to contributing to an organizational culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion
• Understanding and interest in engaging with a broad range of cultures and countries
• Knowledge of the latest communication technologies and tools
• Exceptional communications skills, from writing and editing to speaking/presenting, to team-based problem solving and collaborating
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Practical experience with data-driven analysis, data analytics, and benchmarking
• Willingness to travel domestically and to the Middle East and North Africa, as requested
• Arabic language skills are a plus

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The incumbent in this position will work in a professional office environment and will utilize the following equipment when working from the corporate office or remote home office (on a hybrid basis).
• Computer (laptop or desktop)
• Printer/Photocopier/Scanner/Fax
• Telephone

Up to 5% business travel may be needed to support communications across the organization.

The physical demands and work environment that have been described is representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act or local law.

This position description is an overview of the major functions and requirements of this position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of the position; the Employee’s Manager may assign other duties as related or as otherwise deemed appropriate and necessary within the general scope, without the need for additional compensation.

Amideast is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Positions that involve interaction with children will be required to read, acknowledge, and comply with and attend special training in accordance with the Child Protection and Safeguarding policy. All Amideast representatives must comply with the Code of Conduct and all applicable organizational policies which include but are not limited to, Anti-Human Trafficking and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.