Description

Location: Washington D.C. 

Position Status: Regular, Full Time, Exempt 

Salary Level: Starting salary for this role will be from $90,000 USD up to $120,000 USD annually, commensurate with experience.

Closing date: Please submit application including CV and cover letter by December 11th 

Risk Level:  [X] Level 3 ☐Level 2  ☐Level 1  

(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.   

Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.  

Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data) 

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.

In disaster, in hardship, in more than 35 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions

into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Now, and for the future.

The Department / Team

The Global Communications Team elevates Mercy Corps’ global profile and influence through powerful storytelling and strategic media engagement. We are a nimble, globally connected team dedicated to amplifying Mercy Corps’ impact and inspiring action from donors, partners, policymakers, and the public. We raise visibility and credibility for Mercy Corps across top-tier international, regional, and other media platforms, positioning our leaders and experts as trusted voices in a rapidly evolving global landscape. We anticipate moments that matter and ensure Mercy Corps’ voice is heard, our expertise recognized, and our programs and impact understood.

The Global Communications Team sits within the Philanthropic Growth & Engagement (PG&E) Department. The mission of the Philanthropic Growth & Engagement (PG&E) Department is to advance Mercy Corps' mission by raising impactful and flexible funds—with a focus on growing unrestricted fundraising—from individuals, companies, and foundations, and elevating our global profile and influence. Our team brings together private fundraising professionals, marketing and communications specialists, development operations experts, and digital platform managers. Together, we boldly share Mercy Corps' global impact with our audiences through best-in-class storytelling with a focus on building trust, engagement, and long-term relationships among our supporters. We work across teams to inspire philanthropic support and partnership with external audiences and build and protect Mercy Corps' reputation and profile. Most of all, we are passionate about Mercy Corps' mission and believe a better world is possible.

The Position

The Director of Global Communications is a senior strategic leader responsible for advancing Mercy Corps’ global profile, influence, and reputation through high-impact media engagement, storytelling, and thought leadership. The Director supports the development and execution of global media strategies that elevate Mercy Corps’ visibility and credibility among top-tier audiences, including donors, policymakers, and partners. As a visible leader within Mercy Corps, the Director plays a key role in shaping the organization’s global narrative, deepening public understanding of our mission, and strengthening Mercy Corps’ influence on key policy and philanthropic conversations.

Based in Washington, D.C., this position offers a unique opportunity to operate at the nexus of media, policy, and humanitarian response, connecting global impact to policy influence. The Director plays a critical role in supporting the D.C.-based CEO and the Policy and Advocacy team to strengthen media advocacy around U.S. foreign assistance and global humanitarian issues. The Director builds and maintains strong relationships with top-tier U.S. and international media, serves as an on-the-record spokesperson, and provides strategic guidance during moments of opportunity or crisis.

The Director combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution and is equally comfortable developing big-picture strategies while directly managing media outreach, messaging, and day-to-day media inquiries. While the role currently operates as an individual contributor, it offers the opportunity to help shape future team structure and leadership as the communications function expands.

This role comes at a pivotal moment for the global humanitarian and development sector. With traditional funding models dramatically shifting, public trust in institutions changing, and new technologies redefining how people engage with global issues, the Director will help Mercy Corps lead the way in shaping a new narrative for our organization and the sector—one that reimagines what humanitarian action looks like in a rapidly changing world.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND PLANNING

●        Co-leads development and oversees the implementation of Mercy Corps’ global communications strategy to raise visibility, influence, and affinity across target audiences, including media, donors, policymakers, and partners.

●        Collaborates with and supports the Senior Director of Communications to ensure the global media relations strategy aligns with overarching department goals and organizational strategy.

●        Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to senior leaders, ensuring consistent, compelling messaging that advances Mercy Corps’ mission and drives philanthropic growth.

●        Develop strategies and lead engagement across a rapidly evolving influence landscape, including the rise of generative AI, new digital storytelling formats, and social-first news environments.[GB1]

●        Work closely with colleagues from donor engagement, marketing, fundraising, programmatic, policy, and operational departments to ensure our media and communications initiatives advance fundraising, advocacy, marketing, and mission goals.

●        Support issue management related to reputational risk and crisis communications, in partnership with the Senior Director of Communications and other internal stakeholders.

●        Maintain an uncompromised ability to respond quickly to current events with a strong sense of urgency.

CROSS-TEAM COLLABORATION

•          Translate complex or technical program information into clear, accessible, and emotionally resonant messages that inspire donor support and elevate Mercy Corps’ impact.

•          Partner with colleagues across the Philanthropic Growth & Engagement department to identify opportunities for maximum impact and ensure integration between media, marketing, and fundraising strategies.

•          Work closely with Brand, Marketing, and Digital teams to align storytelling across earned, owned, and paid channels, maximizing the reach and resonance of communications efforts and earned media wins.

•          Partner with country teams and other internal stakeholders to identify and support the collection of compelling stories and content assets (videos, photos, quotes) to bring our work to life for different audiences.

MEDIA RELATIONS & REPRESENTATION

●        Oversee proactive and reactive media engagement, cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with top-tier U.S. and international journalists and outlets—including print, broadcast, and new media — with a focus on cultivating Washington, DC-based media contacts.

●        Conceptualize and advance thought leadership initiatives by positioning Mercy Corps’ executives, experts, and research in high-impact media and influence opportunities.

●        Represent the Communications Team in internal and external fora; serve as an on-the-record spokesperson when needed.

●        Successfully lead media relations during global emergency responses, including deploying to manage media engagements as needed. Maintain an uncompromised ability to respond quickly to current events with a strong nose for news and sense of urgency; provide insightful analysis and recommendations for strategic positioning. Anticipate newsworthy moments and opportunities for proactive positioning of Mercy Corps with key media audiences.

●        Prepare and staff the CEO and other senior leaders for media interviews, including in-studio broadcast and other high-visibility engagements.  

●        Partner closely with the Policy and Advocacy team to align media strategies with advocacy priorities, including proactive media engagement and media advocacy around U.S. foreign assistance and other key policy issues.

TEAM ENGAGEMENT

●        Participate in nurturing a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing global team culture that values and fosters curiosity, innovation, collaboration, well-being, and cross-regional partnership.

●        Create and sustain a work environment rooted in diversity, mutual respect, and belonging where team members strive for excellence.

●        Hire, onboard, and lead team members as necessary.

●        Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.

●        Supports the Senior Director in the day-to-day responsibilities of team management as needed.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES 

●        Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

●        Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.

●        Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Senior Director of Communications

Works Directly With: Global Communications Team, Philanthropic Growth & Engagement Team, Policy and Advocacy, Country and Regional Teams, CEO/Office of the CEO, Executive Leaders

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/S or equivalent required in communications, journalism, or related field.

• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in communications, media relations, or journalism, including demonstrated engagement with geographically dispersed teams.

• Established relationships with top-tier U.S. and international media outlets (e.g., The New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters, Associated Press, BBC) and a proven track record of generating high-impact press coverage.

• Experience serving as an on-the-record spokesperson and trusted media representative for senior executives or organizations in high-visibility contexts.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex or technical information into clear, compelling stories that resonate with donors, policymakers, and public audiences.

• Understanding of and curiosity about the evolving global media and influence landscape, including the intersection of journalism, digital content, and emerging technologies.

• Strong commitment to ethical storytelling practices and visual representation that ensure communications reflect Mercy Corps’ values, protect participants, and elevate stories that center dignity and community voice.

• Exceptional cross-cultural communication skills; demonstrates sensitivity to and respect for diverse perspectives, communication styles, and cultural contexts, and fosters inclusive dialogue and collaboration across global teams.

• Familiarity with and interest in building skills in generative AI tools for content creation, research, and media engagement; ability to assess opportunities and risks related to AI in storytelling and communications workflows.

• Superior written and verbal communication skills, including excellence in messaging, media materials, and executive communications; experience writing and placing op-eds or thought leadership pieces a plus.

• Keen editorial judgment and a “nose for news,” with a deep understanding of what makes a story viable and timely in international media.

•          Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex priorities under pressure while maintaining composure, judgment, and creativity.

•          Experience in international development, humanitarian aid, climate, and/or global issues strongly preferred.

Success Factors

Our next Director of Global Communications will be a resilient, strategic, and forward-thinking communicator with a deep understanding of today’s rapidly evolving media and influence landscape. They will pair strong journalistic instincts with the ability to connect communications strategy to Mercy Corps’ fundraising, advocacy, and global influence objectives. They will be a tenacious and proactive relationship builder with an active network of top-tier U.S. media contacts and a proven ability to earn coverage that advances organizational priorities. They are intellectually curious and eager to experiment with new tools and platforms, including generative AI. They bring a blend of strategic vision and tactical execution, and can think and plan at the executive level while directly cultivating media relationships, pitching stories, and managing day-to-day media opportunities. The ideal candidate is a collaborative teammate who fosters inclusion, mentorship, and shared purpose across teams and geographies. They will demonstrate sound judgment under pressure, agility in navigating crises, and the ability to translate complexity into clarity for diverse audiences. This person will bring creativity, integrity, tenacity and a deep commitment to Mercy Corps’ mission, combining optimism with professionalism and composure even in high-stakes, high-pressure moments. This role is ideal for a communications leader who thrives in a fast-moving environment and leads through expertise, collaboration, and action.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Washington, DC and may include limited travel, including to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. 

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).

As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.  Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. 

We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.