Head of Communications

The role

As part of our organisational growth plan, we are looking for an exceptional candidate to support the Centre to achieve its mission and goals through strategic communications. As the Centre evolves beyond its start-up phase, the Head of Communications will be critical to guiding the strategic delivery of the Centre’s communications strategy, both internally and externally as we deliver on our ambitious work plan.

Key to this will be working with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that the communications function is an enabling one, working across the Centre’s goals to drive results and uphold the Centre’s culture and values.

The role will require:

• Leading a bold and ambitious multi-channel, integrated communications strategy to support the strategic priorities of the Centre.
• Working across Centre teams and the Centre’s portfolio of evidence, policy thought-leadership and advisory programmes to identify innovative opportunities for effective strategic communication and outreach activities.
• Overseeing and managing media relations to ensure timely and accurate coverage of the Centre’s work and further the reach of the Centre’s organisational objectives.
• Acting as a senior adviser working in close collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team.
• Leading an ambitious programme of events and compelling evidence-driven communications products for a variety of different audiences and targets.
• Elevate the Centre’s external reputation through demonstrating the impact of our work.
• Ensure consistent, accurate messaging and alignment of content as well as developing the Centre’s brand voice, maintaining brand integrity across all communications activity.
• Contributing to work-planning and budgeting decisions.
• Managing and developing the communications function.
• Directing, managing and collaborating with a comprehensive service communications agency to assist us with our external communications activity.
• Ensuring the Centre’s values and our commitments to diversity, equality and inclusion are at the heart of our communications activities.

Application process

Interested applicants should apply, including a cover letter (no more than one page) and CV, via DAI’s recruitment portal.

Any questions about the role or the recruitment process should be sent to: jobs_CDP@disasterprotection.org (please do not send applications to this email address).

The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday 1 June 2022.

Background

The Centre for Disaster Protection was launched by the UK Prime Minister in July 2017 to strengthen resilience in developing countries through better preparedness and planning backed by risk-based financing arrangements. The Centre is funded with UK aid from the UK government.

The Centre for Disaster Protection works to change how the world prepares and pays for disasters. Identifying, planning for and financing disasters before they strike saves lives, reduces suffering and protects livelihoods and economies, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable communities. The Centre brings countries together with international development, humanitarian and private sector organisations to find solutions and advocate for change. We find ways to stop disasters devastating lives by supporting countries and the international system to better manage risks. To do this, the Centre provides advisory services, builds knowledge, catalyses innovation and creates partnerships across the development, humanitarian and financial sectors.

With Covid-19, the world is more aware than ever of the importance of being prepared and working together to address risks. The Centre’s work has never been more crucial. With a recent funding uplift from the UK government to mid-2025, the Centre is entering a new period of organisational growth, evolving beyond its start-up phase to tackle the increasingly urgent impact of climate change and frequency of disasters around the world.