Director of External Communications

Job Description

Plan International is seeking a visionary leader to shape and drive our global external communications strategy. This role will ensure our messaging is cohesive, powerful, and aligned with our mission to advance children’s rights and gender equality. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will lead a talented communications team, manage our brand reputation, and innovate how we engage with audiences worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide global strategic leadership for the organisation’s external communications, ensuring integration and alignment among international teams to meet communications objectives effectively.
• Lead and develop two direct reports and their teams (totalling around 12 members), recruiting and nurturing high-performing talent while fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with communications colleagues across Plan International’s entities, promoting best practices and collaboration to enhance overall communications quality and coherence.
• Drive ethical and powerful storytelling that reflects Plan International’s core values, including anti-racism and safeguarding, ensuring all content authentically represents our development and emergency response work.
• Oversee the creation and implementation of digital and social media campaigns that increase public awareness, engagement, and support for Plan International’s mission and strategic campaigns.
• Champion the organisation's brand strategy, ensuring a bold, consistent global presence that amplifies Plan International’s unique role as a protector of child and girls’ rights worldwide.
• Lead timely and effective communications responses to global events and emergencies, collaborating closely with regional hubs and country offices to maintain readiness and deliver impactful messaging during crises.
• Provide expert guidance on reputational risk management, acting as the primary contact for crisis communications, and advising senior leadership and stakeholders on navigating complex issues with transparency and integrity.
• Drive innovation by integrating emerging communication technologies, particularly those popular among youth, to keep Plan International at the forefront of digital engagement.
• Ensure the ongoing publication of high-quality reports and reviews, elevating Plan International’s thought leadership and research impact to diverse audiences through innovative platforms and media.

About You

You bring senior experience leading communications in international, matrixed organisations, with a strong track record in strategic communications and brand positioning, media, digital, and campaign leadership and leading and developing diverse, global teams. You are a collaborative and values-driven leader, committed to ethical, inclusive, and power-aware storytelling.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

• Extensive experience leading communications teams within complex international environments, with a proven track record of success in brand management and strategic communications.
• Deep knowledge of international affairs, particularly issues affecting children and youth, and the ability to anticipate and respond to global trends that impact the sector.
• Exceptional leadership and management skills, with demonstrated ability to inspire and develop diverse teams across multiple locations.
• Strong expertise in media relations, digital communications, and public relations strategies, including extensive experience working with international media outlets.
• Proven ability to lead and manage reputation and crisis communications, with experience advising senior executives and managing complex risk scenarios.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of engaging and influencing a wide range of audiences including governments, donors, partners, and the public.
• Commitment to Plan International’s mission and values, with a personal dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, and safeguarding principles.
• Language skills: English is essential; proficiency in French or Spanish is highly desirable.