Learning Links Foundation - General Manager/AVP - Communication & Marketing

General Manager / AVP Communication & Marketing

Position Brief:

The position of the Senior General Manager/Assistant Vice President (Communications and marketing) involves strategizing and enhancing the brand visibility of Learning Links Foundation (LLF) on a local and global scale. The primary focus is the dissemination of LLF's impact to key stakeholders by ensuring clear communication around LLF's vision, and also to establish new business partnerships. This includes maximizing the use of various channels, particularly social media, to achieve these objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Communications:

- In partnership with the head office, the Senior General Manager/Assistant Vice President (Communications & Marketing) leads and executes an integrated communications strategy to build LLF's reputation and strengthen the brand with key audiences.

- Manage the delivery of high-quality content, multi-media packages and marketing products to meet LLF's priority audience needs, including advocacy, external engagement, grant acquisition and other resource development activities.

- Ensure that LLF's digital platforms reflect the LLF brand and strategy, showcasing high-quality and compelling narrative, visuals and audio-visuals, and increase engagement from target audiences.

- Manages a team of communicators, empowering and equipping them to deliver a focused portfolio of first-class content, media and engagement.

- Ensures strategic communications guidance to Senior Vice President, Content & Communications and senior leadership team on business needs as they related to building thought leadership, reputation and trust.

Strategic Communication Planning:

- Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies that align with organizational goals and enhance brand visibility.

- Craft compelling narratives that effectively convey the organization's mission, values, and impact.

- Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure communication plans are integrated into overall business strategies.

Content Creation:

- Oversee the creation of compelling and engaging content for various platforms, including website, social media, newsletters, State Interventions' catalogues, Program One Pagers, press releases, articles, and blog posts

- Collaborate with internal teams to gather information for compelling stories.

Marketing:

- Ensure all content adheres to brand guidelines and effectively communicates key messages.

Internal Communications:

- Develop and implement internal communication strategies to foster a transparent and informed company culture.

- Collaborate with department heads to ensure consistent and effective internal messaging.

- Collaborate with program managers to highlight success stories and impact.

- Strengthen communications capability and assure brand alignment across the national office to enhance organisational culture and effectiveness

- Engage staff and leaders to engage in and champion LLF's global story and the national perspective through multiple internal channels, perspectives and events.

- Establish communication systems and processes to generate donor-oriented content in coordination with heads of program teams.

- Identify, brief and train spokespersons to ensure professional on-message media engagement that promotes LLF's operations and impact.

- Contribute to the production and dissemination of LLF's annual report and individual program reports.

- With support from the Head Office and guidance, execute and monitor for compliance required communications policies and ensure staff understanding.

Brand Management:

- Safeguard and enhance the organization's brand through consistent messaging and communication across all channels.

- Ensure consistent messaging and branding across all communication channels.

- Monitor and analyze brand perception and adjust strategies accordingly.

- Oversee the development and maintenance of the organization's brand identity.

Digital and Social Media Management:

- Oversee the organization's presence on digital platforms, ensuring content is timely, relevant, and aligns with communication strategies.

- Lead digital marketing initiatives, including social media campaigns, email marketing, and website content.

- Stay current with industry trends and leverage new technologies to enhance communication efforts.

- Implement strategies to increase online visibility and engagement.

Media Relations:

- Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with key media outlets, journalists, and influencers.

- Proactively seek and capitalize on opportunities for media coverage to enhance the organization's public profile.

Analytics and Reporting:

- Utilize analytics tools to measure the performance of communication and marketing initiatives.

- Provide regular reports on key performance indicators and make data-driven recommendations.

Public/Media Engagement:

- Advance communications work around key joint national and global engagement initiatives.

- In collaboration with the head office departments' leads, contribute to the development of a national external engagement plan for coordination, positioning and enhancing LLF's influence and impact.

- Develop a media engagement strategy as part of an integrated communications plan.

- Engage media at the national level and provide messaging as needed, in coordination with head office and regional offices' media managers serving as a spokesperson for LLF and developing other spokespersons.

- Collaborate with program teams to define key issues, communications channels and messaging for public advocacy initiatives.

Budget Management:

- Manage the communication budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources for maximum impact.

Stakeholder Management:

- Build and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, including partners, donors, and community members.

- Represent the organization at events and conferences.

Qualifications and Experience:

- At least 10 years of professional experience in corporate communications, media and journalism, and marketing.

- A university degree (MA) in Communications, Digital Media, Journalism, or a relevant field.

- Proven experience in a similar role.

- Excellent writing skills, with photographic and/or video skills also preferred.

- Strategic thinker with the ability to align communication efforts with organizational goals.

- Demonstrated ability to think and manage strategically, plan and meet deadlines.

- General experience in project management, with specific experience in the production of diverse and creative communications projects including publications, multi-media, websites/pages, photo and video reports.

- Experience of working with local, international and social media for campaigning and advocacy purposes.

- Donor engagement, internal communications, external communications and some level of advocacy communications.

- Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.

- Able to travel and work in the field as an essential function of the position.

- Strong competency in developing and reviewing impact stories, production scripts and media briefings.

- Rich experience in Brand Management

- Proficient command of English.

- Excellent written and verbal, and inter-personal communication skills.

- Ability to work both independently, and as an effective member of a collaborative team.

- Demonstrated skill in creative thinking and producing creative solutions to industry standards and high attention to detail.

- Proven social media and networking expertise.

- Strategic and creative mindset.

- Meticulous attention to detail.

- A portfolio of work available for review.

Other Attributes:

- Excellent journalistic (verbal and written), Media Relations and Media Production skills.

- Ability to communicate fluently in English (and regional language), and to relate cross-culturally with a wide range of program teams.

- Demonstrate ability to lead and manage strategically and meet tight deadlines.

- Experience in the development and production of a wide array of communication materials such as publications, impact videos, web, and other media.

- Demonstrate rich portfolio of Strategic Communications.

- Highly computer literate with capability in email, MS Office, and related business and communication tools.

- Proficiency in design layout, typography skills, and photo and video-editing software.

- Ability to create schedules and meet deadlines.

Type: Full-time

Language Requirement: Fluency in English, Hindi/Regional language of location

Work Environment: Hybrid (Home/Office-based) with 25% travel to the field