Head of Communications and Philanthropic Advocacy

Position description

Foundation for a Just Society (FJS) envisions a world where all people are equally valued and lead self-determined lives. FJS advances the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQI people and promotes gender and racial justice by ensuring those most affected by injustice have the resources they need to cultivate the leadership and solutions that transform our world.

FJS makes grants to local, national, regional, and global organizations and networks. Our portfolios are Francophone West Africa, Mesoamerica, South and Southeast Asia, the US Southeast, and Global. Additionally, FJS has a small New York City portfolio. FJS supports efforts that advance long-term, structural change and meet immediate needs that enable women, girls, and LGBTQI people most affected by injustice to be leaders, strategists, and agents of change. FJS’s current annual budget is $76 million. 

FJS recently developed its inaugural philanthropic advocacy strategic framework, which seeks to unlock more and better funding for feminist organizations and movements led by those most affected by injustice, particularly those who experience oppression at the intersections of gender, sexuality, and race, ethnicity, caste, indigeneity, religion or descent. Guided by regional priorities, FJS is engaging private and family foundations, bilateral donors, public foundations and women’s funds, and exploring engagement with high net worth individuals. 

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Vice President of Programs, the Head of Communications and Philanthropic Advocacy oversees FJS’s philanthropic advocacy strategic framework and the strategic communications approaches, tools and products needed to advance it.

This newly created position has three main functions: 1) lead and strengthen FJS’s inaugural philanthropic advocacy strategy in close collaboration with regional teams and the Vice President of Programs, 2) lead and implement strategic communications for philanthropic advocacy, and 3) oversee institutional communications. 

The Head of Communications and Philanthropic Advocacy position supervises FJS’s communications team, which is newly embedded in its Programs structure to facilitate strong collaboration and shared strategy. The team currently includes one Communications Associate and communications consultants, with a commitment to grow the team in 2024-2025. This position works in close collaboration with the Head of Grantmaking and the Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning to integrate and align strategic approaches across FJS’s programs.

The ideal candidate for this position is an excellent communicator and advocate who is skilled in relationship building and collaboration, committed to gender and racial justice, and knows the key actors and effective approaches for mobilizing resources for feminist movements. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with organizing skills who enjoys building and growing new initiatives. This is a full-time position that requires international and domestic travel (approximately 5-10%). 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Lead Philanthropic Advocacy Strategy (40%)

• Oversee the ongoing development and implementation of the new philanthropic advocacy strategic framework, in close collaboration with regional teams, the Vice President for Programs, and the Chief Executive Officer
• Provide strategic guidance and support to FJS staff to step into philanthropic leadership roles and advance their philanthropic advocacy work
• Facilitate a collective understanding of philanthropic advocacy goals and strategies, and how staff across FJS contribute to advancing these goals
• Coordinate cross-team efforts to build knowledge and evidence for philanthropic advocacy, in collaboration with the Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
• Partner with the Head of MEL to identify philanthropic advocacy outcomes, indicators, and mechanisms for data collection, and co-create learning spaces for strategy reflection and refinement
• Present the foundation’s philanthropic advocacy and strategic communications work to the board; produce updates on emerging trends and opportunities

Lead and Implement Strategic Communications for Philanthropic Advocacy (40%)

• Oversee all content development to advance the foundation’s philanthropic advocacy goals and specific program strategies
• Develop well-thought-out and consistent messaging and materials to communicate FJS’s work, program strategies, and learning to diverse donor audiences (e.g., foundations, government donors, and high-net-worth individuals)
• Oversee and contribute to the writing, editing and design process for all publications and learning products, working in close partnership with program teams and Head of MEL
• Activate and support staff and board members with clear and consistent messages about FJS’s work so that they are well-equipped to speak with different audiences and advance FJS’s desired narrative

Oversee Institutional Communications (10%)

• In partnership with the executive team, manage the foundation’s public identity to ensure mission, brand, and message continuity, integrity, and effectiveness in advancing our philanthropic advocacy strategy
• Oversee all external communications, including website, email, and social media
• Support communications staff to recruit and manage consultants and vendors that support communications activities

Oversee Staff and Budget (10%)

• Supervise communications staff and consultants
• Design a staffing and consulting structure to advance a growing area of work
• Develop philanthropic advocacy and communications budgets and work plans and monitor progress on goals

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of relevant experience overseeing advocacy or strategic communications within the gender justice, women’s rights, LGBTQI rights or social justice fields
• Knowledge of, passion for, and firm grounding in grassroots and global feminist movements led by those most affected by injustice, with an emphasis on the leadership of women, girls, and LGBTQI people in the Global South
• Experience with efforts to influence philanthropy; knowledge of donor audiences and needs
• Demonstrated experience managing and growing staff from diverse backgrounds
• Adept at leading communications and advocacy strategy development from conceptualization to completion, balancing long-term strategic thinking with short-term tactical actions and analysis
• Ability to create and operationalize innovative approaches to communications and philanthropic advocacy, and take calculated risks in support of the foundation’s mission
• Strong feminist political analysis and understanding of intersectionality in movements and organizational practice
• Exceptional written and oral communications skills, including composition, editing the work of others, and translating complex information for diverse audiences and stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including sensitivity to cultural communication differences, and ability to work well with team members
• Ability to listen actively, synthesize input, build consensus, and respond effectively to feedback and to opportunities and challenges
• Proven experience maintaining a high level of confidentiality and professional conduct
• COVID-19 vaccination
• Ability to travel
• Eligibility to work in the United States

Location: Strong preference for the role to be based in New York, NY. FJS staff are expected to work from the NYC office 2-3 days a week. Under rare circumstances, FJS has considered remote staff.

Some domestic and international travel is required.

Application deadline: March 4, 2024 

FJS is committed to cultivating an organizational culture where everyone is able to bring their full,  authentic selves to work. The foundation believes a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is  one where all employees, no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual  orientation, gender identity, gender expression, education or disability, are valued and respected.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net