Director of External Communications

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

As Director of External Communications, you will lead a global strategy that strengthens our influence, amplifies the voices of girls and young people, and protects and enhances our reputation worldwide.

You will spearhead, coordinate, foster collaboration and manage activities to promote effective external communication by and across all Plan International entities. Your leadership will ensure that our strategic messaging and storytelling enhance the organisation's visibility and reputation, positioning Plan International as the 'go to' organisation for girls' rights and a global leader in child rights advocacy.

Why Join Us?

This role offers a unique opportunity to lead communications for a globally recognised and respected organisation committed to advancing the rights of children and girls worldwide. You will be working alongside passionate, skilled professionals in an environment that values innovation, integrity, collaboration, and impact. Your leadership will help shape the stories and messages that inspire change and mobilise support across different continents and cultures.

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 (totaling 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.

Location: The location of this role can be flexible where Plan International has an office* that can employ on behalf of the Global Hub and you have the pre-existing right to work and live. Working hours that align with the UTC timezone are preferred.

Type of Role: Permanent or maximum fixed term contract as per employing office’s standard terms and conditions.

Reports to: Executive Director of Global Affairs

Closing Date: Sunday 12th July

*Applicable locations include: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.