Description
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is hiring a Director, Communications for our IIE Communications team. We invite you to join a team united by our mission to help people and organizations forge brighter futures through educational exchange and lifelong learning. Working at IIE is more than just a job; it’s a chance to make an impact. To collaborate with a passionate team, grow your skills, and contribute to programs that change lives around the world.
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Job Summary:
This position will work with the IIE Communications team. The Director, IIE Communications advances the impact of IIE’s work by building engagement inside and outside the organization. The Director leads a team of communications professionals who serve IIE’s leadership, programs, business development and philanthropy teams through digital content management, strategic campaigns, brand stewardship, creative and graphics, and press/ media management. This role is responsible for annual planning, cross-organizational collaboration, crisis communications, and promoting excellence through highest professional standards in all aspects of communications work.
This position reports to the Chief of Staff (COS) and supports executive messaging as well as organizational communications. The Director supports internal and external communications strategy development and collaborates closely with IIE public affairs consultants. The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in strategic communications, executive-level messaging, project management of large-scale initiatives, and a demonstrated ability to navigate complex, sensitive communications situations with sound judgment and professionalism.
Essential Functions:
• Manage a team of communications professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, customer service and accountability to ensure high-quality, reliable, and timely execution of deliverables against the annual plan and in support of IIE’s communication strategy.
• Support the development of IIE’s organizational communications strategy and identify strategic communication needs in support of Business Development, Philanthropy, Research Evaluation and Learning, Higher Ed Initiatives, and Program teams. Direct creation of collateral and print materials to support business needs.
• Lead annual planning process, setting objectives, timelines, performance metrics, and developing systems to advance the impact of IIE’s work both internally and externally. The annual plan consists of a monthly calendar of campaigns and deliverables across multiple platforms including social media, web, video and traditional print.
• Provide communications support and craft executive messaging for the CEO and the Senior Leadership team, including digital content, talking points, and written materials.
• Support the COS and the Office of the CEO with crisis communications, managing strategy, messaging, and execution during sensitive or high-stakes situations.
• Oversee departmental operations including technology solutions and departmental budgets.
• Project manage major collaborative communications initiatives, including Open Doors rollout, and other significant program or organizational milestones. Set performance standards and metrics. Review and approve IIE communications materials. Provide oversight of visual content and brand integrity, managing designers and vendors on major campaigns.
• Develop and manage publicity plans to elevate the humanitarian impact of IIE initiatives such as the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund and the Odyssey Scholarship Program.
• Oversee the IIE website to educate the public about the value of IIE as a leader in international education and as a trusted partner in developing and implementing exchange programs.
• Strategically disseminate programmatic information on the website and ensure risk and reputation management.
• Provide communications training to IIE team members for attendance at conferences, managing individual program social media platforms, development and publication of newsletters and blogs
• Develop and execute an annual plan to drive staff engagement, including in-person and virtual activities, large scale events, information sessions and small group discussions with staff and leadership
Requirements
Qualifications and Experience:
Education and Work Experience:
• Requires a Bachelor's degree and at least eight years of related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• 8–10 years of progressive experience in strategic communications, journalism, and/or public relations, preferably within higher education, international education, or nonprofit organizations, with demonstrated leadership of complex communications functions.
• Expertise in digital communications ecosystems, including social media platforms, strong understanding of integrated, multichannel communications strategies that drive audience engagement and organizational influence.
• Experience producing and overseeing multimedia and multichannel content, including video, web, social, email, and publications
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to produce high-impact content across formats—including long-form thought leadership, executive communications, reports, and concise, platform-optimized social media—under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated proficiency in translating complex quantitative and qualitative data into clear, audience-centric messaging; experience using data visualization techniques to enhance comprehension and impact.
• Strong command of communications analytics and performance measurement, including use of tools (e.g., Google Analytics, social media insights, CRM platforms) to assess campaign effectiveness, inform strategy, and optimize content.
• Proven experience managing high-performing, cross-functional teams, 5 years of managerial experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience with stewardship of institutional messaging during periods of ambiguity
• Demonstrated ability to support senior leadership, providing content options, executive messaging support and visuals/collateral
• Project management capabilities, including planning and executing complex, cross-functional communications initiatives; ability to manage competing priorities, allocate resources effectively, and deliver results under pressure.
• Work samples required: Please provide a website URL or PDF portfolio demonstrating writing samples, communications campaigns, and/or digital content aligned with the scope of this role.
Salary and Benefits:
• Hiring Range: $113,639 - $137,389. A candidate’s salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, internal organizational equity, and geographic region.
• IIE offers a robust suite of benefits to team members including medical, dental, and vision plans, paid time off and holidays, student loan, tuition and professional development reimbursement programs, retirement plans and a family medical leave benefits. Please visit our careers page for further details.
The Institute of International Education (IIE) offers a flexible hybrid work environment which leverages both office work and telework.
