Director, Communications chez CLASP

About the Organization

CLASP is the leading global authority on efficient appliances’ role in fighting climate change and improving people's lives. With 25 years of expertise, CLASP collaborates with policymakers, industry leaders, and other experts to deliver clear pathways to a more sustainable world for people and the planet.

CLASP is a global nonprofit with offices in Brazil, Europe, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and the United States. We have worked in over 90 countries since our inception in 1999. We are mission-driven and committed to a culture of diversity, transparency, collaboration, and impactful work. Find out more about CLASP.

About the Role - Communications Director

CLASP is seeking an experienced professional to lead strategic communications, campaigns, and advocacy. The Director leads the development and execution of short- and long-term external communications strategies that advance the organization’s objectives and raise brand awareness, including multi-stakeholder advocacy campaigns. The Director oversees strategic communications for the organization, including message development, event participation, and digital media presence. Working with senior leadership, the Director stewards and evolves CLASP’s unique brand and voice. 

A successful candidate will understand how communications drive CLASP’s impact. You are adept at communicating across a variety of media and audiences, experienced at navigating complex global environments, and committed to staff and organizational development. The role requires a hands-on leader; you can balance vision and execution to drive results. 

The candidate will report to CLASP’s Chief Communications & Development Officer and lead a team of seven to 10 staff and regular consultants based in Europe, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and the United States. The role has four direct reports, based around the world, who they will directly manage and develop. In addition, the Communications Director will work closely with senior leadership and program leads to contribute to asset development and provide strategic communications guidance for staff across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership: Build communications strategies and oversee the development and implementation of communications work plans across the organization, guiding day-to-day implementation.
• Develop & oversee communications campaign strategies: Work with program and research leads, external partners and subcontractors, CLASP leadership, and other thought leaders on the development of communications assets that drive campaign strategies; guide and support their implementation.
• Lead a high-performing team: Supervise and develop a dedicated, growing, and international communications team. Provide timely, constructive, and culturally aware feedback and guidance for direct reports and others on the communications team.
• Steward CLASP’s digital presence: Oversee content development and manage CLASP digital platforms, including the website and affiliated sites, social media channels, and CLASP’s presence on other platforms. Work with direct reports and other colleagues to maintain and drive the editorial calendar; ensure timely launch and dissemination; and provide quality control for articles, videos, social posts, and other digital assets.
• Bolster the Brand: Monitor and update as necessary CLASP’s brand, key messages, and other brand assets, with strategic inputs from colleagues. Ensure strategic message alignment across the organization. The Communications Director will collaborate closely with program leads to develop, iterate on, and fine tune effective communications messages.   
• Strengthen CLASP partnerships: Partner with CLASP program leads to support the formation and implementation of coalition-based advocacy campaigns; strengthen CLASP’s network and impact by interfacing with partner NGOs, champions, subject matter experts, and influencers on communications assets and strategies that drive results.
• Budget: Partner with finance staff to manage the communications budget; steward resources judiciously. 
• Develop media relationships: Build CLASP’s media partnerships through regular engagement; mentor CLASP team members on effective media engagement. 
• Oversee subcontractors: With support from junior staff, ensure that CLASP communications subcontractors are appropriately oriented and/or engaged; ensure their work product is aligned with the CLASP brand and objectives. 
• Track progress: Monitor and evaluate the performance of external communications activities and identify opportunities for improvement; work with others on the communications team to fine-tune the systems for doing this.  
• Connect: Look for opportunities to connect with partners and others on CLASP’s work and overlapping goals. Identify content ideas and opportunities to reach multiple and diverse audiences (e.g., donors, corporate and program partners, policy influencers etc.) 
• Business development: Contribute to the expansion and continuity of CLASP’s work by supporting proposal development, reporting, and donor engagement materials, in collaboration with CLASP’s fundraising team. 
• Travel: This role is expected to travel internationally around once per quarter or four times annually, for both external events and internal engagement; additional, regular domestic travel may be required for meetings, team engagement, and other activities.  

Qualifications

• A track record of achievement in strategic communications and developing, executing, and evaluating impactful communications campaigns. Directionally, we are looking for a minimum of ten years of relevant communications experience. 
• Candidates with experience at the nexus of climate change and international development are strongly preferred. Those with experience in adaptation, mitigation, international diplomacy, energy efficiency, renewable energy, public policy, public health, sustainable development, agriculture and/or environmental/ecosystem management will also be a fit. 
• International experience and experiencing coordinating work products and developing relationships across time zones is required. Experience leading internal editorial processes with subject matter experts and teams.
• Digital tools proficiency is required, e.g. Canva, HubSpot, WordPress, Adobe Creative Cloud applications, Trello and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an orientation toward working in a collaborative environment. Ability to work across international teams and influence outcomes without direct control. Ability to engage individuals working in different roles and countries; capable of training and guiding team members with a high degree of cultural and self-awareness. Ability to provide and receive productive feedback at multiple levels, internally and externally.
• Exceptional people and project management skills. Must be able to lead and manage direct reports and manage the team’s work and deliverables to produce high-quality results.
• Experience engaging donors and developing fundraising materials. 

Compensation and Location

CLASP offers a highly competitive salary and benefits package that are benchmarked with similar global non-profit organizations. This is a full-time, hybrid position that can work from the following locations where CLASP has regional hubs, listed in order of preference: Nairobi, Kenya, Brussels, Belgium, UK within reasonable travel distance to London, as in-person meetings will be expected. The location flexibility is intended to support collaboration with our global offices. Interested candidates must already have the legal right to work in the country where they are applying. If based in Nairobi, the role will require working on-site at our office at least two days per week to enable in-person collaboration.

Salary ranges are provided for the three potential locations: 

• Nairobi, Kenya: $103,000 to $150,000
• Brussels, Belgium: € 102,000 to € 138,000
• London area, UK: £79,000 to £99,000