Communications Manager

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that catalyzes private sector growth and creates economic opportunity for people and communities across the economically developing world. Since our founding in 1964, we have delivered lasting solutions across 139 countries. 

IESC is a valued partner to people and communities throughout the economically developing world. We share proven business skills and experience with entrepreneurs, jobseekers, businesses, farmers, cooperatives, and governments. We also offer resources—human, technological, financial—that sustainably build capacity and empower communities. Our long legacy of strengthening developing economies is matched by our vision for the next generation: a world with economic opportunity for all, where people and communities thrive.

Our major funders today are the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others.

The Communications Manager assumes responsibility for the planning, producing, and distributing of all IESC collateral material, printed or electronic reports, and branding initiatives. Reporting to the Vice President, New Business he or she develops strategies for improving IESC’s visibility and devises the implementation plan for all communication related activities, in both traditional and new media. The Communications Manager engages with and supports home office and overseas program staff and IESC new business efforts. This position is based in the Washington, DC home office of IESC with possible travel of up to 10% of the time.

Duties and Responsibilities: The Communications Manager will:

• Implement a full suite of IESC written and visual products for external consumption ensuring a consistent look and level of professionalism, whether those products originate in the home office or the field;
• Working in concert with IESC leadership, adapt IESC’s organizational communications strategy and materials as needed to meet emerging needs of both external and internal audiences. External audiences include funders of our large scale programs, partners in the international development community, and potential staff; as well as individual donors, foundations, and private sector entities targeted by our fundraising efforts. Our internal audiences consist of our home office and global program staff;
• Maintain IESC’s organizational communications policies and procedures;
• Identify and manage relationships with external communications and production companies as necessary;
• Develop theme based one-pagers to support institutional visibility and new business efforts and guide staff in collating outreach packets;
• Work with IESC home and overseas program office teams to gather information and stories to illustrate and explain IESC’s work and its impact, and use this information to develop materials for publicity and documenting purposes;
• Use a variety of social media outlets including but not limited to, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn to increase outreach and engagement with and grow IESC’s audiences;
• Manage IESC’s social media presence, including developing content/materials that present timely, accurate, and compelling information about IESC, and monitoring audience and engagement across a range of social media platforms;
• Update content on the IESC website and assist with web strategy;
• Support content development and communications related to IESC’s fundraising efforts;
• Maintain and build IESC’s communications list of target audiences in Bloomerang and send regular
• Support IESC’s internal communications, including organizational knowledge management and archive management, helping to maintain and update the intranet sites for communications on SharePoint; and developing internal newsletters for IESC global staff to share news and updates;
• Serve as a resource for and provide support to program staff on aspects of communications and help to cultivate IESC “brand ambassadors”. Specifically, provide templates and guidance to IESC programs including but not limited to program communications plans, communications toolkits, program branding and marking plans, review and editing of key select program deliverables, guidance regarding videos, liaising with the program communications point of contact, and providing support for program start-up and close-out for communications related tasks, including announcements of new programs, final review of program close-out reports, and other as needed activities; Support new business and help ensure the quality of all proposals including developing the branding and marking plan for proposals, editing and graphics, and developing proposal templates and style guides to meet the New Business team’s needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, communications, English, international development, or related field;
• A minimum of five years of work experience, and three years of professional experience working in a communications role, preferably including the not-for-profit sector;
• Exceptional communications and storytelling skills including written and oral English, as well as video, visual, and graphic communications;
• Skills in graphic design, new media and content development, and social media marketing;
• Experience using Twitter/X, YouTube, Facebook, and other social media;
• Ability to produce fact sheets, press releases, newsletters, brochures, presentations, and similar activities;
• Experience writing and editing articles and reports about international development or not-for-profit programs for a variety of audiences;
• Experience in designing, implementing, and coordinating outreach activities;
• Experience in international development and with USAID, USDA or other donor programs is a strong plus.

IESC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to achieving a diverse workforce in which all applicants and employees receive equal treatment regardless of their personal characteristics. IESC is committed to providing employment opportunities for all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

At IESC, we value a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We also encourage individuals who meet some but not all of the criteria and share IESC’s vision of creating economic opportunity through private sector growth to apply.