About Access Now

Access Now is a growing international human rights organization dedicated to defending and extending the digital rights of users at risk around the world, including issues of privacy, security, freedom of expression, and transparency. Our policy, advocacy, technology, and operations teams have staff presences in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East/North Africa (MENA), North America, and South/Southeast Asia, to provide global support to our mission.

The Role

About This Role

The Director - Communications and Engagement leads the Communications and Engagement Team within the Advocacy Arm. The Director manages and leads strategy for a broad portfolio of issues and a growing team of expert communicators, digital campaigners, production professionals, and designers.

The Director - Communications and Engagement works closely with the three other directors within the Advocacy Arm (Campaigns, Legal, and Policy & International Programs), reports through the Executive Director, and is a member of Access Now’s senior management team.

What You Will Do

Program Leadership

• Guide, develop, and execute a comprehensive, substance-driven internal and external communications and engagement strategy, aligning with the broader goals of the Advocacy Arm and Access Now’s strategic vision
• Collaborate across Access Now’s senior management team to identify and develop key strategic global communications and advocacy initiatives that further the Org’s mission
• Work closely with other Advocacy Arm directors to ensure impactful content, advocacy campaigns and projects, and policy positioning
• Manage, oversee, and advance the communications capacity of the Organization across all assets from press to social media, and from the website to reports, legal filings and other collateral
• Oversee the evolution and execution of Access Now’s visual identity, branding, and design products with lead for design and creative production
• Guide the development and implementation of regionally, culturally, and linguistically diverse media and communications strategies and outputs
• Support the production of advocacy materials for a range of audiences, providing strategic leadership in ensuring those materials are impactful to our mission
• Oversee queries from the media, the public, and colleagues in the digital rights community, taking initiative to promote Access Now’s views in public discussion, and identifying key opportunities to advance the organization’s advocacy goals

Organizational Management

• Manage Access Now’s diverse Communications and Engagement Team staff to drive campaigns and advocacy initiatives with clear and measurable outcomes and deadlines
• Ensure strong professional development, coaching, and performance management practices across the Team
• Develop and implement annual Communications Budget
• Participate in Code of Conduct Team discussions and development of key communications around community safety and security
• Support the Development team in its fundraising endeavors including the production of materials and periodic speaking with donors
• Assist in global implementation of the annual RightsCon Summit series
• Performing other duties as assigned, including acting as a spokesperson for the organization and advising the Executive Director

The Details

Location

This is a full-time position, with preference for Africa, Asia-Pacific/Southeast Asia, LatAm, and Europe (Belgium, Germany, UK). The successful candidate must possess the right to work in the location in which they will be based. At this time most Access Now Team Members are working through hybrid office arrangements, combining remote at-home work with intermittent use of offices and/or co-working spaces.

Remuneration

Access Now offers competitive compensation - in line with skills, preparation, and depth of experience - and benefits packages that align with our regional and office presences. While the specific location drives actual compensation ranges, examples of anticipated, initial placement within the salary range for this role include:

• Between £7,000 and £7,750 GBP gross monthly
• Between €7,700 and €8,500 EUR gross monthly

Benefits for this specific role are tied to the location, and will vary. Regardless of location, all Team Members benefit from a strong global culture aligned around:

• Work-life balance...including a generous paid time-off program between 36 and 40 days annually
• Professional development and growth opportunities
• Extensive workplace flexibility
• Organizational resilience and support for all team members, including paid family leave and employee assistance programs
• Connection to a diverse, global team of passionate, principled professionals
• Opportunities to recharge (including one month of paid refresher leave after 4 years)

How To Apply

Please submit the following documents:

• Résumé/CV (removing all personally identifying information such as age, gender, marital status, address, and photo)
• Thoughtful cover letter outlining your suitability for this leadership role, with particular attention to your experience aligning to the core functions

Our hiring teams review applications submitted through our Career Openings page; email submissions are not accepted. Please note that if you are applying via a link in a 3rd party system (examples: Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn), be sure that you are properly uploading a distinct Cover Letter and a separate CV/Resume.

We are a global human rights organization committed to inclusivity and equity, and seek the most talented team members who bring their true selves, with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences. We are interested in receiving applications from people who consider themselves as under-represented in their talent communities. As an equal opportunity employer, we value and encourage diversity and consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status. Our commitment applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination.

• Published 2022-04-13

Ideal Profile

Skills, Education, And Mindset You Will Bring

• Multiple years of relevant and seasoned professional experience (communication, advocacy, public relations, journalism) in outreach positions (campaigner, strategist, lobbyist, community manager, etc), with progressively increasing levels of managerial responsibility
• A track record for advancing advocacy goals, leading to real-world outcomes, preferably in human rights or technology spaces
• Strong team and project management skills with an ability to lead and motivate a multi-disciplinary, remote team to meet and prioritize multiple deadlines in a complex and fluid environment
• Demonstrable knowledge of relevant international human rights and technology policy issues, experience in advocacy, journalism, communications, campaigning, and/or organizing, and ability to apply that capacity towards complex and concurrent goals
• Proven capacity to synthesize complex information in fluid, rapidly changing contexts, and the ability to design solution sets to achieve meaningful change outcomes
• Understanding of law and legal processes relevant to digital communications, including defamation, libel, licensing, privacy, and freedom of expression topics
• Excellent spoken, expository, and persuasive writing and editing skills
• Cultural sensitivity to communicate effectively with people and groups around the world
• A flexible and respectful understanding of leading and collaborating with colleagues working across regions, time zones, and environments
• Solid non-technical understanding of security technologies
• Experience planning and staging public programs, such as a conference, gala, or festival
• Experience with CRM management (including GDPR compliance), maintenance and development of action-oriented email lists, community management, and effective measurement and evaluation practices
• Ability to travel internationally
• A graduate degree or relevant practical experience related to communications, journalism, or other relevant field

What's on Offer?

• Regional Role
• Leadership Role
• Flexible working options
• Opportunity to make a positive impact