Director, Communications Division Vacancy
Organisation: Commonwealth Secretariat
Position: Director, Communications Division
Grade: C
Division: Communications
Reports To: Secretary-General
Location: Not specified in the provided job specification
About the Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the principal intergovernmental organisation of the Commonwealth, supporting 56 member countries to advance democracy, good governance, sustainable development, peace, human rights, and prosperity.
The Secretariat works with governments, institutions, and partners to implement decisions of Commonwealth Heads of Government and Ministers and promote the values of the Commonwealth Charter.
The Communications Division is responsible for protecting and enhancing the reputation, visibility, and influence of the Commonwealth Secretariat. It leads communications across traditional and emerging media, public affairs, digital engagement, strategic campaigns, and stakeholder communications.
Job Summary
The Director, Communications Division, will provide strategic leadership to build understanding, relevance, and trust in the Commonwealth as a modern, dynamic, and connected network.
Through compelling storytelling and creative, persuasive communications, the Director will demonstrate the Commonwealth’s contemporary value and practical impact on people’s lives while advancing the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
The postholder will provide authoritative and politically astute advice to the Secretary-General and senior leadership, serve as the Secretariat’s senior communications professional and official spokesperson, and lead a creative, high-performing Communications Division.
Expected Outcomes
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Increase recognition and understanding of the Commonwealth as a modern, relevant, and influential network, particularly among younger audiences.
- Strengthen engagement in the Commonwealth’s work and opportunities.
- Promote the Commonwealth through persuasive, human-centred storytelling and a credible, coherent public voice.
- Maintain the Secretariat’s credibility and authority when navigating complex, sensitive, and high-profile issues.
- Ensure communications support programme delivery, partnerships, and resource mobilisation, with youth, gender, and small-state perspectives integrated.
- Improve communication and collaboration across staff and Commonwealth networks.
- Deliver an effective, digital-first, audience-led communications programme with consistent editorial quality and effective resource utilisation.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategy and Planning
- Develop, deliver, and regularly review an integrated communications strategy aligned with the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan and the priorities of the Secretary-General.
- Develop annual communications plans and prioritised editorial pipelines with clear audiences, campaign objectives, responsibilities, deadlines, and performance reporting.
- Ensure communications activities across the Secretariat are aligned, audience-focused, and directed towards organisational priorities.
2. Content, Campaigns and Storytelling
- Commission and deliver compelling stories, campaigns, speeches, digital content, and multimedia communications.
- Establish a clear organisational narrative that strengthens understanding of the Commonwealth’s relevance and impact.
- Translate complex policy and programme outcomes into accessible, human-centred communications.
- Lead communications for major Commonwealth meetings, high-level missions, institutional announcements, and flagship events.
3. Senior Advice, Media and Reputation Management
- Provide authoritative communications advice to the Secretary-General and senior leadership on opportunities, risks, emerging issues, media handling, and public positioning.
- Act as the official spokesperson for the Secretary-General and Commonwealth Secretariat.
- Serve as Conference Spokesperson during major Commonwealth events where required.
- Lead engagement with international, regional, and national media, public diplomacy, reputation management, and crisis communications.
- Develop appropriate messaging for sensitive, controversial, and fast-moving situations.
4. Integrated Organisational Delivery
- Collaborate with programmes, monitoring and evaluation, Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation, and corporate functions.
- Integrate communications into major programmes, policy initiatives, and organisational change activities.
- Ensure youth, gender, and small-state perspectives are appropriately reflected in communications planning and delivery.
5. Audience, Digital and Emerging Media
- Strengthen engagement with priority audiences through digital platforms and youth-focused communication formats.
- Use audience insights, analytics, and performance evidence to improve reach and impact.
- Monitor changes in the media environment, emerging technologies, online narratives, and communications platforms.
6. Brand and Commonwealth Networks
- Maintain a coherent Commonwealth master brand across all communications.
- Support Missions, Accredited Organisations, and partners with guidance and resources to communicate shared priorities.
- Strengthen the ability of staff and Commonwealth networks to participate in and amplify agreed priorities.
7. Internal Communications and Organisational Alignment
- Deliver clear and timely leadership, staff, and organisational change communications.
- Strengthen collaboration between the Communications Division and other Directorates.
- Promote a culture in which communication is recognised as a strategic responsibility across the organisation.
8. Quality, Performance and Accountability
- Ensure communications outputs are accurate, accessible, inclusive, politically sensitive, and editorially strong.
- Establish performance standards and measures for the quality, timeliness, volume, and effectiveness of communications.
- Use evidence and evaluation to improve decisions and demonstrate contribution to organisational outcomes.
9. People, Resources and Capability
- Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Communications Division.
- Build a creative, inclusive, high-performing, and future-focused team.
- Strengthen digital, creative, media, public affairs, and editorial capabilities.
- Manage budgets, suppliers, and resources effectively, ensuring sound governance and value for money.
Qualifications
- A relevant postgraduate academic qualification and/or equivalent senior professional experience in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Media, Public Affairs, International Relations, or a closely related field.
- Relevant professional accreditation will be an added advantage.
Experience
Candidates should demonstrate:
- Substantial senior communications leadership experience in a complex international, governmental, intergovernmental, diplomatic, public-sector, or politically sensitive environment.
- Success in shaping organisational narratives and delivering persuasive communications that build understanding, relevance, trust, and engagement.
- Experience advising senior leaders, Ministers, Heads of Organisations, or equivalent senior figures on communications strategy, media handling, crisis communications, and public positioning.
- Proven experience leading a substantial communications, media, public affairs, or digital function, including responsibility for people, budgets, suppliers, planning, performance, and organisational change.
- Experience in strategic storytelling, campaigns, speeches, media engagement, digital and multimedia communications.
- Experience using audience evidence and analytics to improve impact and eliminate low-value activities.
- Experience integrating communications with programme delivery, partnerships, and resource mobilisation.
- Proven ability to handle sensitive, controversial, or fast-moving issues requiring sound judgement and discretion.
- Experience strengthening brand consistency and enabling networks, partners, or stakeholders to communicate shared priorities.
Skills and Abilities
- Outstanding strategic communications judgement and credibility to advise at the highest levels.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and oral communication skills.
- Ability to develop a coherent organisational narrative and translate complex policies and programmes into accessible stories and campaigns.
- Strong media, spokesperson, public diplomacy, reputation management, and crisis communications capabilities.
- Deep understanding of traditional media, digital platforms, social media, multimedia, influencers, online narratives, and emerging communication technologies.
- Ability to use audience insights, analytics, evaluation, and performance evidence to improve impact and resource allocation.
- Strong leadership and people-management skills.
- Excellent planning, prioritisation, budget, supplier, and resource-management capabilities.
- Ability to collaborate across organisational boundaries and influence senior stakeholders, member governments, partners, and Commonwealth networks.
- Commitment to diversity, inclusion, gender equality, political neutrality, and Commonwealth values.
Core Competencies
Respect for Diversity
- Works effectively with people from all backgrounds.
- Treats all people with dignity and respect.
- Demonstrates fairness and equality in decision-making.
- Promotes an inclusive working environment.
Communication
- Establishes a culture of clear, consistent, and open communication.
- Ensures effective communication across all organisational levels.
- Communicates effectively with senior stakeholders, including Heads of Member States, Permanent Secretaries, and staff.
Planning and Analysis
- Organises work programmes in consideration of Board of Governors’ requirements.
- Assesses and advises on major programmes and divisional activities.
- Balances Commonwealth Secretariat and member-state priorities.
- Interprets incomplete or ambiguous information and assesses complex situations.
Decision-Making
- Makes informed strategic decisions that influence the direction and reputation of the Secretariat.
- Exercises sound judgement in time-sensitive situations, even with limited information.
- Promotes accountability and ownership of decisions.
Adhering to Principles and Values
- Embodies and promotes Commonwealth Secretariat values.
- Protects the reputation of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
- Interprets and implements the organisation’s principles and values.
Leadership and Development
- Provides strategic vision and leadership.
- Promotes the reputation and continued relevance of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
- Communicates the organisation’s vision, achievements, and impact in an inspiring manner.
- Creates opportunities for staff development and professional growth.
- Provides high-level professional advice on strategic issues.
- Demonstrates the ability to manage complexity and organisational change.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following:
- A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- A cover letter addressing the key criteria outlined in the person specification, supported by clear and relevant examples.
Applicants should structure their covering letters to demonstrate how their qualifications, experience, skills, and achievements meet the requirements of the position.
Important Eligibility Requirement:
Applicants must be citizens of a Commonwealth country to be eligible for this position.
About the Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is committed to advancing the shared values, priorities, and interests of its 56 member countries through international cooperation and strategic partnerships.
Closing date: 16 November 2026