Director of Strategic Communications

About the role
The Pulitzer Center seeks a visionary communications leader to shape how the world engages with critical global journalism—transforming breakthrough reporting into public discourse, movement‑building narratives, and lasting impact.

As Strategic Communications Director, you'll craft the narrative strategy that amplifies our journalists' work, positions our organization as a trusted voice in global conversations, and drives engagement across audiences from policymakers to students to donors. You'll lead integrated campaigns that don't just share stories, but shift worldviews and catalyze action on the world's most pressing issues.

This isn't about managing communications channels—it's about strategic narrative leadership. We're looking for someone who sees the big picture: how a climate investigation can reshape public understanding, how crisis reporting can influence policy debates, how storytelling can build movements. Someone who can translate journalistic excellence into communications campaigns that earn attention, build trust, and create measurable impact. Someone who has a data‑driven approach to communications with ability to leverage analytics for strategic decision‑making.

If you're energized by the challenge of elevating journalism's role in public discourse, building audience‑centered narratives at scale, and leading teams to do their most innovative work, this role offers remarkable creative freedom and strategic influence.

Responsibilities
Communications Strategy

Build and deploy communications campaigns with clear content pillars to support program work, fundraising, and organizational positioning

Define and steward the Pulitzer Center's communications strategy across all platforms, overseeing development, production, and dissemination of content (web, social, newsletters)

Ensure communications reflect the Pulitzer Center's mission, center audiences, and amplify the impact of our work, supported issues, and grantees worldwide

Strengthen the Pulitzer Center's capacity for movement‑building storytelling

Oversee revamp of Pulitzer Center website

Set strategic direction, coordinate the team's yearly work plan, and lead communication priorities and execution

Drive content innovation, including short‑form video, storytelling projects, podcasts, and influencer engagement

Leverage the team's data analysis capabilities to support the organization's communication goals

Programs and Campaigns

Define issue‑specific communications campaigns with program staff, ensuring they are achievable and evidence‑based

Ensure program content builds trust, earns attention, and shifts worldviews over time

Ensure paid strategies drive audience growth and measurable persuasion

Oversee production workflows from strategy through evaluation

Oversee influencer and creator partnerships, ensuring alignment, accountability, and long‑term value

Communications Team & Systems Leadership

Manage the Communications team, including staff, consultants, and budgets

Strengthen systems, tools, and processes to operationalize communications strategy

Train and coach staff to strengthen organization‑wide narrative capacity

Translate strategy into actionable briefs, budgets, timelines, and workflows

Make strategic budget decisions aligned with impact, across paid, production, technology, and external consultancy

Manage internal and external stakeholders, vendors, and agencies to align organizational needs and vision

Lead rapid response, crisis communications, and reputation management

Lead integrated public campaigns that elevate the Pulitzer Center's voice and influence

Position the Pulitzer Center and its leaders for impact in the international landscape, driving thought leadership across organizational and individual staff channels

Define and drive the overarching narrative and audience journey for all content across the ecosystem

Maintain a cohesive, emotionally resonant, and persuasive narrative across multiple brands, formats, and platforms

Collaborate with Development to ensure narrative alignment and leverage high‑performing content in external storytelling and fundraising

Ensure strategic alignment across marketing, communications, and development touchpoints

Serve as a key advisor to leadership and program teams on brand, narrative, and reputation

Participation in efforts and projects that support Pulitzer Center culture and values

This may include task forces, training sessions, meetings, committees, special projects, organizational events, and any other activities that support the Pulitzer Center

Participate in the planning processes for the organization

Qualifications
Required Qualifications

10+ years of progressive experience in strategic communications, digital strategy, nonprofit communications, or related fields

Proven track record leading integrated communications campaigns that drove measurable outcomes

Strategic thinking combined with operational excellence and ability to execute across multiple channels simultaneously

Deep understanding of narrative strategy, audience development, and movement‑building communications

Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal) with ability to craft compelling narratives for diverse audiences

Team management and leadership experience with track record of developing high‑performing teams

Track record managing website redevelopment or major digital transformation projects

Budget management experience including oversight of paid media, production, and external partnerships

Experience with digital platforms, social media strategy, and emerging communications technologies

Commitment to equity and inclusion and experience centering diverse voices and perspectives

Ability to work independently in a remote environment with strong self‑direction and accountability

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in journalism, media, or news organizations

Knowledge of international issues, crisis reporting, or global affairs

Experience with crisis communications and reputation management

Track record managing website redevelopment or major digital transformation projects

Experience working with influencers, creators, or thought leaders

Grant writing and fundraising communications experience

Understanding of nonprofit communications landscape and trends

Established network within journalism, media, or communications fields

Success Metrics
Your impact will be measured by:

Effectiveness of communications campaigns in advancing organizational priorities and program goals

Expansion in reach, engagement, and diversity of audiences across platforms

Success in positioning the Pulitzer Center and its leadership as trusted voices in key conversations

Measurable outcomes from integrated campaigns including awareness, engagement, and persuasion metrics

Development and successful implementation of new content formats and distribution strategies

Effectiveness, growth, and satisfaction of direct reports and broader communications capacity across organization

Quality of partnerships with Development, Programs, and other teams

Effectiveness of systems, processes, and workflows supporting communications execution

$100,000 - $118,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Compensation for US-based employees
The salary range listed above is for US-based employees. Our benefit package includes paid time off (holiday, vacation, parental and sick), health care coverage (including medical/dental/vision), health savings accounts 403(b) retirement plan, transit benefit, parental leave, and Life & ADD/LTD/STD Insurance.

Compensation for non US-based employees
All non-US salaries are calculated using an international conversion index, which includes estimates for comparable positions in the country of residence and the estimated cost of health insurance. We do offer paid leave benefits which include hours in recognition of local holidays, vacation, sick, parental, and bereavement leave. We do not offer health or retirement benefits for employees outside of the US.

Location & Work Arrangement
Remote work arrangement with flexibility for work‑life balance.

This position supports a global team with a majority in the United States, so will be required to work a significant portion of work hours in alignment with the Eastern or Central time zones to facilitate collaboration with team members, organizational leadership, and key stakeholders.

This role requires 10‑15% domestic and occasional international travel annually for:

Strategic planning sessions and team meetings

Major organizational events and conferences

Partner and stakeholder meetings

Professional development and industry convenings

The ideal candidate will be comfortable with regular virtual collaboration, occasional multi‑day travel commitments, and flexible scheduling to accommodate global time zones and breaking news cycles.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The Pulitzer Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign‑born residents, and veterans. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences.

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