Principal, Executive Communications

About this role

The Wikimedia Foundation seeks a senior communications professional to lead our executive communications across a growing, global portfolio.

This person's main responsibility is to serve as a primary communications partner to the Foundation's CEO, providing strategic counsel and direct support across internal and external communications. This includes building a comprehensive engagement strategy spanning multiple and complex stakeholder groups. In close collaboration with colleagues on the Foundation's media relations and internal communications teams, and with the Foundation's Chief of Staff, this person will develop, shape, and implement a strategy for the CEO to communicate and advance the vision of the Wikimedia Foundation. In addition, they will support external communications for other members of the Foundation's executive team and the Board of Trustees.

The person in this role will be responsible for proactively identifying, shaping, and executing opportunities to build the thought leadership platforms for the CEO and other Foundation executives, including securing and preparing leaders for public speaking and media engagements. This role will regularly develop communications materials for the CEO, such as speeches and remarks, talking points, social media posts, internal communications, briefing documents, and blogs. They will also develop key narratives and messaging strategies that increase the awareness and understanding of how Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects work and their value in the world, in alignment with the communications objectives of the Wikimedia Foundation.

This role requires a candidate with previous experience supporting C-level executives; the ability to work autonomously to develop thought leadership strategies and excellent written materials; and the ability to thrive in a highly collaborative environment by creating connections across departments and teams within a globally-distributed, remote, matrixed organization.

Working hours: This role requires regular working hours aligned with the Eastern Time (ET) time zone, with flexibility to work across time zones as needed to support global stakeholders and executive communications.

The ideal candidate is:

• An executive communications expert. You have written for CEOs and executives before; you are comfortable working directly with senior-level stakeholders to understand their priorities and translate them into a communications strategy. You are not just a communications expert; you are a strategic partner and advisor to the principals that you support. You are responsive and curious, with a high degree of executive presence. You are able to anticipate tough questions and think strategically about messages that resonate across multiple audiences.

• Highly collaborative. You will be part of an international communications department that works to reach and engage numerous stakeholders through a range of global channels, including earned media, social media, and channels reaching Wikimedia volunteer and affiliate communities and Foundation staff. You can develop and integrate executive communications tactics into the overarching communications strategy of the Wikimedia Foundation. You will proactively develop relationships throughout the organization and broader volunteer communities to understand and surface trends to include in communications.

• An experienced storyteller. You will develop written materials that capture the tone and voice of different executives, often working under tight deadlines. This can include writing and ghostwriting speeches, op-eds, quotes, external statements, and blog posts that have a clear point of view; guiding social media strategy that captures the tone and style of our executives; and creating a consistent internal communications strategy including regular staff emails from the CEO.

• Enthusiastic about proactive external opportunities. In a swiftly evolving news and public engagement landscape, you will raise the profile of Wikimedia Foundation leadership by proactively seeking out earned media opportunities and speaking engagements, as well as co-creating thought leadership and building public presence for our leadership team. You will leverage relationships with reporters and conference organizers to identify new and compelling publications and venues for Foundation leaders to speak to key audiences. You love following technology trends and other public narratives that are relevant to our work, and you identify proactive opportunities to increase awareness about the Wikimedia projects.

Skills and Experience:

• 10+ years of professional experience in communications, with several years supporting C-level executives.

• Excellent verbal communication and writing skills, including ability to adapt communications for different stakeholders.

• Unflappable composure and ability to engage with senior leadership-level presence; ability to communicate the work of the Wikimedia Foundation at multiple levels.

• Experience navigating crisis communications, including preparing executives to respond to sensitive or rapidly evolving situations in partnership with wider Communications teams.

• Proven ability to pitch stories, engage press, and manage key relationships to drive results. Experience and comfort working with reporters, staffing media interviews, and shaping articles.

• Experience developing a social media strategy customized for specific channels (LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.) in collaboration with the organization's larger social media strategy and social media team.

• Strong project management skills and experience managing multiple projects and deadlines at once, as well as an interest in both independent and collaborative work.

• Detail-oriented with experience maintaining systems and documentation for projects with multiple moving parts and stakeholders.

• Willingness to travel as needed (potential for 3 - 5 trips per year) and work across time zones.

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