The posting
Role Title: Director of Strategic Communications and Brand Role Type: Unpaid Volunteer Number of Positions: 1 Location: Home-based / Remote
THIS IS AN UNPAID VOLUNTEER ROLE.
About DTID
The Digital Technology Institute for Development (DTID) is an international non-profit institute advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies to support sustainable development and policy implementation.
DTID brings together professionals, researchers, technology specialists and other stakeholders to generate research, develop practical solutions, strengthen partnerships and support informed decision-making at the intersection of technology, climate change and sustainable development.
The Role
DTID is seeking an experienced Director of Strategic Communications and Brand to provide senior in-house leadership for the organisation's institutional communications and brand management.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that DTID presents itself clearly, consistently and professionally across its website, digital platforms, presentations, publications, internal communications and external materials.
The role requires strong editorial judgement and a deep understanding of institutional communications. The postholder will need to understand DTID's work sufficiently to determine what should be communicated, how information should be structured and how individual projects, research and activities connect to the organisation's wider identity.
Key Responsibilities
The Director of Strategic Communications and Brand will:
- Serve as the principal guardian of DTID's brand and institutional identity.
- Maintain oversight of DTID's website, including structure, content priorities, accuracy and updates.
- Identify communications opportunities arising from DTID projects, research, events, partnerships and organisational activities.
- Develop and maintain DTID's communications calendar.
- Draft, edit and review institutional materials, including presentations, reports, announcements, executive communications and external correspondence.
- Ensure consistent application of DTID's visual identity, editorial standards and communications guidelines.
- Translate complex technical or specialist work into clear public-facing language without changing its substance.
- Coordinate communications requirements across DTID Divisions, teams and projects.
- Work closely with the Director of Media Relations to identify stories suitable for external media and provide accurate supporting material.
- Manage junior communications support, relevant contractors and communications technology where required.
- Maintain an organised archive of approved communications materials, templates and brand assets.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of DTID's institutional communications and brand-management practices.
Requirements
Skills and Abilities
Candidates should demonstrate:
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills.
- Strong editorial judgement.
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to understand complex subject matter and communicate it clearly to different audiences.
- Strong strategic thinking and communications-planning capability.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and meet agreed deadlines.
- Strong professional communication and stakeholder-management skills.
- Ability to work effectively with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
- Ability to maintain consistent institutional messaging across multiple channels.
- Ability to work independently and exercise sound professional judgement.
- Ability to collaborate effectively within a remote and internationally distributed organisation.
- A proactive, reliable and solutions-focused approach to work.
General and Specialist Knowledge
Candidates should have knowledge or experience in:
- Strategic communications.
- Institutional and corporate communications.
- Brand management and visual identity.
- Editorial planning and content governance.
- Website and digital content management.
- Executive communications.
- Publications and presentation development.
- Internal and external communications.
- Communications planning and scheduling.
- Digital communications tools and content-management systems.
Knowledge or interest in climate change, sustainability, international development, artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies would be advantageous.
Education and Training
Candidates should preferably possess:
- A Bachelor's or Master's degree, or equivalent qualification, in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Media Studies, English, International Relations or another relevant discipline.
Relevant professional qualifications or specialist training in strategic communications, corporate communications, brand management, journalism or digital communications would be advantageous.
Equivalent professional experience and demonstrated capability may also be considered where appropriate.
- Professional proficiency in English.
Knowledge of an additional international language would be advantageous.
Experience
Candidates should ideally demonstrate:
- Significant professional experience in strategic communications, institutional communications, corporate communications or a related field.
- Strong demonstrated writing and editing experience.
- Experience managing organisational websites and digital content.
- Experience maintaining brand consistency across multiple communications channels.
- Experience translating technical or specialist subject matter for different audiences.
- Experience supporting or advising senior leadership.
- Experience coordinating communications across teams, departments or organisations.
- Experience managing communications projects, staff or external support where appropriate.
Experience within an international organisation, think tank, nonprofit organisation, research institution, technology organisation, climate or sustainability-focused organisation would be advantageous.
Benefits
What Difference Will You Make?
Strong institutional communications are essential to ensuring that DTID's work is understood, trusted and presented consistently to internal and external audiences.
As Director of Strategic Communications and Brand, you will help ensure that DTID communicates its research, projects, partnerships and institutional priorities clearly and professionally.
Your contribution will strengthen DTID's institutional identity, brand consistency, digital presence, communications quality and external credibility.
Benefits
What Will You Gain from Volunteering with DTID?
Although this position is unpaid, volunteering with DTID provides opportunities to:
- Lead institutional communications within an international organisation.
- Apply and strengthen strategic communications and brand-management expertise.
- Work closely with senior leadership and multidisciplinary teams.
- Shape the institutional identity and external presentation of DTID.
- Gain exposure to climate, sustainability, international development and emerging technologies.
- Develop international professional networks and relationships.
- Contribute to research, publications, events and institutional initiatives.
- Work within a fully remote and globally distributed organisation.
- Contribute directly to DTID's mission and institutional development.
Selection Process
DTID is committed to identifying talented individuals with both demonstrated expertise and strong potential.
Applications may be considered on the basis of demonstrated capability, relevant experience, transferable skills and potential.
The selection process will normally include:
- Application screening
- Written or technical assessment
- Interview and/or technical discussion for shortlisted candidates
- Final selection and onboarding
Candidates who successfully complete the written or technical assessment will be invited to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.
Important Notice
This is an unpaid volunteer position.
