Head of Global Media and Public Relations

This role leads Plan International’s global media engagement and public positioning, driving visibility, influence and credibility on girls’ rights and humanitarian response worldwide. It involves strategic leadership of global media strategy, crisis communications, reputation management, and coordination of media engagement during emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver a global media strategy that strengthens Plan International’s visibility, credibility and influence on girls’ rights and humanitarian issues
• Identify and secure high-impact media opportunities that advance organisational priorities and shape public and policy conversations
• Provide strategic communications leadership across advocacy, campaigns, research, partnerships and programmes to maximise external impact
• Develop and maintain network with international media and operational partners for public relations
• Lead the organisation’s global approach to reputation risk, issues management and crisis communications across diverse and high-risk contexts
• Advise the Leadership Team on high-profile, sensitive and complex issues, providing clear, timely and actionable guidance
• Strengthen systems, protocols and decision-making mechanisms for coordinated response to reputational risk
• Lead and coordinate global media engagement during major emergencies and humanitarian responses
• Deliver media communications plans in emergencies including messaging, media positioning, team deployment and real-time response
• Position Plan International as a credible and visible humanitarian actor in global media
• Drive strong, aligned media engagement across the organisation
• Build trusted relationships with media teams globally to enable coordinated and high-impact external engagement
• Provide expert guidance, advice and support to teams worldwide to strengthen consistency, quality and effectiveness
• Monitor and interpret global trends, media narratives and external risks to inform organisational positioning and decision-making
• Translate complex external dynamics into clear advice and information for senior stakeholders
• Act as a trusted partner to leadership on external positioning, risk and opportunity
• Develop and embed global standards, guidance and best practice for media engagement, crisis communications and reputation management
• Strengthen organisational capability through training, coaching and deployment of specialist resources
• Ensure safeguarding, gender equality and inclusion principles are integrated across all media and communications approaches
• Lead on developing good practice and building capacities for media relations in Country Offices
• Lead and develop a high-performing global media team, fostering collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement
• Manage external partners and specialist consultants as needed
• Oversee team planning and budget to ensure effective use of resources

Requirements

• Significant experience leading global media relations, securing coverage across international and mass media
• Proven ability to design and deliver integrated global communications strategies
• Experience working across diverse and high-risk contexts, particularly in Asia, Africa and Latin America
• Strong track record in crisis communications, including major emergencies and field deployment
• Expertise in reputation risk management within complex, global organisations
• Experience advising senior leaders on high-profile, sensitive issues
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to shape influence and positioning
• Proven experience in international and multicultural environments
• Solid understanding of the international development sector, including gender equality and human rights systems
• Experience developing global communications plans, policies and best practice
• Knowledge of safeguarding in humanitarian and development communications
• Strong project management and prioritisation skills in fast-paced environments
• Proven team leadership, coaching and capability-building experience
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills
• Strong collaboration skills across global, matrixed organisations
• Effective negotiator and problem solver
• Background in journalism, media or communications (international development exposure desirable)
• Fluent in English; additional languages an advantage
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in relevant field

Skills

• Global Media Relations
• Integrated Communications Strategy
• Crisis Communication
• Reputation Risk Management
• Senior Leadership Advising
• Strategic Communications
• International Development Communications
• Gender Equality Communication
• Human Rights Communication
• Global Communications Planning
• Safeguarding in Communications
• Project Management
• Team Leadership
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Influencing Skills
• Collaboration in Matrix Organization
• Negotiation
• Journalism
• Media Engagement
• Public Relations

Languages

English