[Hiring] Communications Officer @Open Society Foundations

Role Description

The Communications Officer, Europe serves as a senior strategic leader of external communications engagement for Open Society’s priorities across Europe, with a mandate that extends globally as needed.

• Develop and execute high-impact, regionally grounded communications strategies aligned with institutional priorities.
• Shape compelling organizational narratives and positioning on issues central to Open Society’s mission.
• Lead proactive risk assessment and reputational strategy, anticipating communications and media risks across the region and developing and executing mitigation strategies; serve as the lead during crisis situations, ensuring values-aligned response management.
• Shape and drive strategic communications opportunities aligned with institutional priorities—leveraging both real-time news cycles and long-term advocacy opportunities to advance Open Society values, influence public discourse and shape policy relevant narratives.
• Strategically position key Open Society leadership, experts, and thought-leaders across top-tier domestic, regional, and international media, cultivating relationships with influential journalists and editorial boards to expand reach, credibility, and thought-leadership impact.
• Author and oversee high-impact written communications, including Op-Eds, policy commentaries, thought-leadership pieces, and other press materials—ensuring clarity, narrative coherence, and alignment.
• Design and lead strategic media engagements, including press briefings, editorial meetings, high-level media convenings, and background discussions that deepen understanding of Open Society work and priorities.
• Oversee integrated content strategy and production across digital and print platforms, ensuring strategic coherence, audience targeting, and performance impact; manage and coordinate external creative and PR partners to deliver high-quality outputs.
• Co-design and deliver communications trainings for program staff, leadership, and partners to strengthen message disciplining, media readiness, and narrative alignment across the network.
• Contribute to global communications leadership initiatives, partnering with communications colleagues across regions to drive cross-portfolio collaboration, institutional consistency, and shared strategic objectives across the highly-matrixed global environment.

Qualifications

• Educated to a degree-level (or equivalent) relevant to Communications.
• Evidence of continued professional development in media strategy, crisis communications, geopolitical analysis, or digital strategy.

Requirements

• Substantial relevant communications experience driving strategic communications in complex political and international environments, including journalism OR experience as a communications professional in the not-for-profit or private sector.
• Established and active network of high-level media, editorial, and digital influencers across regional and international levels.
• Experience managing crisis communications and high-risk reputational environments.
• Experience leading integrated communications strategies across media, digital, and stakeholder engagement platforms.
• Proven track record advising senior leadership on reputational risk, media engagement, and public positioning.

Benefits

• Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact; from a generous annual professional development allowance for every employee to onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts.
• Excellent benefits and perks to promote well-being and a healthy work-life balance, including generous time off and flexible work arrangements.
• Employer-paid health insurance and dental plans for individuals and families (no employee contribution required).
• Exceptional retirement savings plan (non-contributory for employees) and life insurance.
• Progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and much more.
• A commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact.