Head, Communications
Executive Office of the Secretary General (EOSG)
Grade: 3
Location: Lisbon
The International Dialogue Centre - KAICIID is seeking a Head, Communications for the Executive Office of the Secretary General (EOSG). You will be headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, and work with an engaged and multicultural team of passionate individuals to deliver on our global mandate.
An Introduction to KAICIID
The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) is a unique International Organization which brings together religious leaders, policymakers, and experts with the aim of finding common solutions to shared problems. Our vision is a world where there is respect, understanding, and cooperation among people, justice, peace and reconciliation, and an end to the abuse of religion to justify oppression, violence, and conflict.
We are a diverse team of dedicated professionals who deliver impactful results across the globe.
Your Team:
The Executive Office of the Secretary General (EOSG) is the immediate structure supporting the KAICIID Secretary General. The Office is tasked with the overall leadership of KAICIID and for ensuring that the Centre delivers on its mandate vis-à-vis the Council of Parties and the Board of Directors.
Role:
The Head, Communications plays a pivotal leadership role in overseeing and managing all communications and public affairs activities for KAICIID. This is a key position within the Centre, ensuring strategic and effective communications, helping to oversee the development and implementation of the Centre’s communications strategy and its alignment with the Centre’s Strategic Plan, and to shape organizational communications priorities and improve the Centre’s branding, programming, messaging and public positioning
Reporting directly to the Secretary General, the postholder ensures cohesive, impactful, and values-driven messaging that advances KAICIID’s strategic objectives, strengthens its global visibility, and reinforces its role as a leading voice in interreligious and intercultural dialogue. This is a cross-functional leadership role requiring strategic oversight, team management, and the ability to operate at the intersection of diplomacy, media, and advocacy. Click or tap here to enter text.
Your Responsibilities:
• Lead the development and execution of KAICIID’s overarching communications strategy plan, strengthening the Centre’s capacity to communicate its programmatic work to the public at large and to partner organizations, governments, and influential audiences.
• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) contribute to the reflections on continuous improvement to the Centre at an operational and human level; to the development of the Centre’s multi-years’ strategy and provide regular and substantive input on various proposals for resources mobilization and communication products and supports.
• Advise the SLT and all staff on the design and delivery of external communications to ensure clarity and consistency regarding the information about the Centre’s activities and its position on key, relevant topics.
• Represent the Centre at various policy level meetings and workshops on matters within the mandate and scope of work of the Centre and maintain active and regular working relationships with partner organisations, relevant working groups and consortia.
•Develop the annual budget and operating plan to support the work programme of the Section and ensure its full implementation; ensure that Section’s activities operate within the policies and procedures of the Centre.
Team Leadership & People Management
• Manage and mentors the communications team and external consultants, including setting clear KPIs, supporting development, and conducting performance reviews. Ensuring that its work is delivered through a full mix of modern and innovative communications industry best practices.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, assign tasks, monitor productivity, and ensure timely delivery.
Media Relations & Campaigns
• Lead the global media strategy, ensuring proactive and reactive engagement with journalists, outlets, and press agencies in priority regions.
• Design and implement impactful media campaigns across key countries and regions, building and leveraging strong relationships with media representatives across broadcast, radio, print, and podcast platforms.
• Select, onboard, and manage in-country media relations agencies to support KAICIID-hosted and sponsored events.
• Monitor the news cycle and identify timely opportunities to pitch KAICIID’s impact and increase its public profile.
• Provides strategic counsel on media or reputational issues that could affect the Centre’s image.
• Develop and implement crisis communication protocols and lead response efforts.
• Create and maintain a multilingual digital press kit and briefing materials for use by KAICIID spokespeople.
• Design and deliver media and spokesperson training programs, including the development of internal communication toolkits and staff workshops.
Digital Presence & Content Production
• Recommend strategic positioning opportunities for KAICIID’s digital presence., identifying opportunities for innovation, visibility, and engagement across platforms.
• Oversee KAICIID’s online platforms, including website and social media, ensuring quality, accuracy of messaging, functionality, and appeal, building engagement from different target audiences, tracking trends and identifying new opportunities.
• Oversee content commissioning, editing, and production across KAICIID platforms, including website, social media, newsletters, press releases, and publications.
• Oversee the Centre’s brand narrative and global positioning, ensuring consistent messaging and visual identity across all communication channels and regional contexts.
Programme & Stakeholder Communications
• Ensure the timely and accurate implementation of communication plans related to KAICIID programmes, events, and initiatives.
• Coordinate with other KAICIID Divisions to ensure that the Centre’s outputs and programmes are accurately and effectively reflected in communications materials and campaigns.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Planning
• Oversee the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of communications activities.
• Lead the development of the Section’s annual communications plan, ensuring strategic alignment, cross-channel integration, and coordinated execution across internal teams
• Perform any other duties as required.
Our Ideal Candidate:
• Holds an advanced degree in public relations or communications;
• Brings 10 to 12 years of experience in communications within an international organisation, including work in strategic advisory and digital marketing;
• Maintains a strong and extensive network of top-level media contacts globally;
• Demonstrates experience in managing, developing, and recruiting teams of digital marketers with diverse skill sets;
• Is proficient in a wide range of digital marketing platforms and tools, including Google Analytics, customised web dashboards, Hootsuite, and Meltwater, analytics to tactically and strategically position our content and campaigns towards continuously improving SEO;
• Brings previous experience communicating on themes related to interreligious and intercultural dialogue, peacebuilding, or related fields; considered an asset.
• Has a proven ability to build and manage effective working relationships with senior leadership;
• Offers a strong editorial background with excellent writing, proofreading, and journalistic judgment;
• Demonstrates a successful track record in budget planning and management;
• Has excellent interpersonal skills and experience in organisational crisis and reputation management;
• Has proficient knowledge of Meltwater media database, comfortability with producing and interpreting analytics reports to improve results;
• Understands the business models and dynamics of media industries in KAICIID’s priority regions;
• Has research skills with the ability to identify key digital technology trends and develop appropriate solutions;
• Brings demonstrated experience in leading and developing high-performing media teams;
• Has ability to work in a multi-lingual, multi-cultural environment;
• Brings superb influencing skills at all levels, networking ability and confidence with senior decision makers;
• Is genuinely aligned with and enthusiastic about KAICIID’s mission and values;
• Brings reporting and digital analytical skills and software experience;
• Can show evidence of creative thinking and problem-solving skills;
• Is an innovative and proactive self-starter with initiative;
• Is equipped with excellent interpersonal skills with a track record for collaborative working and confidently building and managing sustainable relationships at all levels;
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrates excellent time management skills with an ability to consistently meet deadlines and manage a varied and demanding workload;
• Shows monitoring skills with the ability to identify story trends to proactively position KAICIID.
Languages:
• English proficiency (written and oral) essential;
• Knowledge of Portuguese would be considered as an asset;
• Knowledge of Arabic would be considered as an asset;
• Knowledge of any other major language is an added value.
Terms of Appointment
KAICIID offers fixed-term contracts of one year with a possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance and the continuing need for the position. The yearly salary for this role is EUR 95,604 (Grade 3, Step 1) and is exempt from income tax in Portugal. Other benefits for eligible staff members who are not nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station include housing allowance, education allowance, relocation allowance, home leave travel and private health insurance.
As part of the recruitment process candidates will be evaluated against the KAICIID values and competencies framework. More information on this can be found at this link.
KAICIID is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic, and social backgrounds to apply.
Deadline for applications:
Monday, 4 August 2025, 23:59 (GMT)
