This position works with the President, Board of Directors, Committees of the Board and senior staff to execute UNA-NCA’s communications strategy, establishing organization-wide communications standards, policies, and priorities. This position also determines communications goals and defines best practices, promoting the organization’s brand and ensuring that communications effectively support the mission and goals of UNA-NCA and are aligned across the organization.
This position shall report to the president and serve on the UNA-NCA board and executive committee. Per UNA-NCA’s bylaws, a person shall hold office for two years in this role and may serve no more than two consecutive terms in the same office. This position requires approximately 5-10 hours per week.
Established in 1952, the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area is one of the oldest and largest divisions of the United Nations of the USA (UNA-USA), and a member of the World Federation of the United Nations Associations (WFUNA). With the help of over 3,000 members, volunteers, and supporters in the greater Washington area, UNA-NCA works to build public knowledge, strengthen UN-US relations, and aid the UN in achieving its goals.
The Vice President of Communications’ key responsibilities include:
- Serving as the communications lead to the board on organizational communications.
- Helping facilitate strategic communications and providing consulting expertise for specific channels and content development.
- Working with board, committee leaders and staff to drive and influence communications decision-making and acting as a communications counselor to UNA-NCA’s leadership.
- Implementing and reporting on the progress of UNA-NCA’s strategic communications plan.
- Collaborating with board members and committees on programs and events as needed.
- Attending/contributing to board and executive committee meetings.
- Participating in key UNA-NCA events throughout the year.
- Chair the Communications Committee which addresses activities listed below
Communications Operations
- Increase brand identity, broaden awareness of programs and events by esablishing communications best practices and key communications channels.
- Identify communications challenges and opportunities; work with Board, volunteers, and staff to propose and implement practical solutions.
- Develop processes that ensure appropriate channel use, develop outreach plans and communications standards across the organization.
- Promote, enhance, and protect the organization's brand reputation.
- Keep regular contact with UNA-USA’s communications staff and UNA-NCA’s board, executive committee, and communications volunteers to ensure message alignment.
- Serve as a point person on media interactions that help promote and/or impact the organization.
- Act as a consultant to the organization on event promotions, social media, press relationships, public announcements, blogs, UNA-NCA’s website and other supporting material as needed.
Team Development/Management for VP, Communications
- Lead a Communications Committee to define communications standards, prioritize activities, develop content and promote the organization and events.
- Recruit communications volunteers for content development by working with the UNA-NCA staff and committees.
- Organize regular meetings with communication stakeholders and develop tools that will help standardize UNA-NCA’s organization-wide communications.
- Prioritize channel outreach and organize trainings for stakeholders as needed.
- Must be a UNA-NCA member in good standing.
- Commitment to UNA-NCA’s mission
- Ability to attend UNA-NCA board and executive committee meetings (a total of one 2-hour meeting per month)
- Public Relations, Communications and/or Marketing experience
- Strong organizational skills
