The Center for Global Development (CGD) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit policy research organization in Washington, DC and London, UK that focuses on the issues and institutions that are critical to inclusive development. Through rigorous empirical research and active engagement with the global policy community, we focus on the policy intersections of low- and middle-income countries and the governments, institutions, and corporations that can be partners in delivering greater progress. 

Since its creation in 2001, CGD has earned a global reputation as a highly effective “think-and-do tank.” Headquartered in Washington DC with a Europe presence led from our London office, the Center has about 130 full-time staff and an annual budget of approximately $37 million.

CGD is seeking an experienced communications person for a position as Press Secretary to support the team’s efforts to increase the influence, inclusiveness, and impact of the Center’s research, commentary, and policy analysis – with an aim to improve the policies and practices of the US and other high-income countries, the multilateral financial institutions, international firms, and other powerful global development actors. 

The Press Secretary will play a central role in promoting CGD’s US office and expanding CGD reach and impact through engaging with news media, including by leading communications and press strategies to highlight new research, building relationships with reporters, managing incoming press requests, and coordinating across the team and organization to make press and integrated part of CGD’s communications strategy.

Within the Communications team, the Press Secretary will help advance CGD research communications for the Migration, Displacement, and Humanitarian Policy, US Development Policy, Latin America/Financial Inclusion, and Gender teams, devising communications plans for upcoming work, writing and editing blogs, op-eds, and other materials, conducting media and stakeholder outreach, pursuing paid media opportunities, and working with CGD’s social media, digital, and event strategists to execute strategies in each of these areas. The Press Secretary will also provide media relations support to colleagues working on Africa, technology, development finance, climate, and other areas as needed, field incoming media requests related to CGD’s work, and pitch CGD staff and affiliates to media when news breaks in their areas of expertise.

Responsibilities:

Media Relations

• Serve as the primary U.S. press contact for CGD
• Develop proactive pitch strategies for teams, and reactive strategy for relevant newsworthy events, coordinating with reporters on behalf of researchers.
• Write press releases, op-ed pieces, pitches, and other materials to support the programs’ media relations efforts.
• Track journalists’ movement between beats and desks, and identify journalists to engage with and maintain contact lists.
• Conduct quarterly communications trainings for research staff.

Communications Strategy

• Manage communications strategy for the migration, humanitarian, U.S. development policy, European development policy, Latin America, and gender policy teams, and be the main press point-person to create strategic communications plans to amplify the work of these policy teams, including leading the creation of specific press plans for roll outs of new research.
• Coordinate with the communications director, the Senior Manager for Digital Strategy, and the Senior Editor and Publications Manager, and the Social Media Strategist to ensure that communications plans, include web, publication, social media, and newsletter strategies for all outputs.

Analysis

• Track performance of communications efforts, including press clips, emails, and web data, for programmatic teams.
• Provide regular updates to teams on media performance
• Send a weekly email to all staff on CGD engagement with the press
• Identify and test new ways to boost media impact.

Writing and Editing

• Edit blogs for the Migration, Displacement, and Humanitarian Policy, US Development Policy, Latin America/Financial Inclusion, and Gender teams.

The successful candidate will have the following qualifications and skills:

• A quick and excellent writer and editor
• A “read the news for breakfast” attitude, paired with a unique ability to identify news-worthiness and to translate complex academic material into digestible and impactful commentary and analysis for a broad audience
• A self-starter with 100 creative ideas to tackle any obstacle
• A team player with experience delivering under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Outstanding organization and time-management skills—ability to multi-task and prioritize workload, exacting attention to detail
• In-depth knowledge of communications for international development/foreign policy, particularly in issues of migration, humanitarian, U.S. development policy, European development policy, Latin America, and gender policy
• Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of relevant work experience, including experience managing media relations for experts.

Application procedures:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume.

Due to the pandemic our organization is working hybrid with all staff required to be in the office two days per week. CGD is registered to employ staff living in DC, Maryland, or Virginia. Candidates who cannot relocate to the area, even while the office remains closed, cannot be considered at this time.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document upon hire. We are unable to sponsor work authorization for this position.

CGD celebrates fostering a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, parental status, or veteran status.