Communications Manager

About Accion:

Accion is a global nonprofit committed to creating a financially inclusive world, with a trailblazing legacy in microfinance and fintech impact investing. We catalyze financial service providers to deliver high-quality, affordable solutions at scale for the 1.8 billion people who are left out of, or poorly served by, the financial sector. For more than 60 years, Accion has helped tens of millions of people through our work with more than 200 partners in 63 countries. More at http://www.accion.org.

Position Summary

Accion’s global communications team seeks a Communications Manager to support a new long-term program focused on how digital transformation can improve the financial health and wellbeing of underserved people globally. The position is located in India and will also support Accion’s wider positioning in the region.

The Communications Manager will lead development of a positioning strategy for the program, strengthening Accion’s engagement and content efforts through content planning, writing and editing, and social media copywriting. As we work to raise Accion’s profile in the fields of impact investing, financial inclusion, fintech, and economic empowerment, they will work with teams across the investment, advisory, and research areas, to ensure that Accion’s work is shared with target audiences in a high-quality and dynamic way.

The ideal candidate has at least six years’ experience in strategic communications and content production and experience in access to finance and/or international development. We are looking for someone with a strategic mindset, keen eye for detail, strong writing skills, and high creativity.

The position will be based in India and will report to the Senior Manager of Digital Content in the United States.

Position Responsibilities

Strategy (25%):

• Lead development and implementation of program communications strategy, working closely with the program management and communications teams to deliver content showcasing Accion’s expertise in digital transformation and embedded finance.
• Work with Chief Communications Officer and PR team to develop positioning strategy to raise Accion’s profile in India and other countries in the region where Accion has a strong presence.

Project management and operations (20%):

• Maintain a content calendar with a steady stream of articles to engage the industry around this project’s work.
• Commission video and photography, working with partners, their clients, and external vendors to coordinate content collection.
• Participate in relevant coordination meetings with communications and project staff.
• Provide regular communications updates to partners.
• Work with PR team to draft press releases and op-eds and position Accion experts and expertise with target media outlets and events.

Content creation (50%):

• Lead the production of print, digital, and audiovisual content relating to our work on digital transformation and financial wellbeing.
• Write and edit project-focused pieces that show how this work is transforming financial providers and small businesses in low-income communities.
• Work with communications staff to suggest and draft additional content based on ideas and topics discussed in meetings or trending in media and industry conversations.
• Conduct research and interviews with subject-matter experts, as needed, to inform content.
• Transcribe, outline, and draft web content based on client and partner photography and interviews.
• Draft social media posts to promote these blogs on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• Follow AP Style guidelines and Accion’s style guide.

Additional duties, as assigned (5%).

Position Qualifications

• Minimum six years of relevant experience in international development or financial services sectors.

• Experience building and implementing communications strategies.

• Excellent writing and editing skills.

• Social media marketing experience preferred.

• Ability to translate complex information into plain language for general audiences.

• Excellent written and spoken English, with additional language skills an advantage.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects with overlapping deadlines.

• Excellent at multi-tasking with a positive, can-do attitude.

• Deep interest in our mission and working globally.

• Ability to work effectively with people at all levels of the organization across teams, geographies, and cultures.

• Interested in our mission and working globally.

• Willingness to embody our values of excellence, respect and passion for social change.

• Excellence: Accion staff should always put forth their best effort in all activities, strive for high quality of collective and individual performance; and demonstrate honesty and integrity at all times while in the workplace and while working on behalf of the organization.

• Respect: Accion staff should value one another’s roles and responsibilities as much as their own, be encouraging, and value the diverse and unique perspectives of colleagues. They should honor obligations and commitments to each other and to external partners.

• Passion for Social Change: Accion staff should be committed to making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, value the greater good of the organization over personal gain, and promote a productive workplace by acknowledging the accomplishments of others.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 10% travel.