External Relations Officer

PACT Overview

Pact is an international nonprofit that works in nearly 40 countries building solutions for human development that are evidence-based, data-driven and owned by the communities we serve. Founded in 1971, Pact works with partners to build resilience, improve accountability, and strengthen knowledge and skills for sustainable social impact.

Department

Communications (COMM) - Pact strives for a world where all people are heard, capable, and vibrant. The Integrated Communications department helps realize this objective by supporting organizational and project level communications across Pact.

Position Overview

The External Relations Officer is a key member of the Pact team, working closely with staff across the organization to develop and carry out high-quality, effective and timely communications. The Officer helps build the profile of Pact among target audiences and communicate Pact’s story in a compelling and engaging manner. This work supports the overall goals of the Integrated Communications Department and organization.

The role is externally focused and requires a broad range of professional communications skills and experience. The position requires strong skills in media relations, social media, content development, message delivery and relationship management. The position also requires working directly with external stakeholders to advance messages in target markets around the world. The candidate should have the personal qualities necessary to develop strong relationships, engage staff in intentional communication and support development of new communication approaches and tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop relationships with journalists at key media outlets; actively pitch Pact experts, programs and content; draft press releases, media alerts, op-eds and background materials; prepare Pact experts for media interviews; and maintain media tracking and archive.
• Grow engagement across Pact’s social media accounts, working with team members to create social media-specific content.
• Increase engagement with external stakeholders through regular e-newsletters and other email communications.
• Work with partners to leverage one another’s messaging and channels and plan and execute collaborative efforts.
• Maintain calendar of key events/conferences/meetings. Work with colleagues across the organization to support Pact participation and thought leadership, including pitching Pact’s CEO and other experts and handling event sponsorships.
• Provide support to Pact-hosted external events, supporting teams on event management best practices.
• Serve as membership point of contact for Pact’s organizational memberships managed by the Integrated Communications department.
• Help with website updates and ensuring fresh content.
• Ensure distinctive and consistent brand identity across all outputs.
• Monitor and evaluate content performance across distribution platforms against department and organizational Key Performance Indicators.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures, including completing all compliance training topics by the deadline to satisfy each and receiving the corresponding acknowledgment statement that the training has been completed.
• All other duties as assigned.

Basic Requirements

• Master's degree with five (5) years work experience or bachelor's degree with at least seven (7+) years work experience
• Proven media relations experience, including placements and fostering relationships with media.
• Able to work to tight deadlines in an organized manner and to a high standard.
• Social media savvy and high comfort level with digital communications.
• Innovation and creativity in messages and modes of delivery.
• Strong project management skills and ability to balance competing priorities.
• Ability to collaborate and earn the trust of Pact leaders, staff and external stakeholders, including partners and journalists.
• Awareness of, and comfort with, increased social and professional responsibility, working always with cultural sensitivity, respect, integrity and inclusion.
• Ability to recognize and appropriately deal with challenging situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of international development sector.
• International experience and sensitivities.
• French, Spanish, or Swahili language skills.
• Experience overseeing and coordinating with international field offices.