Senior Manager of Internal Communications

Special Olympics International

Washington, DC

“We’re not leading a program; we’re leading a movement – some say a civil rights movement of the heart – powered by sport.”

Timothy Shriver - opening address to the 2010 Global Congress

Changing lives and attitudes for more than 40 years, Special Olympics International (SOI) is a global non-governmental organization based in Washington, DC that has grown from a backyard summer camp to a global movement of more than 3 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in year-round sports training and athletic competitions in over 170 countries and in each of the 50 U.S. States and the District of Columbia. Much more than a sports movement, Special Olympics is also an effective catalyst for personal and social change, inviting all citizens to discover Special Olympics athletes as valuable members of their families, their communities, and their countries.

The Special Olympics Movement is fueled by athletes, volunteers, family members, philanthropic supporters and a dedicated staff of over 200 worldwide all operating within a network of 230 accredited programs, each of which is an independent entity with its own governing body and professional staff. Special Olympics International (SOI) serves as a central governing organization helping to coordinate and harness the efforts of the Movement. SOI partners closely with the political, business, sports, health, education, entertainment and media leadership in each country and each state where Special Olympics Programs exist.

Exponential growth, ever-expanding geographic reach, strong brand equity, and the rise of a passionate and engaged group of diverse constituents has created an unprecedented need for open, consistent, and cohesive communications within the Movement. To encourage innovation, drive morale, share success and build community, SOI seeks a skillful and astute strategic communications professional for the newly created position of Senior Manager of Internal Communications. Reporting to the Vice President of Branding and Communications, the Senior Manager (SMIC) will manage, create and implement effective internal communications messages, processes and procedures to ensure a consistent, coordinated flow of information across SOI staff, program leaders, and core constituents that accurately reflects Special Olympics’ overall mission and business objectives.

Partnering closely with key communications staff, the executive team, and program leaders, the SMIC will be a credible and valuable communications conduit, helping SOI stakeholders to achieve their internal communications objectives while promoting the priorities and key messages of SOI as a whole. The decentralized nature of Special Olympics requires that the SMIC will be broadly informed and sensitive to the diverse needs and concerns of the many members of the Special Olympics’ community. S/he will need to keep the many distributed and diverse stakeholders across the community informed of key priorities and activities across the organization in a timely fashion.

S/he will bring a high level of sophistication and professional savvy for messaging and creating consistent, streamlined channels of internal communication utilizing traditional and digital/on-line communications platforms. The SMIC will create and codify internal communications systems, tools and materials including memos, templates, messaging tip sheets for staff and other resources as needed.

An ideal candidate will have at least 5-7 years of experience relevant to developing and managing a complex, first-rate internal communications strategy. Experience leading these efforts within the context of a distributed, multi-stakeholder organization is desirable. Candidates should have demonstrated the capacity to craft substantive and cohesive internal communications for a diverse set of constituents as well as an exceptional talent for building and sustaining relationships among and across key staff and departments, and for driving results collaboratively across regions, chapters and programs. S/he must possess outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail; excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills, including the ability to advance complex projects and solve problems collaboratively, coupled with the willingness to act resourcefully, authoritatively, and resolutely. S/he should have the charisma, cultural sensitivity, and interpersonal skills necessary to be an effective representative and key internal liaison among a diverse set of staff and constituents and a passion to articulate and advance the mission and values that make Special Olympics distinct.

NOMINATIONS & APPLICATIONS: Due to the pace of this search, candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, but no later than July 31, 2010. Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), salary history and where you learned of the position should be sent to: soi-smic@nonprofitprofessionals.com. In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.

 

Special Olympics International is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Women and candidates of color are encouraged to apply.