Deputy Director, Internal Leadership Communications

The Foundation is the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on the belief that people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives, we strive to reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we serve. Our benefits package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in employee communities. We foster an environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.

About the Team

The Communications Division, led by the Chief Communications Officer, oversees the foundation’s global communications strategy, integrating internal and external communications to advance our mission of creating a more equitable world. The Internal Communications team connects employees to the foundation’s mission, strategy, work, and impact. We partner with leaders across the organization to develop strategic, employee-centered communications that inform, engage, and inspire. Through thoughtful planning, channel management, leadership communications, storytelling, and enterprise-wide coordination, we help employees understand priorities, feel connected to our global community, and contribute to a more informed and aligned organization.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Internal Communications, you will oversee the foundation’s internal leadership communications portfolio—building systems, strategies, and capabilities that enable leaders to communicate with clarity, empathy, and purpose. As a trusted advisor to senior leaders and a skilled strategist, you will ensure that how leaders communicate is as impactful as what they communicate. You will develop frameworks, tools, channels, and content to equip the Executive Leadership Team and leaders at all levels to engage authentically with employees during strategic moments, organizational change, and day-to-day interactions.

You bring a sophisticated understanding of leadership communication as a discipline, including coaching leaders, building credibility through communication, and translating complex organizational moments into clear, human narratives. You will also serve as an expert on internal communications platforms, data, and analytics, helping to architect and steward the foundation’s internal communications technology ecosystem—including SharePoint and Viva Engage—while using data to improve the reach, relevance, and impact of leadership communications. As a systems thinker, you will ensure that channels and content work together to support a coherent and effective employee experience.

As a key member of the Internal Communications leadership team, you will model strong judgment, creative problem-solving, and the ability to lead decisively through ambiguity. This role offers significant scope, visibility, and a potential succession path to the Director of Internal Communications, with opportunities to grow into enterprise-wide communications leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the foundation’s internal leadership communications practice—developing strategy, content, and programs that equip senior leaders to communicate effectively and authentically with employees.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and other senior leaders on leadership communications approaches, message development, audience strategy, and communications risks.
• Develop and manage an integrated leadership communications calendar and cadence—coordinating executive messaging, all-staff moments, leadership forums, and other high-visibility internal engagements.
• Write and edit high-quality communications on behalf of senior leaders, including messages, scripts, talking points, video narratives, and presentations for enterprise-wide audiences.
• Build and manage frameworks and tools that enable consistent, effective leadership communications across the foundation—including standards, templates, playbooks, and guidance for communicating during change or uncertainty.
• Provide coaching and preparation support to leaders ahead of significant communications moments, such as announcements, transitions, all-staff events, and other high-visibility engagements.
• Co-lead the strategy, governance, and ongoing development of internal communications channels in partnership with IT and other functions, ensuring they are dynamic, accessible, and aligned with organizational needs.
• Serve as the primary expert on internal communications data and analytics—establishing measurement frameworks, tracking engagement and reach, synthesizing insights, and using data to inform communications strategy and platform decisions.
• Develop and deliver regular reporting on internal leadership communications effectiveness for the Internal Communications Director and Communications Division leadership.
• Partner closely with the Deputy Director of Employee Experience and Engagement to integrate leadership communications into employee engagement channels and initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Office of the CEO, People function, Foundation Strategy Office, and External Communications to ensure alignment and consistency across leadership messaging and enterprise-wide communications.
• Support issue assessment and communications planning for sensitive or emerging organizational topics requiring leadership communications guidance.
• Travel domestically and internationally up to 20%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, business administration, organizational development, or a related field.
• 10+ years of direct experience in internal or employee communications, with significant focus on senior leadership communications, executive communications, or enterprise communications in a complex, global organization.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute leadership communications strategies that build trust, alignment, and engagement across diverse employee audiences.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with proven ability to draft high-quality communications for senior executives across a range of formats and channels.
• Experience advising and preparing executives for high-visibility internal communications moments, including change announcements, all-staff events, and leadership forums.
• Deep expertise in internal communications platforms—particularly SharePoint and Viva Engage—including platform governance, architecture, configuration, and employee experience optimization.
• Strong command of internal communications data and analytics: defining metrics, building measurement frameworks, analyzing engagement data, and translating insights into actionable strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex organizational strategies and sensitive topics into clear, credible, and motivating narratives for diverse audiences.
• Experience working in a highly matrixed, global organization with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders, cross-functional partners, and communications colleagues across hierarchies and disciplines.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with care.
• Experience managing individuals or teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and ensuring communications reflect diverse perspectives and voices.
• Ability to work with poise under pressure.
• Experience with philanthropies, global health and development organizations, public sector institutions, or mission-driven organizations is preferred.
• Strong familiarity with change management principles and their application to communications strategies.
• Unrestricted work authorization in the country where this position is located. The Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $212,800 to $329,800 USD. For high-wage markets such as Seattle and Washington D.C., the range is $234,000 to $362,800 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires are typically placed between the range minimum and the midpoint, with actual placement depending on job-related skills, experience, and expertise evaluated during the interview process.