Principal, Executive Communications

About the role

The Wikimedia Foundation seeks a senior communications professional to lead executive communications across a growing, global portfolio. This role serves as the primary communications partner to the Foundation's CEO, providing strategic counsel and direct support for internal and external communications. Responsibilities include building a comprehensive engagement strategy spanning multiple and complex stakeholder groups.

In collaboration with the media relations, internal communications teams, and the Chief of Staff, this person will develop, shape, and implement a strategy for the CEO to communicate and advance the Wikimedia Foundation's vision. They will also support external communications for other Foundation executives and the Board of Trustees.

This role proactively identifies, shapes, and executes opportunities to build thought leadership platforms for the CEO and other executives, including securing and preparing leaders for public speaking and media engagements. It requires experience supporting C-level executives, the ability to work autonomously to develop thought leadership strategies, and excellent written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive executive communications strategy for the CEO and other Foundation leaders.
• Create communications materials such as speeches, remarks, talking points, social media posts, internal communications, briefing documents, and blogs.
• Develop key narratives and messaging strategies to increase awareness and understanding of Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.
• Proactively identify and secure opportunities for thought leadership, including public speaking and media engagements.
• Support crisis communications, preparing executives to respond to sensitive or rapidly evolving situations.
• Collaborate with media relations and internal communications teams to integrate executive communications into the Foundation’s broader strategy.
• Manage relationships with reporters, conference organizers, and other stakeholders to raise the profile of Wikimedia leadership.
• Develop social media strategies tailored to specific channels in collaboration with the social media team.
• Travel as needed (potentially 3-5 trips per year) and work across time zones to support global stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience in communications, with several years supporting C-level executives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to adapt messaging for diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in crisis communications and preparing executives for sensitive or rapidly evolving situations.
• Proven ability to pitch stories, engage press, and manage key media relationships.
• Experience developing social media strategies for platforms like LinkedIn and TikTok.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple deadlines and stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented with experience maintaining systems and documentation for complex projects.
• Willingness to work across time zones and travel as needed.

Skills

• Executive communications expertise, including writing for CEOs and senior stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to anticipate tough questions and craft resonant messages.
• Highly collaborative, with experience working in globally distributed, remote teams.
• Skilled storyteller, capable of developing speeches, op-eds, quotes, and blog posts under tight deadlines.
• Proactive in identifying external opportunities, such as earned media and speaking engagements.
• Ability to work with colleagues who do not have English as their primary language.
• Commitment to modeling the Wikimedia Foundation’s organizational values.

About the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit organization that operates Wikipedia and other Wikimedia free knowledge projects. Our vision is a world in which every single human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. We host Wikipedia and the Wikimedia projects, build software experiences for reading and contributing, support volunteer communities, and advocate for policies that enable free knowledge to thrive.

The Wikimedia Foundation is a charitable, not-for-profit organization funded by donations from millions of individuals worldwide, with an average donation of about $15. It is a remote-first organization with staff and contractors based in over 40 countries.

Pay

The anticipated annual pay range for this position for applicants based in the United States is $144,765 to $220,063, with individualized factors such as cost of living determining the final offer. For applicants outside the U.S., the pay range will be adjusted to the country of hire. The Wikimedia Foundation does not consider salary history in its compensation decisions.

Schedule

This role requires regular working hours aligned with the Eastern Time (ET) zone, with flexibility to work across time zones as needed to support global stakeholders and executive communications. Preference is given to candidates based in the Eastern Time zone.