Summary of the Global Communications Manager (100%) job at Nonviolent Peaceforce

Job Title:                       Global Communications Manager (100%)

Department:                Advocacy and Communications

Duty Station:               Geneva, Switzerland
Line Manager:             Global Head of Advocacy and Communications

Line Management:    Media Advisor, Communications Specialist

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a dynamic, international non-governmental organization. We work with people affected by violent conflicts to enhance their security and dignity through unarmed civilian protection (UCP). We work to reduce violence and protect civilians in countries affected by violent conflict and its aftermath, and to help transform the world’s response to conflict situations.

Position Purpose

The Global Communications Manager (GCM) leads the day-to-day management of Nonviolent Peaceforce's global communications function, ensuring that NP communicates with clarity, consistency, quality, and impact across internal and external audiences.

The GCM plays a key role in strengthening NP’s global voice, visibility and reputation, helping advance recognition of civilian protection, the role of nonviolent action as an effective response to violent conflict, and the voices and experiences of civilians affected by conflict.

Working closely with the Global Head of Advocacy & Communications, the GCM leads the implementation and ongoing development of NP’s global communications strategy and translates organizational priorities into effective communications initiatives. The role provides experienced communications leadership while remaining hands-on in the planning, development and delivery of communications content, materials, and activities. The GCM manages the global communications team and works across programs, advocacy, fundraising and organizational leadership to ensure communications are coordinated, high quality and aligned with NP’s mission, values and strategic priorities.

The role requires a combination of strategic communications expertise, strong operational management, sound judgement, and a willingness to work directly on communication deliverables and priorities as needed.

Strategic Accountabilities

1. Implement and Strengthen Global Communications Strategy

• Lead the implementation of NP's existing global communications strategy and annual communications plans.
• Work closely with the Global Head of Advocacy & Communications to refine and evolve communications priorities, positioning, voice and approaches over time.
• Translate NP’s strategic and organizational priorities into effective communications initiatives across multiple audiences and platforms.
• Identify communications opportunities that strengthen NP’s visibility, credibility and influence.
• Use communications data, analytics and learning to assess performance, inform decisions and continuously improve NP’s communications approach.
• Exercise sound independent judgement in day-to-day communications decisions within agreed organizational strategy and priorities. 

2. Lead Global Communications Operations

• Manage the day-to-day operations of NP’s global communications function.
• Oversee communications planning, editorial calendars, workflows and production schedules.
• Ensure timely delivery of high-quality communications content and materials across the organization.
• Establish and strengthen communications systems, standards, tools and quality-assurance processes.
• Coordinate communications activity across global and country program teams, helping connect organizational priorities and reduce duplication.
• Manage competing communications demands while maintaining clear organizational priorities and standards. 

3. External Communications, Voice and Storytelling

• Lead NP's external storytelling and communications across digital platforms, publications, media, and campaigns.
• Ensure NP’s external communications consistently reflect the organization’s mission, values, identity, voice and positionality.
• Ensure the voices, experiences and agency of civilians and communities are represented ethically and respectfully.
• Maintain consistently high editorial, visual and production standards across public-facing communications.
• Coordinate media engagement and identify opportunities to strengthen NP’s visibility and contribution to public conversations on civilian protection, nonviolent action and conflict.
• identify emerging communications and reputational risks, advise the Global Head of Advocacy & Communications and senior leadership, and escalate significant issues as appropriate.
• Contribute communications expertise to crisis and emergency response, including messaging, media engagement and public communications.
• Support executive and senior leadership communications for significant external engagements, announcements and organizational moments.

4. Cross-Organizational Partnership

• Partner with programs, advocacy, fundraising and organizational leadership to ensure communications support organizational priorities while maintaining a coherent global voice.
• Work directly with country programs and communications focal points on storytelling, campaigns, case studies, events and other communications priorities.
• Work particularly closely with advocacy colleagues to align external communications, organizational positioning and advocacy objectives.
• Collaborate with fundraising colleagues to ensure communications effectively support resource mobilization priorities.
• Contribute communications expertise to significant internal communications and staff engagement in partnership with People & Culture, leadership and other functions.
• Provide guidance, tools and coaching that strengthen communications practice across the organization.

5. Team Leadership & Function Development

• Lead, mentor and develop the global communications team, currently comprising the Media Advisor and Communications Specialist, and foster an inclusive, collaborative and high performing team culture.
• Establish clear priorities, responsibilities, systems and ways of working for the communications function.
• Strengthen planning, quality assurance, tools and processes to improve the consistency and effectiveness of NP communications.
• Manage communications work planning, delegated budgets and external suppliers within agreed authority levels.
• Strengthen communications capacity across country programs through guidance, coaching, training and shared tools.
• Promote learning, innovation and continuous improvement across the function.

Key Relationships

The Global Communications Manager works closely with:

• Global Head of Advocacy & Communications
• Executive Director
• Executive Team, including Global Heads of Programs, Finance & Operations, and People & Culture
• Fundraising colleagues
• Heads of Mission and Country Program leadership
• Communications focal points across the organization

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible communications experience, ideally within an international NGO, humanitarian organization, international institution or similarly complex environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing a communications function, team or significant portfolio of work.
• Strong experience implementing communications strategies and translating organizational priorities into effective external communications.
• Strong experience across multiple communications channels, including digital communications, media relations, editorial content and storytelling.
• Excellent writing, editing and content-development skills, with consistently high standards of quality, accuracy and judgment.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively in sensitive, politically complex or conflict-affected contexts.
• Experience working with senior leaders and advising on high-profile or sensitive communications.
• Demonstrated people-management experience and a people-centered approach to developing colleagues.
• Strong experience collaborating across functions, countries and cultures.
• Ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.

Desirable

• Experience in humanitarian action, peacebuilding, protection, human rights or related fields.
• Experience supporting advocacy and/or fundraising communications.
• Experience strengthening communications systems, processes or teams during a period of growth or change.
• Experience with brand management, communications analytics and performance measurement.

Core Competencies

• Strategic communications and sound judgment
• Editorial excellence and commitment to quality
• People-centered leadership and team development
• Planning, prioritization and operational management
• Collaboration and influencing across functions
• Cross-cultural awareness and relationship building

• Initiative, adaptability and problem-solving

Success in the Role

Success will be demonstrated by:

• NP has a clear, consistent and values aligned external voice across its communications.
• Global communications are effectively planned, coordinated and consistently delivered to a high standard.
• NP’s communications strengthen its visibility, credibility and recognition among priority audiences.
• Programs, advocacy, fundraising and country teams experience communications as an effective, collaborative global function.
• The global communications team has stronger systems, clear priorities and the leadership and support needed to perform effectively.

HOW TO APPLY

NP recognizes that applicants may use AI tools when preparing CVs and cover letters. We ask candidates to use these tools responsibly and to ensure their application remains truthful, specific, and reflective of their own experience and motivation. Applications are reviewed by members of our team, not automated systems, and we value clear, authentic applications that help us understand the candidate behind the documents.

• Candidates meeting the above requirements are requested to submit a CV (max. 2 pages) and a cover letter (max. 1 page), through our website detailing their experience and how they qualify for the role. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The closing date for applications is Sunday, September 13th, 2026. Candidates may be selected before the closing date; early applications are encouraged.
• Candidates must have the legal right to reside and work in Switzerland, either through Swiss citizenship or a valid residence and/or work permit.
• The annual gross salary range for this position is CHF 99,000 – CHF 113,400.  
• As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a technical assignment before participating in an interview.

SPECIAL NOTICE

Nonviolent Peaceforce is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability.

Nonviolent Peaceforce acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of employees, contractors, volunteers, interns, communities we work with, and other stakeholders and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities and government guidance and complies with best practices in the Humanitarian and Development sector. NP expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We prioritize ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organization.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. NP also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

NO FEE

We never ask for payment as part of our selection process, and we always contact candidates via our corporate accounts and platforms. If you are approached for payment, this is likely to be fraudulent. Please check whether the role you are interested in is posted here on our website.