Job Brief

Senior Communication Manager, Food Policy Program

Job Purpose:

Vital Strategies is a leading technical partner for the Food Policy Program. Through strategic media campaigns and partnerships, Vital Strategies provides support to partners to introduce policies aimed at creating a healthier food environment.

The Senior Communication Manager is a new role within the Food Policy Program. The Senior Communication Manager will lead the development and implementation of a communication strategy across digital channels, social media, and earned media in the US.

This is afull-time positionbased in our New York office, where a hybrid, 2-day-per-week office schedule is in place. We offer highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this position is $104,000 to $114,000 USD. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategy & Leadership -
• Lead the development and implementation of a public accountability communication strategy focused on exposing and countering harmful food and beverage industry practices.
• Advise leadership on emerging industry tactics, reputational risks, and advocacy opportunities.
• Support risk assessment and mitigation for politically sensitive or industry-opposed advocacy activities and coordinate rapid response communications when appropriate.

Campaign Development & Execution -
• Coordinate the development and dissemination of high-impact communication campaigns designed to increase public awareness and accountability pressure.
• Establish and oversee social media, digital engagement, and influencer partnerships to expand campaign reach and audience engagement.
• Collaborate with communications agencies and external consultants to deliver integrated digital and media campaigns.

Content Development & Messaging -
• Translate complex evidence and research into accessible public-facing content, including reports, briefings, digital assets, and campaign messaging.
• Ensure messaging consistency and alignment across partner organizations, campaigns, and communication channels.

Media Relations & Public Engagement -
• Prepare PR materials, including press releases, newsletter copy, and fact sheets; monitor news and pitch story ideas, interviews, and statements from key spokespeople.
• Organize spokesperson trainings.
• Manage and participate in events, including workshops, trainings, conferences, campaign launches, and press conferences.

Partnerships & Stakeholder Coordination -
• Work closely with academic partners, civil society organisations, media stakeholders, and colleagues to ensure strategic alignment and coordinated delivery.
• Manage stakeholder engagement to ensure successful execution of strategy objectives.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) -
• Monitor campaign performance, audience engagement, and narrative penetration, and provide regular reporting and strategic recommendations.
• Identify opportunities to increase public mobilization and media attention around accountability and food policy issues.
• Provide regular reports on the progress of activities and developments related to program objectives.

Knowledge Management & Intelligence -
• Develop and manage systems for collecting, archiving, and curating industry-related materials, including media coverage and industry-led campaigns.

Project & Program Management -
• Manage project timelines, deliverables, budgets, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful execution of strategy objectives.
• Support other programs as needed.

Qualifications:

Education and Degree -
• Bachelor's degree

Skills and Abilities -
• Strong project management skills
• Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communication
• Self-starter with ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across time zones and platforms
• Ability to effectively address multiple complex activities and tasks concurrently and to work under the pressure of deadlines
• Strong skills in organizing resources and establishing work priorities and timely meeting of deadlines and milestones

Experience:

Required -
• Minimum of 8 years work experience with at least five years of job-related experience in advertising, digital marketing, strategic communications and/or public relations, preferably in public health
• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically, to lead and work within diverse teams, to work in multi-cultural settings and with a high degree of independence
• Advanced-level proficiency with Microsoft Office packages
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing productive relationships, partnerships and collaborations

Preferred -
• Experience in communicating complex concepts for non-technical audiences
• Experience in communication and government relations
• Familiarity with public health and advocacy work
• Experience working with NGOs and public interest groups on public policy initiatives
• Experience working in cross-cultural settings
• Experience in working with donors, multilateral organizations, foundations, and technical assistance agencies

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
• Travel within US or internationally as needed (up to 20% of the time).

#LI-Hybrid