Strategic Communications Manager

The Communications Specialist will play a vital role in supporting TCF’s external communications, media relations, thought leadership, and communication governance. This position requires a confident and proactive professional who can identify compelling stories, build strong media relationships, manage agency collaborations, and drive projects forward across multiple teams. Working closely with the General Manager Communications, the specialist will translate TCF’s strategy, research, programs, and institutional priorities into clear, engaging internal and public communications. This role is ideal for someone with a background in journalism, media relations, or corporate communications, who combines excellent writing skills with persistence, sound judgment, and thorough follow-through.

Key Responsibilities

Media Relations:
Build and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, producers, columnists, and relevant media platforms. Identify stories, research findings, institutional developments, and leadership perspectives with media potential. Develop and pitch story ideas, coordinate interviews, press briefings, media visits, and public announcements. Prepare press releases, media briefs, talking points, Q&A documents, and background notes. Maintain an updated media database and track pitches, responses, coverage, and relationships. Support media engagement during sensitive issues and emerging reputational risks.

External Communications:
Support the development and execution of TCF’s external communications priorities. Develop communication plans for research launches, partnerships, institutional announcements, events, and campaigns. Translate organizational strategy, program work, and research into clear public narratives. Coordinate with internal teams to gather information, secure approvals, and meet communication timelines. Ensure external communication is accurate, consistent, and aligned with TCF’s institutional voice.

Storytelling and Editorial Development:
Identify strong stories across TCF schools, communities, programs, alumni, and partnerships. Conduct interviews with students, alumni, teachers, principals, employees, and partners. Develop articles, case studies, scripts, profiles, digital stories, and institutional content. Translate technical information, data, and research into clear and accessible communication. Ensure stories are developed with accuracy, dignity, and respect for those represented.

Thought Leadership:
Support the development of thought leadership priorities for TCF. Research relevant conversations in education, development, public policy, and social impact. Draft opinion pieces, speeches, talking points, leadership posts, and public commentary. Identify relevant publications, conferences, podcasts, panels, and platforms for TCF leaders. Maintain a structured pipeline of leadership content and external engagement opportunities. Manage content pipelines and cadence.

Agency and Partner Management:
Coordinate with public relations, content, production, design, and communication agencies. Develop clear briefs, timelines, deliverables, and review processes. Track deadlines and ensure agencies receive timely information and feedback. Follow up consistently to resolve delays and maintain quality. Consolidate internal feedback and communicate clear direction to external partners. Flag risks, delays, and quality concerns early.

Communications Governance:
Support the development of communication protocols, approval processes, templates, and editorial standards. Maintain communication trackers, editorial calendars, and approval records. Coordinate with communication points of contact across programs, functions, and regions. Help ensure consistency in institutional facts, language, messages, and positioning. Support the development of crisis communication processes and media response protocols.

Digital Communications:
Support content planning for TCF’s website, social platforms, and institutional digital channels. Adapt stories, research, and leadership content for different digital formats. Work with internal teams and external partners to maintain a regular content pipeline. Review content performance and recommend improvements in subject, format, and distribution.

Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, media studies, mass communication, social sciences, or a related field. More than five years of experience in journalism, media relations, public relations, corporate communications, or external communications. Demonstrated experience in writing stories, conducting interviews, and developing media content. Experience pitching stories to journalists or securing media coverage. Proven ability to coordinate with agencies, vendors, or production partners. Strong writing and editing skills in English and Urdu, with confidence engaging Urdu language media.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience in education, development, public policy, or the nonprofit sector is an advantage.

This role is based in person and requires a professional who can manage multiple deadlines, work collaboratively across teams without formal authority, and maintain calm and sound judgment during sensitive situations. Applicants will be asked about their current and expected salary, as well as their experience in writing and pitching stories to journalists.