Head of Global Media and Public Relations

About the organisation

Plan International is an independent humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to children’s rights and gender equality, with a particular focus on girls. For more than 85 years, the organisation has worked with children, young people, supporters and partners to help address poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination across more than 80 countries. Its aim is to create a fairer world by supporting children from birth into adulthood and helping communities respond to crises, while influencing practice and policy at local, national and global levels.

The organisation is committed to equality, inclusion, racial justice, girls’ rights and safeguarding. It also takes child protection seriously and carries out pre-employment checks in line with its safeguarding policies and misconduct disclosure requirements.

Role overview

This position is a senior global media leadership role responsible for shaping Plan International’s external voice, media reputation and public positioning on issues affecting girls’ rights and humanitarian response. The role sits at the centre of the organisation’s communication approach and is expected to drive visibility, credibility and influence across international audiences and markets.

The post holder will set global media direction, lead crisis and issues communications, advise senior leaders on sensitive matters, and coordinate media response during major humanitarian emergencies. The role also requires close collaboration with communication teams across a decentralised global structure, connecting global priorities with local insight to deliver strong collective impact.

This position manages a small team, may oversee external consultants when required, and includes budget responsibility. It requires a proactive, hands-on approach in a fast-moving, complex international environment.

Key responsibilities

• Define and deliver a global media strategy that increases Plan International’s visibility, credibility and influence on girls’ rights and humanitarian issues.
• Create and secure high-value media opportunities that support organisational priorities and influence public and policy discussions.
• Provide strategic communications input across advocacy, campaigns, research, partnerships and programmes to maximise external reach.
• Maintain and grow relationships with international media and operational partners supporting public relations activity.
• Lead global reputation management, issues handling and crisis communications in complex and high-risk settings.
• Advise the Leadership Team on sensitive, high-profile and complex matters, offering clear and practical direction.
• Improve systems, protocols and decision pathways for coordinated organisational responses to reputational risk.
• Coordinate media engagement during emergencies and humanitarian responses, including appeals and real-time media activity.
• Develop messaging, media positioning, deployment planning and response direction for major humanitarian situations.
• Help position Plan International as a credible and visible humanitarian actor in the global media space.
• Ensure fundraising offices are supported to communicate effectively during emergencies.
• Align media engagement across the organisation and build strong working relationships with media teams worldwide.
• Offer expert guidance and support to strengthen consistency, quality and impact of external communications.
• Lead CEO media positioning to achieve strategically aligned and high-impact visibility.
• Track global trends, media narratives and external risks to inform positioning and decision-making.
• Convert complex external developments into clear advice for senior stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted adviser on external opportunity, risk and organisational positioning.
• Develop global standards, guidance and best practices for media relations, crisis communications and reputation management.
• Build organisational capability through training, coaching and the deployment of specialist resources.
• Ensure safeguarding, gender equality and inclusion are embedded in media and communications work.
• Lead capacity-building initiatives for media relations with colleagues across the organisation.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing global media team with a focus on collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Manage external partners and consultants when needed to support strategic priorities.
• Oversee team planning and budget management to ensure resources are used effectively.

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in global media relations, including securing coverage in international and mass media. They should be able to design and implement integrated communications strategies and work confidently across diverse, high-risk contexts, especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Strong crisis communications experience is essential, including support during major emergencies and field deployment. The role also requires experience in reputation risk management within large, complex global organisations, as well as the ability to advise senior leaders on sensitive issues.

Applicants should have strong strategic and analytical thinking skills, experience in multicultural and international environments, and a solid understanding of the development sector, including gender equality and human rights systems. Experience creating global communications policies and best-practice frameworks is important, along with knowledge of safeguarding in humanitarian and development communications.

Additional strengths include project management, prioritisation, team leadership, coaching, stakeholder engagement, influencing, negotiation, collaboration in matrixed organisations, and problem-solving. A background in journalism, media or communications is required, with international development experience preferred. English fluency is essential, and additional languages are an advantage.

Location and working arrangement

This role is globally flexible and can be based in any location where Plan International has an office able to employ on behalf of the Global Hub, provided the candidate already has the right to live and work there. Working hours aligned to UTC are preferred.

Applicable locations include Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Contract details

This is a contract role. The employing office’s standard terms and conditions will determine whether the position is permanent or a maximum fixed-term contract.

The role reports to the Director of External Communications.

Safeguarding, equality and recruitment notes

Plan International is committed to equal opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. The organisation promotes an inclusive culture and aims to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves.

Safeguarding checks will be carried out before appointment. The organisation also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and may request information from previous employers regarding findings or investigations related to sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment. Candidates confirm their understanding of these checks when applying.

The organisation also states that it will never send unsolicited emails asking candidates for payment.

Application details

Closing date for applications: Sunday 12th July. No external application links are included here.