Director, Internal Communications

International Justice Mission•Virginia - Hybrid, VA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Internal Communications will build IJM’s enterprise internal communications capability, including its operating model, governance, channels, leader practices, change-communication discipline, and measurement system. The role helps employees understand priorities, navigate change, and act with alignment across IJM’s global matrix. It is a strategic builder role focused on establishing systems, standards, and capabilities—not solely producing communications. The Director will strengthen enterprise, operational, and change communications; improve employee understanding and adoption of major initiatives; and create intentional pathways for feedback. In partnership with Global Technology Solutions, which owns IJM’s organization-wide AI and technology strategy, the Director will evaluate and recommend communication platforms, tools, and emerging technologies to improve clarity, accessibility, coordination, and employee experience. The position is based in the Washington, DC area and is available as a hybrid role, onsite Tuesdays and Thursdays. It reports to the Vice President, Employee Experience. Current authorization to work in the United States is required; visa sponsorship is not available now or in the future. The role includes leading and developing team members, including the Manager, Internal Communications, and external partners supporting the portfolio. The Director also participates in IJM’s community of spiritual formation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
8–10 years of progressive experience in internal communications, change communications, organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, or corporate communications, including experience in a global or matrixed environment.
Demonstrated success developing and implementing enterprise-wide internal communications strategies and building supporting systems and governance models.
Experience leading communications for organizational change, transformation, technology implementation, or enterprise-wide adoption, including communicating complex business, technology, or AI-related initiatives to diverse audiences.
Working knowledge of change management principles and experience partnering with leaders to drive adoption and behavior change.
Strong grasp of communication channels, audience segmentation, planning, and executive communications.
Experience advising senior leaders on communication strategy and messaging.
Strong analytical skills and experience using engagement data and communication metrics to inform decisions.
Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills.
Current authorization to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is unavailable.
Eager commitment to IJM’s Core Values: Christian, Professional, and Bridge-Building.
Mature orthodox Christian faith.
Strategic systems thinker able to design scalable organizational solutions.
Strong listener who values employee perspectives.
Ability to bring clarity and direction amid ambiguity and change.
Curiosity about how AI and emerging technology are reshaping organizations and employee experience.
Adaptive, humble, resilient, and tenacious in pursuing goals.
Culturally aware and appreciative of difference.
Strong service ethic and sound judgment in ambiguous situations.
Ability to build trust and influence across teams.
Self-accountability and ability to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Communications, Organizational Development, Change Management, Journalism, Public Relations, Business Administration, or a related field.
Experience managing communications platforms, intranets, or digital workplace tools.
Familiarity with AI-enabled communication tools and emerging workplace technologies.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead IJM’s global internal communications strategy, aligned with organizational priorities and employee needs.
Define a multi-year vision, operating model, governance framework, and roadmap for internal communications as an organizational capability.
Establish enterprise communication principles and minimum standards for significant, cross-functional, or organization-impacting communications while preserving flexibility for routine team, function, and regional communications.
Build systems to improve the flow of information, decisions, and feedback across the enterprise.
Establish an enterprise communications calendar, sequencing review, and escalation path for high-impact messages to prevent message overload and conflicting communications.
Advise senior leaders on communication effectiveness, organizational alignment, and change readiness.
Improve employees’ visibility into strategic priorities, key decisions, and mission impact while increasing message consistency and reducing communication overload.
Define standard pathways for information and decisions to move through the matrix, including manager cascade guidance, consultation expectations, and regional or local translation of enterprise messages.
Partner with functions and departments to strengthen communications about policies, processes, systems, and organizational change.
Build organizational capability in change communications and adoption strategy.
Develop templates, playbooks, audience-mapping tools, and cascade plans to help leaders communicate change clearly, consistently, and empathetically from strategy through sustainment.
Establish listening and feedback mechanisms to assess employee engagement and adjust communications, including as the organization adopts AI and other new technologies.
Shape communication norms that support collaboration, accountability, and transparency, including meeting norms, channel use, response times, and escalation practices.
Develop training and resources for everyday communication across meetings, leadership updates, escalation pathways, and cross-functional collaboration.
Build shared expectations for healthy matrix collaboration, timely follow-up, and clarity in cross-functional exchanges.
Establish metrics and reporting to measure communication effectiveness, adoption, and organizational impact.
Use employee feedback and communication data to inform strategy and identify improvement opportunities.
Establish and oversee an enterprise communication channel strategy, including a channel map defining the purpose of major channels such as IJM All email, All Hands, SharePoint, Teams, manager meetings, and newsletters.
Evaluate and optimize communication platforms, tools, and emerging technologies, including AI, to improve effectiveness, consistency, and employee experience.
Serve as a trusted advisor to executives and leaders on communication strategy and execution.
Build partnerships across Global People Support, the Global Leadership Team, regional leadership, and functional teams.
Lead and develop team members, including the Manager, Internal Communications, and external partners supporting the internal communications portfolio.
Participate in IJM’s community of spiritual formation.