Senior Director, Narrative & Editorial
About The Position
Smile Train is the world’s leading cleft-focused organization. Our vision is a world where everyone has access to safe, high-quality comprehensive cleft care and can live a full and healthy life. We train and support doctors and other medical professionals to provide our patients with free, life-changing, comprehensive cleft treatment. This sustainable model has allowed us to support more than 2 million cleft surgeries in 95+ countries since our founding in 1999, and we’re still just getting started. We are truly changing the world one smile at a time! As Smile Train's Senior Director, Narrative & Editorial, you will develop and steward the organization's global narrative while ensuring editorial excellence across every communications channel. Reporting to the Vice President, Communications, this strategic leader serves as Smile Train's chief storyteller and editor, shaping how the organization communicates across digital, social, executive, donor, and organizational communications. This role owns editorial strategy, content governance, and narrative development, ensuring every communication reflects Smile Train's mission, voice, and strategic priorities. Success requires deep expertise across communication channels and an understanding that each platform—from LinkedIn and Instagram to the website, donor materials, and executive communications—demands a distinct editorial voice while reinforcing one cohesive brand narrative. The Senior Director will oversee editorial planning and serve as a trusted partner to Development, Programs, Advocacy, and Creative teams, ensuring all communications meet the highest standards of quality, consistency, audience engagement, and brand integrity.
Requirements
- 12+ years of experience in editorial leadership, journalism, strategic communications, or content strategy.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills across multiple formats and audiences.
- Demonstrated success developing organizational narratives and editorial strategies.
- Deep understanding of digital communications and channel-specific content strategies.
- Expertise in adapting voice, tone, and messaging for different audiences while maintaining brand consistency.
- Experience managing editorial calendars and complex content workflows.
- Expert understanding of SEO, website content strategy, and social media best practices.
- Excellent collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience leading teams and mentoring writers.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in global health, nonprofit, or humanitarian organizations.
- Experience translating medical, scientific, or policy content into accessible public-facing communications.
- Experience working across international teams and multicultural audiences.
Responsibilities
- Lead and evolve Smile Train's global narrative, aligning messaging with the organization's mission, strategy, and leadership in comprehensive cleft care.
- Translate organizational priorities into compelling stories for donors, partners, policymakers, healthcare professionals, media, and the public.
- Develop messaging frameworks and editorial themes that support integrated campaigns and elevate conversations around health systems, equity, and comprehensive cleft care.
- Serve as the organization's chief editor, ensuring excellence in writing, editing, accuracy, accessibility, and consistency.
- Establish editorial standards, style guides, and governance.
- Lead the editorial calendar and edit executive communications, speeches, reports, thought leadership, and campaign content.
- Oversee editorial strategy across the website, social media, executive communications, newsletters, email, campaigns, blogs, and organizational communications.
- Ensure each channel has a distinct voice and audience-specific strategy while reinforcing a cohesive brand narrative.
- Use audience insights and analytics to optimize content performance.
- Partner with Development, Programs, Advocacy, Executive Leadership, Regional Communications, and Creative Services to deliver integrated, high-impact storytelling.
- Provide strategic editorial guidance for fundraising, marketing, and organizational communications.
- Champion editorial quality, brand consistency, and inclusive, culturally responsive communications.
- Mentor communications professionals, strengthen editorial processes, and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health, pharmacy, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan and generous employer match
- Generous PTO package, paid holidays, and sick time
- Paid parental leave and family care benefits
- Free access to professional mental health counseling
- Annual professional development stipend
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
