Skills and Abilities

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong professional media-relations and networking skills.
• Excellent understanding of editorial decision-making.
• Ability to identify credible and newsworthy stories from institutional or technical work.
• Strong pitching and persuasive communication skills.
• Confidence communicating with senior journalists, editors and media organisations.
• Strong relationship-management and stakeholder-engagement capability.
• Excellent judgement when handling sensitive or reputational matters.
• Ability to advise and prepare senior executives for media engagements.
• Excellent organisational and follow-up skills.
• Ability to manage multiple media opportunities and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• A proactive, professional and results-focused approach to work.

General and Specialist Knowledge

Candidates should have knowledge or experience in:

• Media relations.
• Journalism and editorial processes.
• Earned-media strategy.
• Public relations.
• Media pitching.
• Executive media preparation.
• Reputation and issues management.
• Media monitoring and reporting.
• Press and journalist relationship management.
• Institutional communications.

Knowledge or interest in climate change, sustainability, international development, artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies would be advantageous.

Education and Training

Candidates should preferably possess:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree, or equivalent qualification, in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Media Studies, Marketing, International Relations or another relevant discipline.
• Equivalent senior professional experience and demonstrated capability may also be considered where appropriate.
• Professional proficiency in English.
• Knowledge of an additional international language would be advantageous.

Experience

Candidates should ideally demonstrate:

• Senior-level professional experience in media relations, journalism, public relations or a closely related field.
• An active and relevant network of journalists, editors and media contacts.
• Demonstrated success securing significant earned-media placements.
• Experience identifying credible stories from institutional, research or technical work.
• Experience advising senior executives or organisational spokespeople.
• Experience managing journalist relationships and media enquiries.
• Experience developing and implementing media-relations strategies.

Recruitment Evidence

As part of the recruitment process, applicants should provide details of their three most recent significant media placements, including:

• Publication or media outlet.
• Date of publication or broadcast.
• Their specific role in securing the coverage.
• Whether the placement resulted from a direct pitch, existing media relationship, reactive opportunity or another route.

This evidence will form a significant part of the candidate assessment.

What Difference Will You Make?

Credible external media coverage can significantly strengthen DTID's visibility, influence and ability to engage relevant stakeholders.

As Director of Media Relations, you will help position DTID's research, experts, projects and institutional activities in relevant national and international media.

Your contribution will strengthen DTID's media visibility, external credibility, journalist relationships and ability to participate in wider public and policy discussions.

Benefits

What Will You Gain from Volunteering with DTID?

Although this position is unpaid, volunteering with DTID provides opportunities to:

• Lead media relations for an international organisation.
• Apply and strengthen senior media-relations expertise.
• Work directly with senior leadership and technical experts.
• Develop and strengthen international media relationships.
• Gain exposure to climate, sustainability, international development and emerging digital technologies.
• Build international professional networks and strategic relationships.
• Contribute to DTID's external visibility and institutional development.
• Work within a fully remote and globally distributed organisation.

Selection Process

DTID is committed to identifying talented individuals with both demonstrated expertise and strong potential.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of demonstrated capability, relevant professional experience, media networks, evidence of successful placements and suitability for the responsibilities of the role.

The selection process will normally include:

• Application screening
• Written or technical assessment
• Interview and/or technical discussion for shortlisted candidates
• Final selection and onboarding

Candidates who successfully complete the assessment stage will be invited to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.

Important Notice

This is an unpaid volunteer position.