Director, Branding & Communications - Latin America

The Director of Communications and Branding for Special Olympics Latin America is responsible for planning, organising, and managing all aspects of communications and branding throughout the Latin America region, working in close collaboration with all departments of Special Olympics Latin America and with the SOI HQ Marketing & Communications department. The role coordinates with communications, marketing, and funds development staff throughout the region's 20 Programs to support region-wide events including National Games, World Games, Regional Games, regional and global partnerships, and Special Olympics initiatives. This position reports to the Regional President and Managing Director, SOLA.

• Provide strategic direction and counsel to SOLA leadership on all marketing and communications matters and create supporting plans and initiatives.
• Oversee, implement and/or generate content for external communications, including web, social media, digital media, media relations, and marketing/awareness campaigns.
• Manage internal communications.
• Coordinate ongoing media relations, including story development, pitching and placement, relationship building with key journalists/producers, PSA placement, and managing media registration, attendance, and services at regional and global events.
• Build and foster relationships with key stakeholders, including regional media, media and PR agencies, advertising agencies, communication counterparts in international organisations, donors, vendors, and Accredited Programs.
• Ensure brand compliance and deliver brand training.
• Provide ongoing marketing and communications training and support to all SOLA Accredited Programs.
• Work closely with the SOI Communications team and Accredited Programs on partner activations in the region.
• Serve as a member of the SOLA crisis communications team.
• Provide communications and branding guidance and/or oversight for Regional Games.
• Provide communications guidance and/or oversight to World Games delegations from the region and act as liaison between Special Olympics, Inc. and SOLA Accredited Programs.
• Manage marketing and communication of regional competitions and events.
• Create and manage the Talents, Ambassadors and Celebrities Program in the region, including recruitment, activation, and media awareness.
• Track record of designing, implementing, and managing complex multi-level, simultaneous communications and marketing programs.

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience plus seven to ten years of relevant work experience.
• Proven marketing and communications success/track record in an industry of relevance: sports, non-profit, media organisation, or PR agency.
• Demonstrable experience of positioning an organisation to achieve tangible outcomes.
• Ability to work independently, under pressure, and in a fluid work environment.
• Excellent time management skills, ability to multi-task, and ability to manage and meet multiple deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Detail orientated and strong organisational skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including strong public speaking skills.
• Media relations experience.
• Crisis communications experience.
• Proficiency with digital/online communications platforms including social media, web, electronic newsletters, and apps.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products and select Adobe products such as Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign.
• Willingness to travel frequently.
• Design/publication layout experience.

• Experience and/or coursework in the area of communications, journalism, marketing, or related field.
• Experience of working within an international development setting, working with civil society organisations, NGOs and/or international programs.
• Knowledge of, or experience in, sports and/or intellectual disabilities field(s).
• Media partnership negotiation and relationship management experience.
• Photography skills.
• Video production knowledge.

Special Olympics is a global movement founded in 1968 to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities, fostering acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. It has nearly four million athletes and Unified Sports partners and one million coaches and volunteers in more than 170 countries, delivering more than 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year.