Vice President of Strategic Communications

Vice President of Strategic Communications

• The Mozilla Foundation
• July 08, 2024
• Flexible Location

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About the Mozilla Foundation

Established in 2003, and guided by the , the Mozilla Foundation believes the internet is a global public resource that must remain open and accessible to all.

making the health of the internet a mainstream issue. It is also vital : as centralization, surveillance, exclusion, and other online threats proliferate, we need a movement to keep the web a global public resource.

Mozilla’s programs operate at different scales and locations around the world, fueling the movement for a healthy internet.

In 2020, the Mozilla Foundation launched a multi-year investment strategy focused on advancing Trustworthy artificial intelligence’ globally.

As AI is dramatically changing our online lives, we seek to ensure that AI improves human experience through designing AI systems that allow for user agency and hold companies accountable for its results.

Our approach to Trustworthy AI and an outline of our Theory of Change is described in greater detail .

The Opportunity

Mozilla Foundation (Foundation) is hiring a Vice President of Strategic Communications (Vice President). This is a unique opportunity to leverage the Foundation’s unique brand, significant resources, established networks and expertise to help shift the public narrative on AI and build political power through movement partnerships.

The Foundation has a window of opportunity now to expand and increase the voices that can shift the debate in a direction that serves us all.

Reporting directly to the new Executive Director, Nabiha Syed, the Vice President will serve as an integral member of the senior leadership team.

The Vice President will be responsible for developing a clear and nimble narrative and communication strategy, and ensuring that it is deeply integrated into the Foundation’s programming, events, thought leadership, and all other content.

The Vice President will be responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of a broad range of public relations activities relative to the strategic direction and positioning of the organization and its leadership.

In doing so, the Vice President will oversee a globally dispersed team and will grow, coordinate, and shape the narrative strategy and communications needs for the Foundation.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a creative and strategic leader with vision and insight. The key to success in this role will be working in a way to meet and advance the rapidly evolving public conversation around AI.

Recognizing that the Vice President could come from a range of marketing and content backgrounds, strong candidates will likely have some or all of the following :

• Highly strategic mindset, including strong instincts and a demonstrated ability to identify media moments and opportunities, and to develop, execute and deliver on plans for growth.
• Proven ability to produce sharp, engaging framing for editorial content (experience working on issues surrounding AI is not a must-have).
• Experiences with narrative and framing strategy, digital marketing, brand management, creative direction, content planning and partnership experiences.
• Experience working with creative talent and content development across a range of engagement-driven purposes, channels and formats, including social media brand-building and call-to action strategies.
• Experience leading dispersed teams of 5+ individuals and excellent people management skills and experience managing tiered teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, a good sense of humor and a contagious enthusiasm.
• Relationships with the media, and will work to build more once in post.
• Commitment to the Mozilla mission and engaging a global audience.

Responsibilities

Communications Strategy, Vision and Leadership

• Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to promote the Foundation’s brand identity and then broaden awareness of its programs and priorities.
• Increase the visibility of its programs across key stakeholder audiences.
• Create marketing / public relations strategy that will allow Foundation leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers.
• Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization.
• Work with the leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions, and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
• Cultivate an influential editorial voice for the Foundation as it advances the public conversation around trustworthy AI.

Communications Operations

• Oversee development of all Foundation communications, ensuring a coordinated, influential, and clear perspective.
• Exercise judgment to prioritize media opportunities, and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations, and other supporting material as needed.
• Actively engage, cultivate and manage press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding Mozilla programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects.
• Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications function including budgeting, planning, and staff development.

Team Development / Management

• Recruit and manage a communications and marketing team to support the development and execution of the communications strategy.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis.
• Develop a communications machine that gives senior talent the opportunity to do the best work of their careers and also shapes the next generation into best-in-class communications professionals.

In addition to the skills and experiences above, strong candidates will have the following characteristics :

• Strategic - You’re a long-term thinker who anticipates what is coming for the entire organization and our issues. You are focused on the overall impact of your work.
• Audacious - You are motivated by the opportunity to serve this moment in our digital lives, and thrilled to be bold in doing so.
• Weaver - You love to weave separate strands together, amplify the work of others, and spot opportunities and emerging moments in the world.
• Evidence-based Experimenter - You track the numbers and measure success, and use that to inform creative and unexpected tactics.

You are not afraid to share new structures and ideas with senior leadership and foster an environment of open communication.

• Empathetic - You hire and retain the best team members while inspiring them to grow professionally.
• Passionate - You’re inspired to manifest a better digital world and understand the power of storytelling to make it happen.

You are energized by the Mozilla values and you can see the role that the organization can play in the global conversation.

Compensation & Benefits

The location for this role is flexible but will manage a globally dispersed team with the median time zone being the Eastern Time Zone.

The starting salary ranges for this role are listed below. These countries are where we most commonly employ staff.

• Germany : €183,300.80 - €205,984.27 EUR
• UK : £161,384.40 - £181,355.72 GBP
• Canada : $268,974 - $302,259.53 CAD
• US : $234,400 - $263,407 USD

Some regions fall into a higher salary market, and this is reflected in the example ranges below :

• London : £189,864 - £213,359.67 GBP
• New York : $293,000 - $329,258.75 USD
• Bay Area : $293,000 - $329,258.75 USD

Mozilla Foundation offers the following benefits :

• Private Medical Insurance (Health, Dental, and Vision)
• Extended Sick Leave
• Global Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Retirement Plan contributions
• Paid Time Off : 20 days annual leave + sick days and your birthday (prorated)
• Company Holidays + Shutdown
• Wellness budget
• Professional Development budget
• Top up program for Pregnancy and Parental leaves

Benefits are subject to change at any time at the discretion of Mozilla Foundation.

Mozilla’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mozilla believes in the value of diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge, and knows diversity, equity, and inclusion are crucial to and enrich the company’s core mission.

We encourage applications from everyone, including members of all equity-seeking communities, such as (but not limited to) women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race (including hairstyle and texture), religion (including religious grooming and dress practices), gender, gender identity, gender expression, color, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, domestic partner status, disability, sexual orientation, age, genetic predisposition, medical condition, marital status, citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable laws.

Mozilla will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics or any other unlawful behavior, conduct, or purpose.