Head, Development and Planning

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

The Global Communications Group is the central Forum team dedicated to communications with the public, media, stakeholders and staff in relation to the Forum’s mission. Through multiple channels, the Group is responsible for communicating the work of the Forum and its constituents, reaching, growing, engaging and inspiring diverse and interested audiences.

Why we are recruiting

The Group is expanding and consolidating its strategy. It is composed of four key functions: Communication Strategy and Coordination, Public Engagement, Media Engagement, and Stakeholder and Staff Engagement. It is searching for a Head of Development and Planning, within the Communication Strategy and Coordination unit, to lead the team managing the Forum’s communication calendar, products and channels.

Reporting Lines & Interactions

The role will report to the Head of Communication Strategy and Coordination and will lead a team of 5-6 individuals responsible for product development, internal account management, institutional communications calendar, and editorial strategy across website and social channels. The role will be a member of the Global Communication Group’s extended Leadership Team. Internally, the role will liaise with colleagues across the Global Communications Group and the Forum’s impact-driven Centres. Externally, the role may engage with communication and media professionals and external advisors and consultants when relevant.

Key responsibilities- Develop clear product types and communication packages across the Forum’s events, initiatives, reports and other activities requiring communication support, with clear tiering aligned with the institutional and Group strategy.- Manage internal accounts with Centres, event teams and other relevant Forum teams, developing a dynamic institutional communications calendar for shared use across the Group.- Develop a coherent editorial strategy using the calendar and product types and aligned with the Group’s overall communication strategy.- Coordinate product and calendar planning across the Groups public, media and stakeholder engagement units to deliver against the editorial strategy. Additional responsibilities may include aligning editorial, design and visual identity guidelines across the Group.- Deploy the editorial strategy across website and social channels.- Identify and remain at the forefront of the latest communication trends as well as emerging trends relating to the breadth of topics covered by the Forum’s work, informing the Forum’s communication strategy accordingly.- Manage a team of communication professionals, acting as a role model for the team, providing leadership and supporting team members to grow and excel.- Act as a trusted member of the Global Communications Group extended Leadership Team, developing trusted internal relationships across the team and the organization- Build and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including leading communications and media professionals.- Successful development and implementation of a coherent communication product strategy, in line with the Group’s strategy and the Forum’s mission and values, designing coherent communication packages and internal menu and tiering system for transparent and clear implementation.- Successful account management, planning and coordination with the Forum Centres, events teams and other relevant teams for a holistic, institutional communications calendar, shared across the Group as the single source of communication planning.- Successful intra-Group coordination around the communications calendar and product types, aligned with overall strategy, reputation management and performance metrics.- Successful management and delivery of the Group’s communication strategy through its website and through its social media channels.- Successful coordination of consistent Forum brand identity across the Group- Strong understanding of the Forum’s mission and impact.- Ongoing learning of the online, offline and social media landscape- Successfully lead a team of communication leaders and professionals, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, trust and institutional stewardship- Represent effectively the Forum externally, in interactions with media and external constituents, as well as at institutional events

Required qualifications:
- Advanced degree in communications, business, international relations, or other relevant areas.- 12+ years of relevant work experience in public relations, consulting, strategy and project management- Strong planning, product development and project management skills with proven, with demonstrated ability to understand complex themes,