Director, Branding & Communications - Latin America

Position Title: Director, Communications & Branding Special Olympics Latin America

Department: Special Olympics Latin America (SOLA)

Reports to: Regional President and Managing Director, SOLA

Organization Overview:

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With nearly four million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and one million coaches and volunteers in more than 170 countries, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year. Learn more at SpecialOlympics.org. 

Position Summary:

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

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction and counsel to SOLA leadership on all marketing and communications

      related matters and create plans and/or initiatives to support.

• External communications: oversee, implement and/or generate content for web, social media,

      digital media, media relations, marketing/awareness campaigns and more.

• Internal communications
• Coordinate on-going 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 & PR

      agencies, advertising agencies, communication´s counterparts in international organizations,   

      donors, vendors, and Accredited Programs.

• Brand compliance and training
• Ongoing marketing and communications training and support to all SOLA Accredited Programs
• Work closely with SOI Communications team and Accredited Programs on partner activations in region
• Member of SOLA crisis communications team
• Communications and Branding guidance and/or oversight of Regional Games
• Communications guidance and/or oversight to World Games delegations from region, and liaison between Special Olympics, Inc. and SOLA Accredited Programs
• Marketing and communication of SONA Regional competitions and events
• Create and manage the Talents, Ambassadors and Celebrities Program in the region. Including

      recruitment, activation, and media awareness.

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience plus Seven to Ten years of relevant work experience. Experience and/or coursework in the area of communications, journalism, marketing, or related field is a plus.

• Proven marketing and communications success/track-record in industry of relevance: sports, non-

      profit, media organization, PR agency.

• Track record of designing, implementing, and managing complex multi-level, simultaneous

      communications, and marketing programs.

• Demonstrable experience of positioning an organization to achieve tangible outcomes.
• Able to work independently, work under pressure, and in 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 organizational skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills (including strong public speaking skills)
• Media relations experience
• Crisis communications experience
• Proficiency with digital/on-line communications platforms including social media, web, electronic newsletters, apps.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products and select Adobe products such as Photo Shop,

      Illustrator or InDesign

• Willingness to travel frequently.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience of working within an international development setting, working with civil society

      organizations, 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
• Design/publication layout experience

Special Olympics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

**Special Olympics is an E-Verify Employer**