Experienced communications, advocacy, and policy professionals looking for a senior leadership opportunity in philanthropy can explore a Director-level opening with The Rockefeller Foundation in New York City.
The Foundation is seeking a Director, Program Influence (Communications & Advocacy), U.S. Program and Policy (USPP) to develop and implement influence strategies that connect evidence, programme results, communications and policy priorities with key audiences.
The full-time position offers an annual salary of US$175,000 to US$210,000.
This is a senior professional role generally requiring 10 or more years of experience in strategic communications, policy and advocacy, together with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
The successful candidate will work across strategic communications, advocacy, media engagement, stakeholder relations, content development, events, and programme influence.
The position is based in New York City and follows a hybrid arrangement requiring the successful candidate to work from the Foundation’s New York office Monday through Thursday.
About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a global philanthropic organization working through partnerships in areas including science, technology, and innovation to improve human well-being.
Its work addresses major challenges affecting communities and economies, including:
Food.
Health.
Energy.
Finance.
The Foundation works with partners across public, private, and philanthropic sectors.
For this particular position, the successful candidate will primarily support the Foundation’s U.S. Program and Policy team.
U.S. Program and Policy
The U.S. Program and Policy team works with communities, policymakers, employers, and other stakeholders to expand economic opportunity and improve outcomes across the United States.
The Director, Program Influence will devote approximately:
85% of their time to U.S. Program priorities
and
15% to cross-programme and institutional initiatives.
This means most of the position will focus on U.S.-related programme priorities while still contributing to wider Foundation communications and influence work.
About the Director, Program Influence Role
This is not a conventional communications position focused solely on producing content.
The Director will operate at the intersection of:
Strategic communications
Policy
Advocacy
Programme strategy
Stakeholder engagement
Media relations
Evidence-based storytelling
The successful candidate will help translate complex programmes, research, evidence and policy priorities into narratives capable of reaching policymakers, partners, investors, philanthropic audiences and other stakeholders.
Developing Program Influence Strategies
One of the Director’s primary responsibilities will be developing and implementing evidence-based programme influence strategies.
These strategies will identify priority audiences and determine how the Foundation can communicate effectively with them.
The Director will work to strengthen stakeholder engagement and increase visibility around relevant programme priorities.
Expanding Media Visibility
Media engagement is an important component of the position.
The Director will help increase visibility for the Foundation’s work by identifying opportunities to communicate programme evidence, achievements and priorities through relevant media channels.
Candidates should therefore bring substantial strategic communications and media-relations experience.
Engaging Public, Private and Philanthropic Investors
The role also involves generating greater interest from:
Public investors
Private investors
Philanthropic investors
The successful candidate will need to understand how to communicate evidence and programme impact to different institutional audiences.
This requires an ability to adapt messaging depending on the interests and expectations of the audience.
Identifying Evidence and Impact Stories
The Director will work closely with programme leaders to identify:
Evidence.
Impact stories.
Key achievements.
These elements will help strengthen the Foundation’s public narrative.
Candidates should therefore be capable of identifying the strongest information within complex programmes and turning it into compelling communications.
Translating Complex Programmes Into Persuasive Narratives
An important part of the job involves translating complex programme activities into persuasive and accessible messages.
Potential audiences include:
Policymakers.
Partners.
Philanthropic organizations.
Media.
Investors.
Other stakeholders.
The successful candidate should therefore be able to understand technical or policy-heavy information and communicate its significance clearly.
Annual Communications and Content Planning
The Director will develop:
Annual communications plans
and
Annual content plans.
These plans will help determine how programme priorities are communicated throughout the year.
This responsibility requires both strategic planning and practical execution.
Candidates should be able to move between high-level communications strategy and the detailed coordination required to deliver it.
Collaboration Across Communications and Policy
The Director will coordinate closely with the Foundation’s:
Communications team
and
Policy & Advocacy team.
This cross-functional collaboration is central to the position.
Programme influence requires communications, policy and programme teams to work together rather than operating separately.
Monitoring Audience Engagement
The Director will monitor:
Audience engagement
and
Analytics.
These insights will help the Foundation understand how communications are performing.
The successful candidate will use performance information to refine communications and influence strategies.
Candidates should therefore be comfortable working with communications data and using evidence to improve future activity.
Strategic Convenings
The Director will identify and lead:
Strategic convenings
and
High-profile events.
This could involve bringing together stakeholders around important policy, programme or economic-opportunity issues.
Candidates need experience planning and leading high-level events involving influential participants.
External Representation
The successful candidate will represent The Rockefeller Foundation and its leadership at:
Regional forums
National forums
Global forums
Multilateral forums
This makes the position highly externally facing.
Candidates should therefore be confident representing a major philanthropic organization before senior stakeholders and public audiences.
Board-Level Materials
The Director will support the preparation of:
Board-level materials.
This requires strong judgment and the ability to communicate complex programme information concisely for senior decision-makers.
Experience preparing executive-level or Board-level communications may therefore be particularly useful.
Project Management
The role also involves managing:
Project milestones.
Candidates should be comfortable overseeing multiple communications and advocacy initiatives simultaneously.
Strong project-management skills will be essential because the position combines long-term strategy with events, content, stakeholder engagement and institutional priorities.
Managing Consultants and Vendors
The Director will oversee:
Consultants
and
Vendors.
This may involve managing external specialists supporting communications, events, research, content or other programme-influence activities.
Candidates with previous vendor-management experience should highlight this in their applications.
Grantee Management
The successful candidate will also participate in:
Selecting and managing grantees.
This distinguishes the position from many conventional communications-director roles.
Applicants with experience working within philanthropy, grantmaking, or nonprofit partnerships may therefore have particularly relevant experience.
Institutional Communications
Although most of the Director’s time will focus on U.S. Program priorities, the role will also contribute to broader:
Institutional communications.
This is consistent with the approximately 15% allocation to cross-programme and institutional initiatives.
The successful candidate should therefore be comfortable contributing beyond one programme portfolio when required.
Advising Senior Leaders
The Director will advise senior programme leaders on:
Narrative positioning.
This means helping leaders determine how programmes, evidence and emerging opportunities should be communicated to external audiences.
The successful candidate will need strong professional judgment and the ability to work effectively with senior executives.
Qualifications
The position generally requires:
10 or more years of experience
in areas including:
Strategic communications.
Policy.
Advocacy.
This is therefore an experienced leadership position rather than an entry-level or early-career opportunity.
Education Requirement
Candidates should hold a:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
The supplied vacancy information does not identify a master’s degree as a mandatory requirement.
Applicants should therefore distinguish the stated qualifications from additional credentials they may personally hold.
U.S. Economic Opportunity
Candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of:
U.S. economic opportunity
and
Workforce development.
These areas are directly connected to the priorities of the U.S. Program and Policy team.
Professionals with previous work involving economic mobility, workforce systems, employment, public policy or related areas may therefore have useful sector experience.
Policymaker Engagement
Experience engaging:
Domestic U.S. policymakers
is preferred.
Candidates with relevant experience should make this visible in their application materials.
This could include professional work involving government institutions, public-policy organizations, coalitions or advocacy initiatives.
Communications Skills
Applicants should demonstrate exceptional:
Written communication
Verbal communication
Interpersonal communication
The Director will interact with senior leaders, policymakers, media, partners, investors and other external stakeholders.
Communication skills are therefore fundamental to the role rather than simply one part of the job.
Managing Complex Workstreams
Candidates should be capable of managing multiple complex workstreams within a:
Fast-paced
and
Matrixed organization.
This requires prioritization, collaboration and the ability to coordinate across different teams.
Stakeholder Engagement
Strong stakeholder-engagement experience is highly important.
The Director will work with numerous audiences, potentially including:
Programme leaders.
Policymakers.
Community partners.
Philanthropic organizations.
Investors.
Media.
Government representatives.
External consultants.
Other institutional stakeholders.
Coalition Building
Experience in:
Coalition building
is also important.
Many policy and advocacy initiatives depend on organizations and individuals working together around shared objectives.
The Director should understand how to develop and maintain productive stakeholder relationships.
Media Relations
Applicants should bring experience in:
Media relations.
The successful candidate will help increase programme visibility while positioning evidence and impact stories effectively.
Candidates with relationships or previous experience working with journalists and media organizations may have relevant transferable expertise.
Digital Strategy
Digital communications are another important part of the position.
The Foundation expects candidates to understand the modern communications environment.
This extends beyond traditional websites and social media.
Social Media and Emerging Platforms
The vacancy specifically identifies familiarity with channels including:
Social media
Podcasts
Creator channels
Influencer channels
Emerging digital platforms
This reflects the increasingly fragmented communications environment in which major institutions operate.
Senior communications professionals need to understand how different audiences consume information across multiple platforms.
Content Creation
Content creation experience is also important.
The Director should understand how strong content supports broader strategic communications and advocacy objectives.
However, this senior position goes beyond personally producing individual pieces of content.
The Director must be capable of shaping the overall strategy behind what is communicated, to whom and why.
Cross-Sector Experience
The successful candidate should be comfortable working across:
Nonprofit
Government
and
Corporate environments.
The Rockefeller Foundation frequently operates through partnerships spanning different sectors.
Candidates who understand how these sectors communicate and make decisions may therefore be particularly relevant.
Handling Sensitive Information
The Director must be comfortable handling:
Sensitive information.
Senior communications roles often involve information that cannot immediately be made public.
Professional discretion and sound judgment are therefore essential.
Crisis Communications
The vacancy also refers to communications during:
Crisis situations.
Candidates should therefore be capable of operating calmly and strategically when communications involve reputational, operational or other sensitive issues.
High-Profile Events
Experience designing and leading:
High-profile events
is required.
This aligns with the Director’s responsibility for strategic convenings and external representation.
Applicants should highlight significant events they have successfully planned, led or supported.
Strategic Thinking
The Rockefeller Foundation seeks a professional with strong:
Strategic thinking.
The Director needs to look beyond individual communications outputs and understand how communications, advocacy and policy engagement contribute to wider programme objectives.
Entrepreneurial Approach
The successful candidate should also demonstrate an:
Entrepreneurial approach.
This means being capable of identifying opportunities and turning them into practical strategies while operating within the Foundation’s wider objectives.
Managing Complexity
Another important competency is:
Managing complexity.
The Director will operate across programmes, audiences, communications channels and external relationships.
The ability to make sense of complex information and competing priorities is therefore essential.
Action Orientation
The Foundation also values:
Action orientation.
The successful candidate should not only develop strategies but also help ensure those strategies are implemented effectively.
Collaboration and Adaptability
Other important competencies include:
Collaboration
and
Adaptability.
The role requires extensive interaction with different internal teams and external stakeholders.
Priorities may also change as policy, media and programme environments evolve.
Developing Talent
The ability to:
Develop talent
is another competency identified for the position.
This reflects the leadership expectations associated with a Director-level appointment.
Candidates with previous experience coaching, mentoring or developing colleagues should consider demonstrating this experience.
Salary
The annual salary range is:
US$175,000 to US$210,000.
The final salary will depend on factors including the successful candidate’s experience.
Applicants should understand that the advertised upper figure is not necessarily the salary every successful candidate will receive.
Benefits
The supplied vacancy information describes a comprehensive benefits package.
Benefits include:
Health insurance
Tuition reimbursement
Student loan repayment
401(k) retirement plan
Parental leave
Paid time off
Applicants should verify the detailed terms, eligibility conditions and coverage directly with The Rockefeller Foundation during the recruitment process.
Location
The position is based in:
New York City, United States.
This is important because the role should not be advertised as fully remote.
Hybrid Work Arrangement
The Director, Program Influence position follows a:
Hybrid work arrangement.
However, the in-office requirement is substantial.
Employees in this role are expected to work from the Foundation’s New York City office:
Monday through Thursday.
Candidates should therefore be able to maintain regular in-person availability in New York City.
Is This a Remote Job?
No.
Although the position is described as hybrid, it requires office attendance four days per week.
Applicants looking specifically for fully remote communications jobs should therefore not interpret the hybrid designation as location-independent work.
Is This an Entry-Level Job?
No.
The vacancy generally requires:
10+ years of experience in strategic communications, policy and advocacy.
This is a senior Director-level position involving external representation, strategic decision-making, senior-leader advisory responsibilities and oversight of complex initiatives.
Is a Master’s Degree Required?
The supplied vacancy information lists a:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
as the educational requirement.
It does not state that applicants must hold a master’s degree.
Candidates should rely on the official vacancy for any additional education requirements that may apply.
Application Process
Qualified candidates should submit an application through The Rockefeller Foundation’s designated recruitment platform.
Applicants should tailor their materials around the actual requirements of the position.
Rather than submitting a generic communications CV, candidates should demonstrate senior-level experience in:
Strategic communications.
Policy and advocacy.
Stakeholder engagement.
Media relations.
Digital communications.
Evidence-based storytelling.
High-profile events.
Executive communications.
Strengthening Your CV
Applicants should make measurable achievements easy to identify.
For example, where applicable, candidates can demonstrate:
Audience growth.
Media coverage.
Policy engagement.
Successful advocacy initiatives.
Coalitions developed.
Major events delivered.
Digital campaign performance.
Communications strategies implemented.
Stakeholder relationships managed.
The application should focus on accomplishments that demonstrate readiness for a Director-level role.
Demonstrating Policy and Advocacy Experience
This position combines communications with policy and advocacy.
Applicants should therefore avoid presenting themselves solely as content or marketing professionals.
Where relevant, candidates should demonstrate experience engaging:
Policymakers.
Government institutions.
Advocacy coalitions.
Public-policy organizations.
Community partners.
Institutional leaders.
Demonstrating Strategic Communications Leadership
Candidates should also explain how they have used communications to advance organizational or programme objectives.
The strongest evidence will usually involve examples where communications influenced:
Stakeholder engagement.
Public understanding.
Media visibility.
Policy conversations.
Investment interest.
Institutional positioning.
Important Details at a Glance
Organization: The Rockefeller Foundation
Position: Director, Program Influence (Communications & Advocacy)
Team: U.S. Program and Policy
Employment: Full-time
Seniority: Director/Senior professional
Location: New York City
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Office Requirement: Monday through Thursday
Experience: Generally 10+ years
Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
Primary Focus: U.S. Program priorities
Time Allocation: Approximately 85% U.S. Program priorities; 15% cross-programme/institutional initiatives
Salary: US$175,000–US$210,000 annually
Key Areas: Strategic communications, advocacy, policy, stakeholder engagement, media relations and programme influence
Benefits: Health insurance, tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, 401(k), parental leave and paid time off
Application Deadline
The supplied source does not provide a specific application deadline.
Applicants should therefore avoid relying on an unverified closing date.
Because senior vacancies can close or change as recruitment progresses, interested candidates should review the current status through the official recruitment platform and apply while the position remains open.
Work Authorization and Visa Sponsorship
The supplied source does not state whether this particular position provides:
Visa sponsorship
Work-permit sponsorship
or
International relocation assistance.
Applicants who require U.S. employment authorization or relocation support should therefore verify these points directly rather than assuming sponsorship is available.
Final Considerations
The Rockefeller Foundation seeks an Experienced Director, Program Influence – Communications & Advocacy: an annual salary of US$175,000–US$210,000 opportunity is designed for senior professionals capable of connecting strategic communications, policy engagement, and advocacy with programme impact.
The Director will primarily support the Foundation’s U.S. Program and Policy priorities, dedicating approximately 85% of their time to U.S. Program work and 15% to cross-programme and institutional initiatives.
Responsibilities extend beyond traditional communications and include developing evidence-based influence strategies, identifying priority audiences, increasing media visibility, translating complex programme evidence into persuasive narratives, leading strategic convenings, representing the Foundation externally, supporting Board-level materials, managing consultants and vendors, selecting and managing grantees and advising senior programme leaders.
Applicants generally need 10 or more years of strategic communications, policy and advocacy experience and a relevant bachelor’s degree.
The annual salary range is US$175,000–US$210,000, with final compensation determined by factors including experience.
The role also comes with benefits that the supplied source says include health insurance, tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, a 401(k), parental leave, and paid time off.
Candidates should remember that this is not a fully remote position. It is based in New York City, with employees expected in the Foundation’s office Monday through Thursday.
No application deadline, visa-sponsorship commitment, or relocation package is confirmed in the supplied source. Applicants should verify these details through the official recruitment platform before applying.
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