Role purpose

We are seeking a strategic Chief Communications & Brand Officer.

The Chief Communications & Brand Officer provides executive leadership for Orbis International’s global communications, brand stewardship, and internal engagement functions.

The role ensures that Orbis is positioned globally as the leading organization in preventable blindness and global eye health through strategic storytelling, brand consistency, media engagement, and reputational leadership.

The role also ensures strong internal communication alignment across the organization, supporting organizational learning, change management, staff engagement, and global cohesion.

Success in this role will result in Orbis being recognized as the most trusted, visible, and differentiated global leader in eye health with a strong brand presence across governments, donors, partners, media, and staff.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Global Strategic Leadership

• Lead the development of a new organizational narrative and support a potential brand refresh aligned with the new Global Strategy. Drive a step change in branding and communications for key moments, including Board engagement and the Annual Gala.
• Provide executive leadership for global communications, brand management, and internal communications.
• Define and drive the global communications and brand strategy aligned to organizational priorities.
• Ensure integration across communications, fundraising, programs, policy/advocacy, partnerships, research, regional, and country teams.
• Strengthen alignment and collaboration across global communications leaders and regional counterparts.
• Deepen global and regional media relationships to enhance visibility, credibility, and proactive coverage.

Leadership & Management

• Directly supervise the Vice President of Communications, who leads operational execution.
• Ensure strong performance management, capability development, and succession planning within the communications function.
• Oversee strategic allocation of the communications budget.

Brand Strategy & Governance

• Lead development and evolution of Orbis’s global brand strategy.
• Ensure brand clarity, consistency, and differentiation across all markets and platforms.
• Establish and enforce brand governance standards across global and country operations.
• Promote organizational understanding of the strategic value of brand investment.
• Ensure brand decisions reflect organizational strategy and risk considerations.

Global External Communications & Reputation

• Expand the organization’s presence across global health, development, and humanitarian media and thought leadership platforms.
• Develop and oversee strategies to increase global visibility and influence among key stakeholders including governments, institutional donors, corporate partners, foundations, media, and the public.
• Partner with the CEO and Executive office to shape new CEO engagements and strengthen profile-building for ELT, positioning executive leadership strategically through media engagement and speaking opportunities.
• Ensure production of high-quality flagship publications, impact reports, and global campaign assets.
• Build innovative media partnerships to amplify key publications and flagship moments.
• Develop and elevate powerful patient stories and organizational storytelling to strengthen influencing and fundraising.
• Identify emerging trends and positioning opportunities to strengthen Orbis’s global leadership in eye health.
• Ensure ethical storytelling with strong safeguarding, consent, and equity principles.

Digital Engagement & Campaign Oversight

• Set strategic direction for digital engagement across platforms and integrated global campaigns.
• Ensure communications strategies support fundraising growth, advocacy objectives, and partnership development.
• Promote strong integration of multimedia storytelling, research, clinical expertise, and lived experience.
• Align digital visibility with organizational priorities.

Crisis & Reputational Risk Management

• Serve as executive lead for global reputational risk and crisis communications.
• Develop and maintain crisis communication frameworks, protocols, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Participate as a key member of organizational crisis structures.
• Advise the CEO and Executive Team on reputational risks and strategic responses.
• Ensure preparedness through training, simulations, and clear accountability structures.
• Oversee engagement with external crisis communications advisors.

Internal Communications & Organizational Alignment

• Provide strategic communications oversight, guidance, and support to Affiliates and Country Offices, fostering collaborative culture.
• Strengthen two-way communication between leadership and staff across regions.
• Support major organizational change initiatives with clear communication planning.
• Ensure effective governance of internal communication platforms and tools.
• Promote multilingual and inclusive communication practices.

Safeguarding & Ethical Standards

• Ensure communications activities comply with safeguarding policies and standards.
• Embed ethical storytelling practices across global content.
• Ensure consent, dignity, and responsible representation in all external communications.
• Promote inclusive, anti-racist, and equitable communications practices.

Key Competencies

• Senior executive experience leading communications and brand strategy in a complex international organization.
• Deep understanding of global media environments and digital ecosystems.
• Experience in international development, global health, or mission-driven organizations preferred.
• Understanding fundraising communications and institutional donor engagement.
• Executive-level strategic leadership.
• Brand development and governance expertise.
• Reputation and crisis management.
• Strong influencing skills at senior and board levels.
• Experience managing global teams and significant budgets.
• Digital communications expertise.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Drives high performance and accountability.
• Thinks strategically while enabling strong execution.
• Exercises sound judgment in complex reputational environments.
• Influences effectively across cultures and stakeholders.
• Builds collaborative, high-performing teams.

Values & Competencies

At Orbis, our values and competencies are central to how we work and grow, both as individuals and as a global organization. These expectations apply to all employees and help ensure that we are aligned in our mission and impact.

Our Values in Action

We are guided by five values: Accountability, Commitment, Innovation, Integrity, and Equity. These values reflect how we engage with our colleagues, partners, and the communities we serve. We expect everyone at Orbis to model these values in daily decisions and behaviors.

Our Competencies in Action

These describe the key skills and behaviors needed to succeed at Orbis. They are used in performance discussions and to support career development across roles.

Click here for a quick overview of our values and competencies.

Profile

• Advanced university degree in communications, journalism, public relations, international relations, marketing, public health, or a related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in communications, brand management, or public affairs with significant experience at senior management or executive level.
• Proven track record of leading global communications functions within complex international organizations.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and overseeing substantial communications budgets.
• Strong experience in reputation management, crisis communications, and executive advisory support.
• Demonstrated experience in brand development, governance, and global brand stewardship.
• Experience working in international development, global health, humanitarian response, or a similar mission-driven environment preferred.
• Experience engaging with media at international level and positioning organizational leadership externally.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in additional languages an asset.
• Ability to travel regionally & internationally (~20%).

Terms of Appointment

This is a full-time position.

Reporting and Working Relationships

• Reports to: CEO
• Supervises: Vice President of Communications and overall Communications Department
• Works with: CEO, ELT, Affiliate Communication Leads, Country Office Directors and Communication Leads, and Board.

Orbis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

We encourage applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and communities, particularly those underrepresented in the international nonprofit sector. Orbis is proud to foster an environment where everyone can contribute meaningfully and thrive.

Role Location

Global

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please ensure you complete the Application Form provided below by 27 March 2026 (23:59 hrs, GMT -4). It is essential that you submit your CV in English, specifically in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx), not exceeding 10MB.

Applications in other languages or formats will not be considered.

Rest assured, all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

SRI Executive is exclusively retained by Orbis International to undertake this assignment.