Deputy Director of Communications Development - US (flexible US base location)

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead writer for the Development team, creating a wide range of high-quality, audience-specific materials to engage and steward individual major donors and corporate and foundation partners.
• Develop persuasive and polished donor materials including fact sheets, reports, emails, impact stories, appeals, event talking points, social media copy, blog posts, and other thought leadership content.
• Translate programmatic content into clear, donor-friendly language that highlights impact and aligns with donor interests in areas such as emergency response, food and water security, climate resilience, economic development, and peacebuilding.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to influence, develop and implement multi-channel communications strategies that support donor engagement and increase Mercy Corps' visibility across philanthropic sectors.
• Review and edit materials created by external partners to ensure quality, alignment with messaging, and adherence to Mercy Corps' ethical storytelling standards.
• Manage complex communications projects with multiple stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables.
• Coordinate across departments to source content, maintain brand alignment, and ensure communications reflect Mercy Corps' mission and program impact.
• Lead or support the development of emergency response communications and rapid-turnaround donor engagement materials during crises.
• Track performance and outcomes of communication efforts and suggest improvements for increased engagement and donor retention.
• Balance advancing team objectives and goals with real-time responsiveness and nimbleness.
• Track and analyze the effectiveness of donor communications, using insights to refine strategies and improve outcomes.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in communications, with a focus on donor engagement and philanthropic writing.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to adapt voice and tone for diverse audiences and channels.
• Experience managing cross-functional content projects and balancing multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Deep understanding of the philanthropic landscape, especially donor motivations within the global development and humanitarian sectors.
• Strong organizational skills and self-motivation, with the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity.
• Ability to work across global time zones and adapt to flexible work locations within the US.

Nice to Have

• Experience developing content for high-net-worth individuals and corporate and foundation partners.
• Knowledge of global development and humanitarian sectors.
• Experience in emergency response communications.

Qualifications

• Educational background is not explicitly specified, but extensive experience in communications is required.

Benefits & Perks

• Position can be based anywhere in the United States with flexible work arrangements.
• Opportunity to contribute to impactful global programs and work with a diverse, collaborative team.
• Support for ongoing learning and professional development, including dedicating 5% of time to growth activities.