Senior Director Communications - Publications, Center for Financial Inclusion

About Accion

Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy for the nearly two billion people who are failed by the global financial system. We develop and scale responsible digital financial solutions for small business owners, smallholder farmers, and women, so they can make informed decisions and improve their lives. Through targeted investment strategies, advisory solutions, and expert thought leadership, we work with local partners to develop and scale cheaper, more accessible, and customer-friendly financial solutions. Since 1961, Accion has helped build 267 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 75 countries, reaching 440 million people. More at https://www.accion.org.

About CFI

The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) works to advance inclusive financial services for the billions of people who currently lack the financial tools needed to improve their lives and prosper. We leverage partnerships to conduct rigorous research and test promising solutions, and then advocate for evidence-based change. CFI was founded by Accion in 2008 to serve as an independent think tank on inclusive finance.

Our role in the inclusive finance space is to identify learning gaps that could advance financial health of low-income people and undertake research and pilot testing to advance our collective understanding of what would drive progress. In areas where there is clear evidence of what works, we collaborate with partners to advocate and embed learning into implementation and practices of partners. We partner with all types of stakeholders - donors, investors, policymakers and providers - both in its research and pilot testing work as well as during its advocacy phase.

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Communications is CFI's key advocate, collaborating with team leaders and Accion's communications team to ensure our research and events reach stakeholders and position CFI as a thought leader in inclusive finance.

Reporting to the Managing Director and working closely with the other internal team leaders, this role oversees the publications pipeline, digital channels, marketing communications for CFI-led events, and external speaking engagements.

We are seeking a creative thinker who can distill complex issues into impactful messages, build strong relationships, and consistently deliver high quality work in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate is a team player with excellent writing skills, strong editorial judgment, and experience managing a publication pipeline.

This position is located in Washington, D.C., with a hybrid work model.

Position Responsibilities

Strategy and Management

Lead the development of a communications strategy for CFI as well as its implementation.
• Spearhead CFI communications team responsible for publications, websites, newsletters, social media presence, internal and external speaking engagements.
• Work with CFI leadership, Accion's Chief Communications Officer and CFI's researchers to align CFI's communications, brand, and market positioning with its influence strategy.
• Build on existing communications channels relevant for the audiences CFI aims to influence (regulators, investors, customer advocacy organizations, etc.).
• Proactively collaborate with Accion's Communications team on opportunities to promote CFI's work through PR, digital, and other channels.

Managing Publication Pipeline

• Serve as CFI's lead editorial voice, collaborating closely with researchers to provide strategic and editorial guidance. Your goal is to ensure that CFI's knowledge products and messaging resonate with our target audience.
• Oversee the entire publication pipeline, from content production to facilitating editorial processes.

Success in this position requires exceptional editorial judgment and strong writing and copy-editing skills to shape our knowledge products and their messages effectively.

Convenings Support

• Collaborate closely with the Senior Director of Consumer Protection and Strategic Industry Engagement to support marketing and communications for CFI's in-person and virtual events, including the Responsible Finance Forum (RFF) and Financial Inclusion Week (FIW).

Organizational Leadership

• Promote a culture that attracts and retains top talent, and ensures a high-performing, respectful, and inclusive work environment, a culture where all staff:

• • Reach their full potential as learners, unorthodox researchers, and thought leaders.
  • Collaborate effectively by sharing ideas, brainstorming, and co-developing knowledge products.
  • Feel accountable for results and impact.
  • Strive for and achieve excellence.

Position Qualifications

• 12+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience in managing a publication pipeline.
• Exceptional editorial judgment and strong writing skills.
• Proficient in digital communications, marketing, and search engine optimization.
• Knowledge of inclusive finance and familiar with CFI's priority topics, including responsible data practices, consumer protection, climate risk and resilience, and women's financial inclusion.
• Competent in Adobe Creative Suite and WordPress.
• Adept at simplifying complex topics into key messages that resonate with target audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality content and manage projects within deadlines.
• Strong leadership in strategy setting and strategic communications.
• Proven track record of leading high-achieving teams to success.
• Trusted advisor, capable of guiding and shaping the work of others.
• Experienced in working with non-native English-speaking authors.
• Demonstrated success in message development and influence campaigns that drive change in global initiatives with diverse financial inclusion stakeholders.
• Passionate about using communications to advance social impact.

Travel Requirements

This position may require some travel (<10%).

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary Range: $120K to $150K
• The above salary range serves as a general guideline. Accion considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, training, skills, location, current market conditions as well as internal pay alignment.
• Accion provides a total compensation package, including base salary, discretionary merit-based bonus, and a variety of benefits including health insurance (90% employer funded), life and disability insurance, retirement plans (up to 7.5% employer match), paid holidays and paid time-off for vacation plus personal days as well as sick days.

Accion is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture. Accion seeks qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, change of sex or transgender status, or any other basis protected by law. Accion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.