Director of Digital Communications

Organization

Founded in 1968, the Guttmacher Institute is a global leader in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Through a unique and interrelated program of high-quality research, evidence-based advocacy and strategic communications, the Institute works to generate new ideas, encourage enlightened public debate, and promote sound policy and program development; its overarching goal is to ensure the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all people worldwide. The Institute is engaged in building a more inclusive, transparent and equitable organization.

Position summary

The Director of Digital Communications leads the strategy, execution and continuous evolution of the Guttmacher Institute’s integrated digital communications projects. Reporting to the Vice President for US Policy and Communications and serving on the division’s Management Team, the Director oversees a multidisciplinary team responsible for web development, social media strategy, email outreach, multimedia design, interactive dashboard strategy, and performance analytics—all to amplify the Institute’s mission of advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide.

In close collaboration with other divisional colleagues, the Director champions user-centered design, data-driven insights, and digital-first strategies to ensure cohesive, high-quality content and seamless user experiences across platforms. A core responsibility is translating Guttmacher evidence and expertise into clear, accessible, and actionable digital content. The Director drives platform innovation, elevates creative excellence, and advances Guttmacher’s digital transformation, enhancing visibility, deepening engagement, and positioning the Institute as a leader in digital communication. They are a digital expert, compelling communicator, an effective manager, and a collaborative leader and project manager who thrives in a cross-functional, mission-driven environment.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and lead an integrated digital strategy that advances Guttmacher’s mission and aligns with international and domestic research, policy, communications,brand and fund-raising priorities.
• Champion data-driven decision-making, ensuring digital initiatives are continuously evaluated for reach, engagement, UX, and SEO and responsive to evolving AI shifts.
• Establish cohesive, audience-driven strategies and tactics that reinforce institutional voice and are applied consistently across platforms and via bespoke platform strategies as needed.
• Serve as a strategic partner to senior leaders, program staff, and fundraising teams, bringing digital-first approaches and best practices to institutional communications.

Team Leadership and Development

• Develop, manage, and mentor a multidisciplinary digital team spanning social media, email, web, analytics, and graphic design.
• Build leadership capacity within the team by delegating vertical oversight, increasing cross-training, and ensuring professional development and accountability.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative culture grounded in creativity, learning, and data-informed experimentation
• Works in close partnership with senior staff to help improve cross and interdivisional communication and project management.

Innovation and Product Development

• Lead high-impact initiatives that advance institutional priorities and require cross-functional collaboration, working closely with Development, US Policy and Communications, Domestic Research, and Global Research and Advocacy.
• Pilot and scale new tools and formats to strengthen digital engagement.
• Help identify and support efforts to increase data visualization projects and track and respond to AI’s impact on digital strategy.
• Collaborate with researchers to improve the data analysis-to-interactive-tool pipeline
• Manage vendors and budgets to deliver cost-effective, high-quality products and services.

Platform Brand, Strategy, Governance and Analytics

• Drive governance standards for UX, accessibility, SEO, branding, and content consistency across digital platforms.
• Direct overarching strategies for web, social, multimedia content, and email.
• Define KPIs and oversee analytics reports produced by Digital Team reporting to track reach, engagement, and ROI, sharing actionable insights with leadership and teams.
• Use performance data to guide content strategy, resource allocation, and continuous platform improvements.

Change Leadership and Visibility

• Champion digital transformation by promoting agile workflows, digital-first practices, and a culture of innovation.
• Expand organizational digital capacity through training, knowledge exchange, and cross-team skill development.
• Represent Guttmacher externally in the digital advocacy and SRHR landscape to strengthen sector leadership.
• Assumes other duties as assigned. 
   

Qualifications and skills

Required

• 10+ years of progressively senior experience in digital communications including strategy and execution.
• At least three years of management/supervision experience and an ability to thoughtfully manage team members with diverse skillsets.
• Proven ability to set digital vision and deliver measurable growth in reach, engagement, and impact.
• Demonstrated success managing complex,cross-team and organizational-wide initiatives.
• Experience overseeing high-visibility digital initiatives orflagshipplatforms.
• Strong leadership and change management skills, including team building, mentoring, and driving organizational transformation.
• Proficiency in digital strategy oversight, with familiarity in CMS, CRM, analytics, SEO/UX, and creative workflows, and the ability to guide specialized staff.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to translate performance insights into actionable strategies for leadership.
• Strong editorial judgment and messaging skills, with experience reviewing and refining content across digital channels.
• Experience navigating multiple perspectives and experiences with a problem-solving stance. 
• Familiarity with modern digital tools and platforms (e.g., project management, analytics, email, CMS, social publishing, and generative AI).

Preferred

• Experience providing creative direction for multimedia campaigns.
• Background in nonprofit, research, policy, or advocacy communications.
• Experience collaborating with fundraising/development teams on donor engagement and campaigns.
• Familiarity with SRHR, reproductive justice, or global health communications.
• Experience managing vendors, budgets, and cross-divisional digital product lifecycles.
   

Salary and benefits

The salary range for this position is between $188,800 to $217,100 and will be commensurate with experience. This range is specific to the New York and DC area, and base pay may vary depending on a wide range of factors. New hires are typically brought into the organization between the minimum to midpoint of the salary range posted depending on knowledge, skills and experience, and qualifications. Internal equity considerations will be reviewed before making a final offer. The Guttmacher Institute practices a hybrid work schedule, requiring in-office attendance currently 4 days per month. 
We offer excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; vacation, personal, and sick time; paid parental leave; tuition reimbursement; commuting subsidy; and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

Guttmacher Institute strives to provide the training and support for staff needed to be successful in their positions and to grow professionally.