The Data Tank is looking for a Communications Manager

Position Title: Communications Manager

Organisation: The Data Tank

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Employment Type: Full-time, unlimited employment contract

Start Date: as soon as possible

About us:

The Data Tank is an organisation with an ambitious mission and a global vocation. A non-profit think-and-do tank based in Brussels, Belgium, our work is dedicated to serving the common good together by using data differently. Our vision means a significant shift in how we think about data, how we access it and what we do with it. We work with partners worldwide to unlock data’s potential: gathering, accessing, and re-using it responsibly —to better equip us to tackle the pressing issues of our time.

Our first two programs seek to innovate how we access and re-use data for public good initiatives while establishing legitimacy and trust in how it is being re-used. Within the Social License Lab program, we will develop mechanisms, such as ongoing meaningful public engagement, to acquire acceptance and legitimacy for data use and re-use beyond existing consent management approaches. This will be done by coordinating pilot projects across application domains and geographies. Our Data Stewardship Program aims to professionalise the use and re-use of data for the public good by building an association for data stewardship professionals and offering professional development services such as training courses. Linked to these two programs of work, we are also developing a third program of work to advocate for the importance of responsible data re-use and data stewardship in the context of AI systems.

Across these programs of work, we strive for both research excellence and impactful policy engagement to ensure our evidence on best approaches to responsible data reuse are heard and implemented across the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Role Overview:

Solid strategic communication is key to our practice, research and policy work. We are at a critical junction where we need to ensure our evidence and policy advice have an impact on the way data is used, reused and governed in the EU and globally. As a think-and-do tank, our communications are of paramount importance.

We’re seeking an experienced Communications Manager to manage our external communications and work closely with the leadership team and all staff working across our programs. This person will be highly skilled in strategic communications, brand and editorial, institutional positioning, press and publishing, stakeholder management, event organising and social media.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic communications

• Design and implement a communications strategy and plan, in collaboration with the senior research and policy leads and The Data Tank team more broadly.

• Manage the organisation’s external positioning and reputation, curate our catalogue of organisational key lines for all programs, and identify and mitigate communications risks.

• Conduct communications research and monitor the progress of various communications strategies

• Monitor our audiences and audience reach and conduct audience research to improve the impact of our strategic communications

• Support staff in communicating effectively within the organisation’s brand and positioning while maintaining each team members’ unique voice and contribution.

Brand, editorial and reputation

• Develop, manage and oversee the implementation of the house style and brand guidelines, and ensure consistent presentation across all outputs and channels.

• Oversee the quality of editorial and brand, ensuring all reports, blogs and content follow high editorial standards in line with the organisation’s house style and brand guidelines.

• Manage, develop and maintain The Data Tank’s website and newsletter with high quality, update and relevant content.

• Create high quality and impactful content for social media platforms.

Stakeholder and budget management

• Establish and maintain close relationships with key stakeholders in the press and media outlets and support the team in the publication of articles and op-eds.

• Communicate with media outlets and journalists and create press kits

• Liaise with design agencies and other communications contractors as necessary.

• Commission external blogs and articles

• In collaboration with the Senior Policy Lead, establish and maintain close relationships with key stakeholders in policy and public affairs roles.

• Ensure all communications are aligned and coherent with The Data Tank’s priorities, and values, including anti-oppression, diversity and inclusion.

Background and Qualifications:

• Proven track record of planning, developing and implementing strategic communications

• Experience of brand development and design

• Solid experience liaising with a range of contractors to co-design content and branding that is coherent with the organisation’s mission, values and strategic communication objectives.

• Experience in stakeholder management and working with policy and public affairs teams and stakeholders

• Proven track record communicating with media outlets, pitching and commissioning articles, op-eds and blogs.

• Proven track record developing editorial and style guidelines and overseeing the editorial quality of the reports and content created by The Data Tank team.

Personal Profile:

• You are self-driven and have a strong capacity for independent work

• You are passionate about impact through communication of interdisciplinary research, thought leadership and innovative thinking.

• You are an effective team player, are open to feedback, enjoy collaboration, and value working with colleagues from all over the world.

• You are empathetic and a keen supporter of diversity in the workplace, centering care and respect in how you interact with others.

• You are highly motivated to contribute significantly to the success of The Data Tank.

• You are ideally Brussels-based.

We Offer:

• Competitive salary aligned with experience

• Comprehensive benefits package.

• Remote work with flexible working hours and access to an office in the heart of Brussels.

• Opportunity to join a mission-driven non-profit start-up and to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment with a global impact.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit the following by 29th September 2024, 23:59 CET:

• A one-page motivation letter, including salary expectations.

• A detailed CV

Applications can be sent via email to Jasmin Menten, (jasmin.menten@datatank.org), with "Communications Manager" in the subject line.