Director Institutional Effectiveness Jobs in Reston, VA

THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS

Officer, Communications

Institutional and Strategy

Communications

The Communications department supports leaders at all levels of the institution to promote project and campaign efforts, inform key audiences, and protect and advance Pew's reputation. The department provides a comprehensive range of communications services for all programmatic and administrative units and Trusts-operated projects. Our in-house expertise includes: strategy and message development; editorial support; design and creative services; media event planning; digital and video production; and social media. The unit oversees all communications policies, guidelines, and processes to ensure production of the highest quality work and effective stewardship of Pew's resources.

Position Overview

This role requires an exceptional writer and strong strategic thinker who can turn communications insight into strategic action, translating audience insights, performance data, policy context, and program priorities into more adaptive communications decisions. This position reports to the Director, Strategy, Insights, and Operations, works closely with the SVP, Communications, and partners with digital and analytics colleagues to ensure that data and audience signals inform strategy, planning, messaging, and learning.

This role is based in Pew's Washington, DC office, and participates in Pew's hybrid work program with core days in the office and the flexibility to telework the remaining days. Staff also enjoy four telework "flex weeks" per year.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic communications partner across insight-driven communications, strategic planning, writing and content development, measurement and learning, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Collaborate with digital and analytics colleagues to interpret performance data, help connect initiative goals to meaningful key performance indicators (KPIs), and use ongoing measurement to refine messaging and strategy.
• With digital and analytics teams, synthesize engagement data, user behavior, and feedback loops to identify what narratives are gaining traction, where gaps exist, and how messaging, format, channel, and distribution choices can be refined for greater effectiveness.
• Partner with manager to integrate insight into planning cycles across the department, ensuring that audience data and insights inform editorial priorities, narrative development, and distribution strategies from the outset.
• Work with Communications colleagues to translate complex, technical research into accessible, engaging messaging tailored to specific audiences, including policymakers, partner organizations, expert communities, internal leadership, and other priority audiences.
• Partner with researchers, subject-matter experts, and communications colleagues to identify the most compelling narratives, policy implications, audience needs, and communications opportunities.
• Help connect program goals, institutional priorities, audience insights, and communications performance so teams can make clearer decisions about message, timing, format, channel, and audience.
• Bring policy context and issue awareness into communications planning, helping teams understand how Pew's work is entering broader conversations and where there may be opportunities to strengthen influence.
• Work closely with the SVP on priority communications deliverables, including major reports, positioning activities, strategic documents, internal briefs, talking points, and other high-impact materials.
• Help shape clear, compelling, and consistent institutional narratives that are precise, persuasive, evidence-informed, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Support regular synthesis of communications performance and audience insight so leadership and teams can make better decisions about message, format, channel, timing, and audience.
• Contribute to a more consistent department-wide approach to using insight before, during, and after major communications efforts.
• Support a culture of continuous learning by sharing insights across teams, highlighting what is working and not working, and contributing to regular strategic learning discussions.
• Work closely with program teams, government relations, digital teams, analytics, program communications, and leadership to align messaging, audience strategy, communications priorities, and institutional goals.
• Work closely with manager to help serve as a strategic translator across teams, helping convert data, policy context, audience understanding, and program priorities into practical communications recommendations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience, is required. Generally, eight years of experience in strategic communications, public affairs, or related fields, preferably in a policy, research, nonprofit, or mission-driven environment.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with experience distilling complex information into clear, compelling narratives.
• Capacity to work effectively across teams with strong judgment, institutional maturity, and comfort operating in areas of shared ownership.
• Experience operating both strategically and tactically in an intellectually rigorous environment.
• Experience working with subject-matter experts and translating technical content for broad audiences.
• Strong judgment, attention to detail, and capacity to manage multiple priorities.

Travel

Minimal travel anticipated

Work Authorization

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.

Salary Range

The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew's commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

Pew is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, or any other protected characteristics.