Senior Communications and Engagement Officer - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract
At a glance
Senior Communications role at oversightboard. Washington DC · full-time · $160,000 base.
growthroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Win accurate, prominent coverage by pitching news outlets and handling incoming media questions
- Build relationships with journalists and stakeholders across industry, civil society and government
- Turn complex case decisions into public-facing stories, and write releases, briefings, opinion pieces and policy papers
- Prepare Board Members for external engagements, advise on reputational risks and support them at key events
- Plan engagement for major events and campaigns, coordinating across teams and managing reputational issues
What you bring
- You have worked to tight deadlines in a newsroom or a fast-moving communications team
- You can secure media coverage, manage critical inquiries and write verified materials that make complex topics clear
- You have advised executives, prepared briefs and handled reputational or crisis communications
- You bring stakeholder and media relationships, plus experience in technology, human rights, government or a related field
Who this fits
This senior role suits a communications professional comfortable with media relations, sensitive issues and advising senior leaders. It is based in Washington, D.C., with flexible hybrid work and applications welcomed from across East Coast states. Visa sponsorship is unavailable; the role is a twelve-month fixed-term contract.
From the employer
The Oversight Board is an independent governance institution that makes binding decisions on the most challenging content issues on Meta's platforms. Since issuing its first decisions in January 2021, the Board has built a first-of-its-kind model grounded in international human rights law that has driven systemic improvements in how Meta moderates content, enforces policies, and treats its users.
The Oversight Board Administration is the team of full-time staff who support Board Members in fulfilling the institution's mission. The Administration has a presence in London, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and operates with a global scope.
You can learn more about the Board at www.oversightboard.com.
The role
Joining the Oversight Board Administration is a chance to be part of an organisation which is leading on some of the most prominent and challenging issues facing the tech industry and society.
Reporting to the Deputy VP & Director of Global Affairs, you’ll help shape how the Board is seen and heard, securing high-impact media coverage, building relationships with journalists, civil society, industry and government, and turning complex case decisions into clear, compelling stories. You’ll counsel Board Members ahead of media and external engagements, lead engagement plans for major events and campaigns, manage reputational issues, and advance the Board’s thought leadership through op-eds, briefings and policy papers.
The key areas of responsibility for this role include:
- Engage proactively and reactively with media outlets to secure high-impact, accurate news coverage.
- Cultivate and manage relationships with key journalists, representatives from national and international industry, civil society, and government stakeholders.
- Develop and execute public engagement plans for major events, special projects and campaigns that showcase the Board and advance its mission.
- Develop and deliver comprehensive written materials including news releases, talking points, and briefing notes to support external communications.
- Counsel Board Members in preparation for media and external engagements, providing on-the-ground support at key events and working directly with external stakeholders and media.
- Manage reputational issues, delivering clear guidance and appropriate action in accordance with internal processes and escalation points.
- Craft strategic messaging, op-eds, blogs and policy papers that advance the Board’s thought leadership on complex regulatory and societal issues in the technology sector.
- Work cross-functionally with content policy staff to develop compelling external narratives around case decisions and impact.
Skills and Experience
Essential criteria:
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines, e.g., in newsrooms or busy communications teams.
- Proven experience in cultivating relationships with influential media outlets, pitching news stories and responding to inquiries, including those of a critical nature.
- Demonstrated ability to write high-quality fact-checked materials (news releases, opinion pieces, briefings, etc.) that distill complex topics for public audiences.
- Advanced written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to handle sensitive reputational matters and manage crisis communications effectively.
- Experience working with Executives, providing briefs, advising on reputational matters and staffing engagements.
- Experience in stakeholder engagement, setting up and managing events such as symposiums, press briefings, dinners, roundtables, webinars, keynotes and panel events.
- Strong stakeholder and media networks in technology, human rights or related field.
- Experience working in technology, human rights, governmental or related field.
- Strong awareness of current policy debates on AI technology and the impact on human rights and society writ large.
- Understanding of US political landscape and sensitivities
- Experience working internationally with cultural and political awareness to navigate complex, cross-cultural communications and effectively engage with international colleagues and stakeholders across multiple time zones.
- Ability to project manage and coordinate work across teams and time zones.
Desirable criteria:
- Experience at the intersection of human rights and technology.
- Experience engaging with US or international government agencies and policymakers.
- Experience working with or in an agency.
- Understanding of US Governmental structures, the political environment and how to engage with policymakers.
- Proficiency in foreign languages.
- Interest in and understanding of the technology sector’s regulatory landscape and societal impacts, particularly around digital rights and user protections.
What we can offer you
As well as an annual salary of circa $160,000, we also offer an excellent market leading benefits package, covering a variety of areas, both professional and personal. These benefits include:
- A generous 9% pension employer contribution with no requirement for you to contribute;
- Progressive family friendly benefits including a robust paid parental leave policy;
- An extensive health support package, including comprehensive healthcare and dental coverage for both you and your family members;
- Comprehensive life assurance, income protection and business travel insurance packages providing financial support in events of ill health, injury etc;
- A generous childcare subsidy to provide financial support for eligible childcare costs;
- A generous home working and commuting allowance to provide financial support for remote and/or office working;
- A training allowance to support both your continuous professional development and professional membership;
- 5 study leave days per calendar year to support professional development;
- 22 days of annual leave (in addition to public holidays), with the opportunity to carry up to 5 unused days to the next year;
- 2 'recharge' paid vacation days per calendar year;
- 2 'personal' paid vacation days per calendar year.
How to Apply
While this role will be based at the Administration's US location of Washington D.C., Oversight Board offers flexible hybrid remote working, and we welcome applications for those based across East Coast US states to allow for collaboration of time zone. Please be aware that we are unable to support with visa sponsorship for this role.
Please submit a resume and cover letter (no more than 800 words), explaining your interest in the role and how you meet the essential criteria.
The position will remain open until 5pm EST on Monday, November 9 2026. Do note that early applications are encouraged and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. You will only be contacted if you have been shortlisted for this position. Please see our privacy notice here.
Oversight Board is committed to equal opportunities in employment. You will receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender or gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
If you would like to keep updated with the work of the Oversight Board and future opportunities, please follow us on our LinkedIn page.