Sr. Manager– Communications, Mumbai

Role: Sr. Manager– Communications, Mumbai
Experience: 10+ years
Salary: 8- 18 LPA

Note: Experience in the social sector is mandatory.

About the Role:
The Senior Manager – Communications will lead the organisation's external communications, combining strategic planning with hands-on work across content, storytelling, campaigns, publications, digital communications and stakeholder engagement. The role will translate programme impact into compelling narratives for government, funders, media and sector stakeholders, while managing a small communications team and working closely with senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategy & Narrative Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of the organisation's communications strategy in collaboration with leadership, fundraising and programme teams.
• Develop audience-specific messaging for government, funders, media, civil society and other key stakeholders.
• Develop, maintain and champion a structured communications and messaging framework.
• Ensure consistency in the organisation's brand voice, messaging and positioning across communication channels.
• Strengthen the organisation's external positioning and visibility in line with its long-term strategic priorities.

2. Government & Funder Communications

• Lead the development of annual reports, impact reports, brochures, donor presentations and other flagship communication materials.
• Develop communication materials for government and programme stakeholders, including government education departments and implementation partners.
• Partner with fundraising teams to create compelling communication assets for CSR partners, foundations, HNIs and institutional funders.
• Translate programme outcomes, research and impact into clear and engaging narratives for external audiences.

3. Thought Leadership & Editorial Excellence

• Develop high-quality long-form content, including articles, opinion pieces, concept notes, speeches and strategic publications.
• Work closely with the Founder and senior leadership on thought leadership and external communication.
• Establish and maintain editorial standards across key organisational communication outputs.
• Support the organisation's and leadership's thought leadership through media engagement, speaking opportunities, opinion pieces and relevant sector conversations.
• Review and refine important external communication materials to ensure quality, clarity and consistency.

4. Campaigns, Events & Brand Positioning

• Design and lead integrated communication campaigns across digital platforms, newsletters, events and other stakeholder engagement channels.
• Conceptualise and curate events that strengthen organisational visibility, credibility and thought leadership.
• Strengthen brand positioning and ensure the organisation is recognised as a credible, evidence-driven and field-building institution.
• Work across digital, social media, publications, events and other communication channels to build awareness and engagement.

5. Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Lead and mentor a team of 1–2 direct reports, along with interns, consultants and freelancers.
• Ensure high-quality execution, effective workload management and professional development within the communications function.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, quality and continuous learning.
• Design and conduct organisation-wide sessions on stakeholder communication, storytelling, writing, photography and other communication practices.

6. Communications Operations & Budget Management

• Own and manage the communications budget, including publications, events, creative production, digital initiatives and external vendors.
• Develop and manage an annual communications calendar aligned with organisational priorities.
• Manage external agencies, consultants, designers, photographers, videographers and other communication partners.
• Ensure timely delivery and quality of communication outputs across multiple projects.

7. Measurement, Insights & Reporting

• Define and track communications KPIs aligned with organisational and stakeholder engagement objectives.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of communication initiatives using meaningful performance indicators.
• Prepare regular communication performance reports and insights for leadership.
• Use data and audience insights to inform communications strategy and improve future initiatives.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 10+ years of communications experience, with at least 5 years in the nonprofit, development or social impact sector.
• 3+ years of experience leading communications teams/functions in a Manager/Senior Manager capacity.
• Strong hands-on experience across content, campaigns, publications, events, PR and digital communications.
• Experience developing impact reports, donor presentations, proposals, thought leadership and other funder-facing content.
• Strong understanding of brand positioning, reputation building and stakeholder.
• Ability to work independently in a lean, fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Familiarity with SEO, website content, email marketing, analytics and social media.
• Proficiency in Canva is essential; knowledge of Figma/Adobe Creative Suite is an advantage.
• Comfortable using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Canva AI for research, writing and ideation.
• Excellent English communication skills; Marathi proficiency is an advantage.

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or related field

Additional Requirements:

• Willingness to travel for field visits (within Mumbai and occasionally across Maharashtra)
• Strong ownership mindset, attention to detail, and ability to work independently
• Comfortable working in ambiguous, evolving environments

Hiring Process:

Step 1: HR discussion (R1) (Virtual)
Step 2: Practical assignment (writing + design + content planning) (In-person)
Step 3: Technical interview with communications team (In-person)
Step 4: Final discussion with leadership (In-person)

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Hiring Note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This job is re-posted on September 1, 2026 on Ground Zero

For any questions, ping us on WhatsApp chat: +91-8058331557