Director of Advocacy Communications

About the Internet Society Foundation

The Internet Society (ISOC) supports and promotes the development of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people’s lives, and a force for good in society. Our work aligns with our goals for the Internet to be open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy. We seek collaboration with all who share these goals.

Together, we focus on building and supporting the communities that make the Internet work; advancing the development and application of Internet infrastructure, technologies, and open standards; and advocating for policy that is consistent with our view of the Internet.

The Internet Society Foundation (Foundation) is a non-profit organization that works in concert with the Internet Society. It exists to demonstrate and support the positive difference the Internet can make to people everywhere and promote the development of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people’s lives, and a force for good in society.

The Foundation is committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion, where all individuals are valued for their distinct contributions. Our people are the most valuable strengths we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our staff invests in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and the Foundation's achievements.

About the Position

The Director of Advocacy Communications is responsible for strengthening how the Internet Society communicates its advocacy positions to key advocacy audiences, including legislators, regulators, civil society organizations, think tanks, media, and relevant academic communities.

This role requires demonstrated experience in advocacy communications within civil society, the Internet ecosystem, or adjacent public-interest policy environments, with a strong understanding of how communications influence policy debates and public discourse.

Reporting to the Director of Communications, Community & Advocacy and operating as a member of the Strategic Communications team, the role supports delivery of the ISOC 2030 Strategy by ensuring the organization is communications-ready to:

• Clearly articulate what it advocates for and against
• Run effective global and regional advocacy communications campaigns
• Respond rapidly and coherently to developments affecting the Internet and its governance

The Director of Advocacy Communications is expected to be familiar with relevant policy issue — able to understand, translate, and communicate policy positions — while focusing primarily on narrative, messaging, campaigns, and media engagement.

Why This Role Matters

As global Internet challenges intensify, the Internet Society’s ability to influence debates depends not only on strong policy positions, but on how effectively those positions are communicated to advocacy audiences. This role supports ISOC efforts to engage legislators, regulators, civil society, media, and thought leaders with clarity, credibility, and impact — advancing a globally connected, open, secure, and trustworthy Internet.

Location

Remote

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Advocacy Messaging & Campaigns

• Develop and deliver proactive advocacy communications campaigns aligned with ISOC’s strategic priorities and global challenges highlighting what’s at stake.
• Craft clear, compelling narratives that translate policy and technical inputs into accessible, persuasive advocacy messaging.
• Ensure consistency and discipline in how ISOC’s advocacy positions are communicated globally and regionally.

Audience-Focused Communications

• Lead the development of audience-specific advocacy narratives in conjunction with colleagues across the organization.
• Tailor messaging, tone, and formats to effectively engage these audiences across different regions and contexts.

Media & Public Engagement

• Develop media engagement strategies related to advocacy priorities.
• Work with colleagues to prepare spokespeople with strong advocacy messaging, talking points, and briefing materials.
• Identify opportunities for proactive media engagement, commentary, and narrative placement.

Strategic Communications Readiness

• Build and maintain advocacy communications tools, including:
  • Message frameworks and narrative guidance
  • Campaign toolkits
  • Rapid-response communications materials

• Ensure the organization can respond quickly, coherently, and credibly to global or regional policy developments.
• Ability to discern regional policy developments that have global consequences with a high risk of Internet fragmentation, erode Internet security and trust

Cross-Organizational Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across policy, community engagement, programs, and leadership to align advocacy communications.
• Act as a strategic partner, helping teams sharpen messaging without leading policy development.
• Support a coordinated, “One Communications” approach across ISOC and the Foundation.
• Work in close collaboration with ISOC’s Head of Global Advocacy.

Desired Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of experience in advocacy communications, strategic communications, or campaign communications.
• Proven experience communicating to advocacy audiences, including policymakers, regulators, civil society, think tanks, media, and/or academia.
• Background in civil society, Internet governance, digital rights, technology policy, or a related public-interest field.
• Strong policy fluency: Able to understand policy positions and debates and translate them into effective communications.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading media engagement, including press materials, messaging, and spokesperson preparation.
• Excellent writing, editing, and narrative-building skills.

Key Attributes

• Clear, structured thinker with an ability to translate policy into meaningful messaging.
• Comfortable operating at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and communications
• Collaborative and confident working across teams and disciplines
• Calm and effective in fast-moving, politically sensitive environments
• Strong alignment with the Internet Society’s mission and 2030 Strategy

What You'll Love About Us

• Make an Impact. We have an exciting vision and mission to bring the internet to everyone!
• Great Company Culture. We are a global team and live our values of collaboration, inclusion, respect, people and passion in all of our HR programs including our new recognition program!
• Holiday/Vacation. Generous paid time off and paid public holidays.
• Benefits. Based on local in-country guidelines.
• Give back. Get paid to volunteer in your community!
• Professional Development and Educational Benefits. Annual company contribution towards professional development or higher education.
• Flexible Work Models. Flexible work-from-home.

Compensation and benefits for this position will be paid in local currency and based on the country and geographic location’s local salary and benefits market data for the position. Exact pay will be based on factors including but not limited to relevant qualifications, experience, geographic location, education, business and organizational needs.

The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, color or any other protected class. Compensation and benefit package for this position will be competitively commensurate with the successful applicant’s qualifications. Applications will be evaluated until the position has been filled. The list of applicants will not be posted publicly and will be reviewed in confidence by members of the evaluation committee.