Communications Strategist/ Manager – Communications & Knowledge Dissemination
Location: Preferably Bangalore
Employment type: Full time
About WASH Institute
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Institute (WASH Institute) established during the year 2008, is a registered non-profit government technical, training, research and development organization dedicated to providing practical solutions to tackle a wide range of water, sanitation and hygiene issues in India. WASH Institute India is looking to recruit motivated personnel to share the vision of WASH Institute – “a world where all the communities have access to safe, protected and sustainable drinking water and sanitation services, with improved hygiene practices”. For more details, please see https://washinstitute.org/
Job Summary:
The Communications Strategist/Manager will be responsible for establishing, leading, and strengthening the Communications Department at WASH Institute. The role will drive the organization's communication strategy, enhance the visibility of programs and impact, support knowledge dissemination, and position WASH Institute as a thought leader in the water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), climate resilience, and urban development sectors.
The Communications Strategist/Manager will work closely with technical teams, leadership, government partners, donors, researchers, and external stakeholders to translate complex technical work into compelling communication products and engagement opportunities.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Communications Strategy and Department Development:
• Develop and implement a comprehensive organizational communications strategy aligned with WASH Institute's vision and priorities.
• Establish and lead the Communications Department, including systems, processes, and annual communication plans.
• Develop communication guidelines, branding standards, and quality assurance processes.
• Identify opportunities to enhance organizational visibility and influence among governments, donors, development partners, academia, and practitioners.
2. Knowledge Management and Dissemination:
• Lead the dissemination of project outcomes, research findings, innovations, and institutional knowledge.
• Develop communication plans for major programs, projects, studies, and strategic initiatives.
• Translate technical content into accessible and engaging communication products for diverse audiences.
• Ensure systematic documentation and sharing of lessons learned, case studies, success stories, and impact narratives.
3. Publications and Content Development:
• Oversee the development of publications including:
o Technical reports
o Policy briefs
o Knowledge products
o Case studies
o Impact reports
o Annual reports
o Newsletters
o Fact sheets
o Website content
• Review and edit content to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with organizational messaging.
• Support publication design, production, and dissemination.
4. Events, Webinars, and Stakeholder Engagement:
• Conceptualize and lead webinars, workshops, conferences, consultations, and stakeholder engagement events.
• Develop event communication plans and promotional campaigns.
• Coordinate speakers, moderators, partners, and communication materials.
• Support dissemination of key outcomes from events and knowledge-sharing platforms.
5. Digital and Media Communications:
• Manage and strengthen the organization's digital presence across website, social media, and other online platforms.
• Develop digital campaigns to increase reach, engagement, and visibility.
• Build relationships with media organizations and support media outreach efforts.
• Monitor communication performance and analytics to improve effectiveness.
6. Strategic Positioning and Thought Leadership:
• Position WASH Institute as a leading voice in the WASH and environmental sustainability sectors.
• Support leadership with speeches, presentations, opinion articles, and strategic communication materials.
• Identify opportunities for participation in national and international platforms, conferences, and policy dialogues.
• Promote organizational achievements, innovations, and impact stories.
7. Partnership and Donor Communications:
• Support donor communication requirements, including impact stories and communication deliverables.
• Collaborate with program teams to showcase project outcomes and lessons learned.
• Develop communication materials for fundraising, partnerships, and stakeholder engagement.
8. Vendor and Agency Management:
• Identify, select, and manage external communication and knowledge management agencies, consultants, and vendors as required.
• Develop scopes of work and terms of reference for outsourced communication assignments.
• Review and quality check deliverables from external agencies to ensure alignment with WASH Institute's messaging, branding, and technical accuracy.
• Coordinate between internal technical teams and external agencies to ensure smooth handover of content and timely delivery.
Qualifications and Experience:
• Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Development Communication, Media Studies, or related field.
• Minimum 8–12 years of relevant experience in strategic communications, preferably within development, water, sanitation, climate, environment, public policy, or international development sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in building and managing communication functions or teams.
• Strong writing, editing, storytelling, and content development skills.
• Experience organizing webinars, conferences, workshops, and stakeholder consultations.
• Familiarity with digital communication platforms, social media management, and website content management.
• Experience working with government agencies, donors, research institutions, and development organizations is desirable.
• Experience commissioning, briefing, and managing external agencies or vendors for communication, design, or video production work is desirable.
Key Competencies:
• Strategic thinking and planning
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management
• Knowledge translation and storytelling
• Event management and facilitation
• Vendor and agency coordination
• Leadership and team development
• Content creation and editorial oversight
• Creativity and innovation
• Project management and coordination
Expected Outcomes:
• A fully functional Communications Department with clear systems and annual communication plans.
• Increased visibility and recognition of WASH Institute's work nationally and internationally.
• High-quality dissemination of research, programs, and knowledge products.
• Successful delivery of webinars, workshops, conferences, and stakeholder engagement events.
• Stronger digital presence, media engagement, and thought leadership positioning.
• Improved stakeholder, donor, and partner engagement through strategic communications.
Application Process:
This is a high-ownership role requiring significant expertise and experience, as the selected candidate will be responsible for driving WASH Institute’s entire communications function. Only candidates who meet all the criteria and eligibility outlined in the job description should apply.
Please fill out the application form carefully and completely, as the information provided will form the basis for screening your candidacy. We encourage you to provide accurate and up-to-date information to support a smooth selection process.
Application link: https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/xcWq1KYa
Given the specific nature of this role, we request that only those with relevant experience in this space apply, to ensure the process is meaningful for both candidates and the selection team.
The last date to apply is July 20, 2026.
WASH Institute is an equal opportunity employer and encourages persons from all genders to apply. WASH Institute does not discriminate against candidates based on age, caste, class, sex, gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, disability and health.