📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Executive Communications Lead
🔹 Company: Wikimedia Foundation
🔹 Location: Remote
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Communications
🔹 Date Posted: April 9, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (6+ years)
🔹 Remote Status: Remote (Global)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Strategic communications and thought leadership for senior executives
- Collaboration with product and technology leadership
- Developing narrative platforms and increasing awareness of Wikipedia's value
- Proactive identification of media opportunities and public speaking engagements
- Working with a globally distributed, product-centric organization
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong strategic thinker with excellent writing skills and experience working with senior leadership in technology.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop written materials for executives, including speeches, blog posts, and talking points
✅ Identify proactive thought leadership opportunities and shape public narratives
✅ Collaborate with various departments to enhance communication strategies and public engagement
✅ Manage multiple projects and deadlines, while working independently and collaboratively
✅ Cultivate relationships with reporters and conference organizers to secure media opportunities
ASSUMPION: This role requires strong time management skills and the ability to balance short-term projects with long-term strategic initiatives.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, English, or a related field
Experience: Minimum of six years of experience in editorial, journalism, or communications roles
Required Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects
- Experience working with senior executives and spokespeople
- Ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling narratives
- Proven ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with Wikimedia projects or communities
- Fluency in multiple languages
- Knowledge of online community interaction and dynamics
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in media relations and working with technical topics will be highly valued.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $110,663 - $170,778 per year (USD)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement plan with company match
- Generous time off and paid holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Professional development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week) with flexible scheduling
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on the organization's self-reported data and may vary depending on the candidate's location and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Non-profit, Software Development
Company Size: Medium (501-1,000 employees)
Founded: 2003
Company Description:
- Operates Wikipedia and other Wikimedia free knowledge projects
- Vision: a world where every human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge
- Reliant on donations from millions of individuals and institutional grants
Company Specialties:
- Non-Profit
- Free knowledge
- Open Source Culture
- Internet
- Technology
- Mobile
- Open Source
- Education
- Free Knowledge and Wikipedia
Company Website: wikimediafoundation.org
ASSUMPTION: The Wikimedia Foundation is a unique organization with a global impact and a strong commitment to open knowledge and collaboration.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-Senior level
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Chief of Staff/Director of Executive Communications
Work Arrangement: Remote (Global) with occasional travel for in-person gatherings
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to work with various departments and gain exposure to different aspects of the organization
- Opportunity to develop thought leadership strategies and narrative platforms
- Possibility to grow within the communications department or explore other roles within the organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to work with senior leadership and make a significant impact on the organization's communication strategies.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Remote (Global)
Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA (Headquarters)
Geographic Context:
- Remote work allows for a global talent pool
- Occasional travel may be required for in-person gatherings
- Flexible scheduling to accommodate different time zones
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week) with flexible scheduling
ASSUMPTION: The remote work environment requires strong self-motivation, time management, and communication skills.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening with the hiring manager
- In-depth interviews with cross-functional stakeholders
- Final interview with the Chief of Staff/Director of Executive Communications
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Writing and communication skills
- Strategic thinking and thought leadership abilities
- Collaboration and stakeholder engagement
- Adaptability and cultural fit
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences
- Prepare examples of your writing and thought leadership work
- Research the Wikimedia Foundation and be prepared to discuss your alignment with their mission and values
- Practice common interview questions and be ready to discuss your communication strategies and approaches
ATS Keywords: Executive Communications, Thought Leadership, Strategic Communications, Media Relations, Writing, Collaboration, Project Management, Technical Writing, Research, Editing, Public Speaking
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing your communication skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit within the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
- Media monitoring and analytics tools (e.g., Mention, Brand24, Hootsuite Insights)
- Content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in relevant tools and technologies is essential for this role, as they will be used daily to manage projects and communicate effectively.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge.
- We believe that everyone has the potential to contribute something to our shared knowledge, and that everyone should be able to access that knowledge freely.
- We host Wikipedia and the Wikimedia projects, build software experiences for reading, contributing, and sharing Wikimedia content, support the volunteer communities and partners who make Wikimedia possible, and advocate for policies that enable Wikimedia and free knowledge to thrive.
Work Style:
- Collaborative and inclusive, valuing diverse perspectives and backgrounds
- Adaptable and flexible, able to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Committed to open knowledge and free culture
- Passionate about the organization's mission and vision
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with the Wikimedia Foundation's mission and values?
- Describe a time when you developed a thought leadership strategy or narrative platform for a senior executive.
- How do you approach working with diverse stakeholders and managing multiple projects simultaneously?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong cultural fit and commitment to the organization's mission will be highly valued.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
- Working with a globally distributed team and navigating different time zones
- Adapting to a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
- Balancing short-term projects with long-term strategic initiatives
- Developing thought leadership strategies and narrative platforms for various stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong time management, communication, and adaptability skills, as well as a strategic mindset.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike traditional communications roles, this position focuses heavily on thought leadership and strategic communications for senior executives
- Working with a non-profit organization requires an understanding of and commitment to the organization's mission and values
- This role offers unique opportunities to work with senior leadership and make a significant impact on the organization's communication strategies
ASSUMPTION: This role is well-suited to candidates with experience in strategic communications, thought leadership, and working with senior executives.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a thought leadership strategy for the Wikimedia Foundation's Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Creating a narrative platform to increase awareness of Wikipedia's vital role in society and technology
- Managing a crisis communication plan for a high-profile event or issue
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic and tactical aspects of the role, as well as the importance of adaptability and quick thinking.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the organization's overall communications strategy?
- What are the most pressing thought leadership opportunities for the Wikimedia Foundation?
- How does the Wikimedia Foundation support and engage with its volunteer communities and partners?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does the Wikimedia Foundation approach diversity, equity, and inclusion in its communications and overall operations?
ASSUMPTION: Asking insightful questions demonstrates your interest in the role and the organization, as well as your strategic thinking and cultural fit.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences
- Prepare examples of your writing and thought leadership work
- Research the Wikimedia Foundation and be prepared to discuss your alignment with their mission and values
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application, if you have not heard back
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
