Director of Editorial & Strategic Communications

About the job

To strengthen its public voice and institutional positioning, the foundation is creating the position of Director of Editorial & Strategic Communications based in Zurich and a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

The roleAs the foundation's most senior communications leader, you shape and carry its public voice: institutional communications, media relations, political and policy-related dossiers, and thought leadership on mission-driven business. You lead a team of three (design and communications), act as the liaison with the foundation's think tank and research activities, and leverage an excellent personal network across Swiss media, institutions, and the impact economy ecosystem. A deep understanding of Swiss culture and its media landscape is essential to effectively navigate and influence the local context.Key responsibilities

1. Strategy & Institutional PositioningDefine and drive the foundation's overall communications and PR strategy, aligned with its mission and institutional positioning.Lead institutional communications towards partners, public authorities (Confederation, cantons), academia, and the wider ecosystem.Position the foundation on mission-driven business topics: purpose-led companies, sustainable and regenerative economy, corporate responsibility.Steer political and policy-related dossiers from a communications perspective: monitoring, messaging, positioning papers, public consultations.

2. Media Relations & Reputation ManagementBuild and activate a strong, established network of journalists and editors across the Swiss media ecosystem (German- and French-speaking Switzerland).Act as senior media contact and spokesperson coordination point, in close alignment with the CEO.Prepare and place op-eds, interviews, keynotes, and public interventions for the CEO and leadership team.Manage issues and reputation: anticipate sensitive topics, prepare positions, coordinate responses.

3. Research Communications & Thought LeadershipServe as the communications interface with the foundation's think tank and research activities.Translate research findings, barometers, and studies into compelling public narratives, publications, and campaigns.Orchestrate flagship publication launches and public events with the research and programme teams.Ensure consistency of messaging between research outputs, institutional positions, and programme communications.

4. Team Leadership & OperationsLead, develop, and inspire a team of 3 (designer and communications professionals).Oversee all channels: website, newsletters, social media, publications, and brand consistency.Manage the communications budget, agencies, and external providers (PR, content, translation).Define KPIs and report regularly on communications performance to the Senior Leadership Team and the Board.

Your profile

Essential qualifications

Senior communications experience — minimum 5-7 years in strategic communications, PR, or public affairs, including at least 3 years in a leadership role with team responsibility (foundation, NGO, international organisation, think tank, corporate affairs, or agency at director level).

Excellent network — established personal relationships within the Swiss media ecosystem, federal and cantonal institutions, and the sustainability/impact ecosystem.

Cultural and Political Literacy — deep knowledge of Swiss culture, nuances, and regional dynamics, coupled with proven experience handling policy-related dossiers, public affairs, or political communications in the Swiss context.

Trilingual fluency — DE and EN fluent (working languages for media and institutions), FR fluent (Suisse romande community and partners).

Outstanding public speaking, writing and storytelling — ability to support editorial roadmap,craft institutional messaging, op-eds, and public narratives at native-level quality in German, and confidently in English and French.

Leadership — experience managing and developing a small multidisciplinary team (content, design).

Work Authorization — Must hold a valid permit to work in Switzerland or be a Swiss citizen.

Highly valued

Knowledge of the Swiss philanthropy and foundation ecosystem, and mission-driven business movement.Experience working with or within a think tank, research institution, or evidence-based advocacy organisation.Experience in organisational transitions (rebranding, repositioning, mergers).Familiarity with digital communications analytics and modern content operations (CRM, marketing automation, AI-assisted workflows).

Personal qualities

Strategic mind, hands-on attitude — comfortable moving between Senior Leadership Team discussions and drafting a press release.Credibility and presence — a trusted counterpart for editors-in-chief, senior officials, and board members.Sound political judgement — non-partisan, balanced, and rigorous on sensitive public topics.Calm under pressure — composed handling of media dynamics and sensitive dossiers.Genuine commitment to the foundation's mission — communications as a lever for a sustainable and regenerative economy.

Conditions

Compensation — according to seniority and experience.

Contract — permanent, full time or 80 % depending on the candidate's preference.

Location — Zurich or Bern, majority on-site with hybrid flexibility (1 day/week); regular travel across Switzerland.S

tart date — as soon as possible.

Governance — member of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly to the CEO.

Equipment and development — laptop, digital tools, and an annual professional development budget.

Benefits — 25 days of annual leave, partial remote work, mission-driven environment.

Why this role

A rare opportunity to shape the public voice of a leading Swiss mission-driven foundation at a pivotal moment of its development, with a seat at the leadership table, a talented team, and direct influence on analytics to increase information integrity supporting public and private decision-making, and how mission-driven business and policy topics are debated in Switzerland.

Your application should include:CV (max. 2 pages).

Cover letter focusing on:

• an editorial case, communications or PR strategy you designed and led, and its measurable impact;
• a sensitive political, institutional, or media dossier you managed (context, role, outcome);
• your motivation for putting your network and expertise at the service of the foundation's mission.
• Availability (starting date, envisaged workload).
• 1–3 professional references.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and treated in strict confidence.

Selection process

Pre-qualification — 30-minute call.

In-depth interview — 60 min (track record, key experiences, fit) with the CEO and a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Practical case study — 60 min, based on provided materials (scenario: positioning the foundation on a sensitive policy topic, incl. media Q&A).

Final conversation — with the CEO and a representative of the Board of the foundation.Indicative timeline for the full process: 2-3 weeks from receipt of the application.