Job: Director of Communications, The FEI

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) is the international governing body of equestrian sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is the sole controlling authority for all international events in Dressage, Jumping, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting, Reining and Para-Equestrian, and establishes the regulations and approves the equestrian programmes at Championships, Continental and Regional Games as well as the Olympic Games.

They are currently looking to recruit a Director of Communications to identify, shape and implement a proactive communications strategy across the business.

Reporting to the Secretary General, the successful candidate will define, develop and implement an immediate and long-term communications/PR programme for the FEI and will develop a strategy to meet the needs of the organisation, its stakeholders and its commercial partners.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Define, develop and implement the communication direction, objectives and strategy for the FEI in line with the organisation’s objectives.
• Plan and manage crisis response regarding all above issues, as well as doping and medical related issues.
• Proactively develop and manage strategic PR initiatives.
• Manage all media relations through co-coordinating media interest in the organisation on both a reactive and proactive basis.
• Ensure timely and effective communication to the organisation’s multiple stakeholders, including National Federations, athletes’ groups, event organisers, sponsors
• Oversee the content of the website www.fei.org
• Collaborate with appropriate departments to strengthen their communication activities and ensure consistent messaging across the core market in Europe as well as the USA.
• Assess and mitigate communication risks across the organisation.
• Manage the communications annual budget.
• Day-to-day management and motivation of the Communications team (2 staff).

Skills and Experience

• Significant and demonstrable communications/journalism experience.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Additional written/spoken European languages (especially French and German) extremely useful.
• Experience of crisis management.
• Experience of building relationships with journalists and contacts in a media environment.
• Experience of working an international environment, dealing with global issues, across different cultures/languages.
• Creativity, with the ability to create ideas and stories to promote the sport in a positive manner.
• Diplomacy, to communicate with a wide variety of cultures and nationalities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy and sensitivity.
• Ability to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to influence, persuade and sell a vision/story.
• An interest in or understanding of horsesport – strong advantage

Sports Recruitment International is the retained recruitment partner of the FEI. All direct and third party applications sent to FEI will be forwarded to Sports Recruitment International.

The FEI and Sports Recruitment International are committed to Equal Opportunities in

employment and welcomes applications from a full diverse range of candidates, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

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