Position Purpose Summary
The FEI is seeking a Director of Communications to define, lead, and deliver its global communications strategy. The primary objective is to protect, maintain, and strengthen equestrian sport’s social license to operate worldwide, as well as ensure its standing within the Olympic and Paralympic ecosystem. This role combines senior strategic leadership with hands-on involvement, requiring a commitment to issue analysis, messaging, briefing, and decision-making in collaboration with a lean communications team. In an environment where equine welfare, integrity, and credibility are paramount, the Director will play a critical role.
Responsibilities
1. Strategy, Leadership & Delivery
- Define, recommend, and deliver the FEI’s global communications strategy in alignment with FEI objectives and the priorities of the Commercial, Marketing & Communications (CMC) department, utilizing social license to operate as a guiding principle.
- Act as a senior advisor to the Executive Director, CMC, the Secretary General, and broader FEI leadership on communications, reputation, risk, and public trust.
- Lead the Communications function while actively collaborating on strategy development, issue analysis, and drafting key messages and briefing documents.
- Set priorities, standards, and tone while remaining deeply involved in execution, particularly on sensitive or high-exposure topics.
- Ensure consistently high editorial, factual, and ethical standards across all communications outputs, maintaining operational resilience in both planned and crisis situations.
2. Social Licence to Operate, Equine Welfare & Ethical Narrative
- Drive the FEI’s equine welfare narrative across all communications to ensure its centrality in public positioning.
- Protect and strengthen equestrian sport’s social license to operate by developing clear, evidence-based explanations of FEI rules, standards, and welfare safeguards.
- Lead the creation of authoritative narratives addressing welfare, integrity, and ethics, often drafting or shaping core messaging.
- Monitor and respond to criticism, misinformation, and activist narratives, ensuring responses are factual and credible.
- Collaborate closely with Veterinary & Equine Welfare, Sports & Games, Governance, and Legal departments to accurately reflect regulatory realities and scientific evidence.
3. Proactive Issues Management & Internal Intelligence
- Engage proactively with internal departments to understand upcoming risks, decisions, or sensitivities that may affect the FEI’s reputation.
- Establish and maintain an internal intelligence network to anticipate issues early, moving beyond reactive escalation.
- Assess with the ED, CMC, which topics require proactive communication or internal alignment.
- Ensure potential issues are addressed with appropriate messaging before escalating externally.
4. Media Relations, Sport Communications & Media Operations
- Oversee global media relations and sport communications across FEI disciplines and events.
- Shape key sport-related narratives and sensitive media responses actively.
- Support major FEI events with robust media operations and readiness for crisis situations.
- Maintain relationships with key international and specialist media where credibility and nuance are critical.
5. Corporate, Governance & Stakeholder Communications
- Oversee corporate and governance communications related to decision-making, rules, elections, and institutional messaging.
- Ensure governance processes are clearly explained to stakeholders and media, reinforcing institutional credibility.
- Contribute to drafting high-level governance communications, speeches, and briefing materials.
- Lead communications for FEI flagship corporate initiatives and events, including the Annual Report and FEI Annual Awards.
6. Internal Communications
- Oversee FEI internal communications ensuring staff, leadership, and key stakeholders are informed and aligned with accurate information.
7. Crisis Communications & High-Risk Issues
- Manage crisis communications frameworks and readiness across the FEI.
- Act as a senior communications advisor during crises related to equine welfare, governance, or reputation.
- Develop crisis messaging and briefing materials for leadership and designated spokespersons.
- Prioritize transparency, factual accuracy, and empathy in crisis responses, protecting the FEI’s social license to operate.
8. Cross-Functional & External Collaboration
- Collaborate closely with various internal teams to ensure alignment and accuracy in communication.
- Engage with National Federations, organizers, partners, and other stakeholders to enhance FEI credibility.
- Ensure communications support both commercial and sporting objectives while upholding integrity and equine welfare standards.
Skills and Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or a related field.
- Minimum of 15 years in communications, public relations, and/or reputation management in international sport.
- Deep understanding of equestrian sport, including disciplines, culture, and welfare debates.
- Confident and authoritative in engaging with knowledgeable equestrian audiences.
- Proven ability to combine senior-level judgment with hands-on execution in lean teams.
- Excellent written English skills, capable of drafting clear communications on complex topics.
- Strong oral communication skills for explaining sensitive issues clearly to leadership and stakeholders.
- Exceptional judgment and calmness under pressure.
- Native or near-native English proficiency; strong French is an asset.
- Willingness to travel internationally, including weekends.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.