Communications Director, LATAM

Smile Train is changing the world one smile at a time. Our goal is to transform every person's life impacted by a cleft lip or palate. We train and support local doctors and medical professionals to provide beneficiaries with free, life-changing comprehensive cleft treatment. Our sustainable model has allowed us to support over 2 million surgeries in 80+ countries and we’re just starting. We are truly changing the world one smile at a time.

Smile Train is looking for exceptional people to join a worldwide team of dedicated, passionate professionals. Our team is comprised of creative and highly motivated individuals working to make a positive impact. Join us!

Smile Train seeks a Communications Director, LATAM. The successful candidate will be a self-starter with strong strategic vision, operational excellence, and sound judgment. They will serve as the guardian of Smile Train’s brand in Latin America, ensuring clear, consistent, and authoritative communication across all key audiences.

Position Summary

The LATAM Communications Director will build, lead and elevate Smile Train’s communications function in Latin America, transforming it into a strategic driver of visibility, alignment and impact. This senior leader will strengthen brand presence by advancing a regional communications strategy and implementing country-level plans.

The Director will structure and scale the department, recruit and develop high-performing talent, establish efficient processes and enhance engagement with key internal and external stakeholders.

This role requires a proven communications leader with a strong track record in complex, multi-country environments, capable of navigating layered internal relationships, delivering measurable results and balancing ambitious regional priorities with global needs.

Key Responsibilities

1. Function Building

· Design and establish the LATAM Communications function, defining roles, workflows and processes.

· Recruit, onboard, train, and mentor a high-performing team.

· Develop and implement annual and multi-year regional communications strategies aligned with LATAM priorities and global guidelines.

· Build processes for cross-functional collaboration with Programs to elevate partners, share patient journeys, and advance cleft care.

· Create performance metrics, dashboards and reporting systems to measure and demonstrate regional communications impact.

2. Content Production & Delivery

· Oversee and manage all regional content and communications channels, including social media, newsletters, reports, websites, partner stories, and educational materials.

· Lead digital strategy, audience engagement, and data-driven performance improvements.

· Implement systems for story collection, approvals, archiving, and distribution.

· Engage and manage vendors and external contractors to ensure all deliverables meet Smile Train’s voice, policies, and global brand standards.

· Lead PR and external communications in priority countries, shaping public perception, strengthening Smile Train’s image, and influencing governments and society to reduce stigma and support improved local cleft care strategies.

3. Stakeholder Engagement

· Build and maintain a LATAM Partner Community that fosters engagement, alignment and visibility.

· Create partner-facing tools and trainings—including on-site branding, toolkits, media guidelines, presentations, and storytelling frameworks—to equip partners with materials that amplify Smile Train’s impact across the region.

· Produce institutional content, newsletters, announcements, and internal campaigns.

· Plan and execute all LATAM events, including medical congresses, partner gatherings, and regional conferences.

4. Internal Communications

· Lead internal communications across LATAM to enhance alignment, engagement, and organizational culture.

· Collaborate closely with regional leadership to ensure integrated messaging.

· Ensure communications activities align with Programs including Education & Training and Advocacy, Global Communications and Operations and Finance.

· Oversee operational processes including translations, shared drives, and document management.

· Manage swag procurement, inventory, branding coordination, and distribution to maintain efficiency, consistency and quality.

5. Global Coordination

· Serve as the primary LATAM liaison with Global Communications and Global Development teams.

· Translate global campaigns, international days, and HQ priorities into regionally relevant initiatives.

· Coordinate global requests for content, materials, and event support, and oversee logistics, presentations, AV, branding, and partner engagement for events, donor trips, and global stakeholder visits, ensuring alignment with LATAM capacity and priorities.

· Ensure timely delivery of high-quality communications materials that meet both regional and global standards.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a seasoned communications leader with a proven ability to build and scale high-performing teams, translate global strategies into culturally relevant regional execution, and deliver measurable impact across diverse stakeholders in Latin America. They bring strong strategic judgment, operational rigor, and the leadership skills required to manage complex, multi-country environments.

Experience and Expertise

• Minimum of 10 years of senior-level experience in communications and/or marketing, ideally within a multi-country, multi-stakeholder environment.

• Proven track record of developing and executing regional or global communications strategies that drive visibility, engagement, and measurable impact.

• Experience leading and scaling communications functions, including building high-performing teams and implementing effective operational processes and project-management tools such as Asana and CRM platforms.

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex internal and external relationships, including senior leadership, cross-functional teams, partners, governments, media, vendors, contractors, and agencies.

• Strong experience translating global initiatives into culturally relevant regional strategies while managing competing priorities effectively.

• Proven success in content strategy, digital engagement, and public relations campaigns at a regional or global scale.

• Proficiency in digital and social media platforms, analytics, and communications tools. • Experience in healthcare, public health, or the non-profit/NGO sector, with familiarity in Latin America, is preferred.

Personal Attributes

• Strong initiative, leadership and people management skills, with a demonstrated ability to mentor and develop high-performing teams. • Exceptional strategic thinking and operational execution capabilities, with sound judgment and the ability to prioritize effectively in complex environments.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. • Highly collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable operating in a matrixed, cross-functional organization.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing or a related field. • Advanced degree (MBA, MA, or equivalent) in Communications, Marketing, or a related discipline is preferred. • Fluency in English and Portuguese required. • Fluent or advanced-level proficiency in Spanish is preferred.

Smile Train Leadership Accountability Expectations

· Take full ownership of my role as a leader at Smile Train.

· Operate with a one organization mindset.

· Think strategically and balance a short and long-term perspective.

· Be respectful and professional in every interaction.

· Engage in healthy debate to drive the best possible result.

· Recognize and develop my staff and team.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: 47,000 – 57,000

Smile Train offers a high-level competitive benefits package with excellent health and time off benefits.

Application Process

Smile Train is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates from all groups and communities to apply.

To apply, please complete the application online. Include your CV and a cover letter explaining why you would be a good fit for Smile Train and this role. Only those that provide a cover letter as directed will be considered. We encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible.