Communications Manager
Location: Remote (US based) or Guatemala City
Reports To: Development Director
Status: Full-time
Summary of the Position
Semilla Nueva is seeking a Communications Manager to build our brand, share our story, and help position us as a thought leader in the fields of nutrition, agriculture, and international development. Reporting to the Development Director, this individual will serve as the organization’s sole full-time communications staff member, offering a unique opportunity to shape and lead a communications function.
The ideal candidate is a creative generalist who is passionate about crafting compelling narratives, has strong visual and writing skills, and thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. From managing our website and designing donor materials to pitching media stories and supporting our fundraising efforts, this role will be central to how Semilla Nueva communicates its mission and impact to the world.
Summary of the Organization
Semilla Nueva is one of Central America’s leading social enterprises with a team of over 60 in Guatemala, El Salvador, and the United States. The organization develops high-yielding, climate-resilient maize seeds that have been conventionally bred (non-GMO) to have higher levels of the most important missing nutrients: zinc, iron, and quality protein. Our approach to large-scale adoption of these seeds relies on three strategies:
- Breeding commercially competitive biofortified seeds (non-GMO), which increase incomes and nutritional intake for farmers;
- Piloting subsidies to seed companies to profitably sell new, higher-yielding, climate resilient, biofortified seeds at prices the poorest of the poor can afford;
- Working with governments to institutionalize these subsidies.
Our goal is for a modest subsidy to enable hundreds of thousands of farmers to grow and consume biofortified maize, while selling surplus grain into markets that reach millions of low-income consumers. In 2024 alone, our seeds reached over 30,000 farmers in Guatemala and helped feed 1 million people. Our varieties are currently in government testing in El Salvador and Honduras and are under development for Eastern Africa.
Semilla Nueva is at a critical moment of growth and global relevance, and we’re looking for a passionate, strategic team member to help us scale this solution.
Key Responsibilities
- Content Creation & Storytelling
- Draft, edit, and produce written and visual materials for external audiences, including blogs, reports, fact sheets, presentations, and donor communications.
- Collaborate with program staff to identify and tell compelling stories of impact.
- Create engaging social media and email content that amplifies our voice and drives engagement.
- Media & Thought Leadership
- Conduct media outreach and help secure coverage in international, regional, and sector-specific outlets.
- Support leadership in developing talking points and event presentations to raise Semilla Nueva’s visibility and thought leadership.
- Design & Branding
- Manage basic graphic design needs for organizational materials using tools like Canva or Adobe Suite.
- Ensure consistent brand identity across all communications platforms and products.
- Website & Digital Presence
- Maintain and regularly update the Semilla Nueva website, ensuring timely and engaging content.
- Monitor website analytics and implement improvements for SEO and usability.
- Manage Google Ad Grant
- Development Communications
- Collaborate with the development team to create donor updates, fundraising appeals, and marketing materials that drive engagement and giving.
- Support communications strategy for fundraising campaigns, including Giving Tuesday, year-end giving, and other key moments.
- Strategic Planning & Capacity Building
- Help design and implement a long-term communications strategy aligned with organizational goals.
- Build and manage a network of consultants or volunteers to supplement capacity as needed.
Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience in communications, marketing, or related fields.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills across formats and audiences.
- Strong visual eye and experience with basic graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop).
- Experience with WordPress and comfort with basic website maintenance and editing.
- Track record of securing media placements or managing media relationships preferred.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish desirable.
- Experience in international development, global health, or agriculture is a plus.
- A self-starter who is flexible, organized, and excited to help build something from the ground up.
To apply please send your CV to trabajo@semillanueva.org with the subject, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER and your last name.
Feel free to send any recent publications and/or 2-3 bullet points of why you think you would be a good fit for the role and we may be a good fit for you. We also highly encourage you to read our most recent biannual report on our website before applying.
