About the role
We're looking for a proactive, creative and organized Director of Communications and Social Media to help shape how the direct selling channel is understood by policymakers, regulators, the press, and the public around the world. As the global voice for the $164 billion direct selling industry around the world, our association represents national associations and member companies across more than 55 markets, and our communications need to resonate across channels, regions, languages, and regulatory environments.
This is a hands-on role for someone who's equal parts strategist and creator: you'll create and develop stories and ways to amplify our messages and research across channels, but you'll also write the pitch, design the infographic, edit the video, and post the content. We need someone who can turn a complex regulatory issue or industry data point into a scroll-stopping social post by Friday — not someone who only knows how to brief an agency to do it.
Direct selling is a growing, entrepreneurial and fast-paced industry focused on beauty, health & wellness and nutrition among other key sectors. We work with everyone from blue-chip companies to K-beauty newcomers to define, promote and boost a way of living and earning for over 100 million people around the world. With humans at our center, direct selling leverages technology, but doesn’t substitute it for people-to-people connection. We’re seeking the best storyteller to join a growing team to help tailor and tell our story to both industry experts and external audiences– is that you?
What you'll do
- Support development and execution of an integrated global communications and social media strategy and content that implements the association's policy, member, and reputation goals
- Project-manage day-to-day media relations with international business, trade, policy, and consumer media; build relationships with reporters covering retail, small business, regulatory affairs, and the global gig and independent workforces
- Think creatively and build the tools for successful industry reputation management — proactively telling the story of the channel to counter mischaracterizations, regulatory developments, or negative coverage in any major markets
- Work with our members to find and tell the best stories about how direct selling makes an impact, operates at the highest ethical standards and promotes entrepreneurship, workforce skills and economic growth.
- Champion our local associations’ achievements and stories through our channels.
- Own the association's online and social media presence end-to-end across our Web site, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, YouTube, and emerging platforms: strategy, content calendar, copywriting, posting, community management, and performance reporting
- Produce social-first content with your own hands, including: short-form video (Reels, Shorts, TikTok, LinkedIn video) — shooting, editing, captioning, and publishing using tools like CapCut, Premiere, or Descript; infographics, presentations and data visualizations that translate industry research, economic impact data, and policy points into clear, shareable assets using PowerPoint, Canva, Figma, or Adobe Creative Suite; photo and graphic content for events, campaigns, and rapid-response moments
- Translate global industry research and economic impact data into compelling visual stories for policymakers, media, and the public
- Draft executive communications for the Chair, Executive Director and senior leadership, including op-eds, bylines, remarks for international forums, talking points, and member-facing letters
- Produce content that supports advocacy campaigns and global policy priorities, with messaging adaptable across regions and regulatory contexts
- Develop and maintain communications including a newsletter and other means of outreach.
- Manage communications around signature global events (World Congress, regional meetings, CEO forums): pre-event promotion, on-site content capture, livestream support, and post-event amplification
- Partner with national association and member company communications leads to align on global messaging, share assets, and build a coordinated industry voice
- Monitor industry and members news, and report on coverage, sentiment, share of voice, social engagement, and content performance; use insights to refine strategy and prove ROI
What we're looking for
- 5–7 years of experience in communications, PR, or social media — trade association, advocacy organization, agency, or corporate in-house
- Demonstrated hands-on production skills. You can show us a portfolio of social videos you cut, infographics you designed, and posts you wrote and published — not just campaigns you oversaw
- Strong project management skills and the ability to move fast across multiple priorities and stakeholders
- Fluency with the tools of modern content production: AI, Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere), CapCut or Descript, native platform editors, and analytics tools (Sprout Social, Meltwater, native insights)
- Strong understanding of what performs on each major platform and a sharp eye for visual storytelling and campaigns across channels: paid earned, social and owned
- Ability to pitch and place stories in business, trade, policy, and consumer media
- Excellent and fast-turn writing across formats: press releases, op-eds, executive talking points, social copy, member communications
- Demonstrated experience with social media creation, analysis and channels including campaigns
- Experience working across markets, time zones, and cultural contexts, or a clear ability to do so
- Comfort with reputation-sensitive industries; ability to stay calm, enthusiastic, positive and on-message
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Nice to have
- Familiarity with the direct selling channel, network marketing, or independent contractor business models
- Political. PR or advocacy campaign experience
- Multilingual or experience producing content for global audiences
- Motion graphics, animation, or podcast production experience
- Existing relationships with reporters covering retail, small business, regulatory policy, or the global gig economy
- Experience supporting executive thought leadership and op-ed placement in international outlets
What success looks like
In your first 90 days, you'll have audited the association's current communications and social presence, built relationships with key staff and member national associations, and put a clear strategy in front of leadership.
By the end of year one, you'll have measurably grown the association's global share of voice, established a consistent cadence of proactive coverage and high-performing original content (video, infographics, and written), built a social presence that meaningfully reaches policymakers and the public across priority markets, and created the playbooks needed to respond quickly when reputational moments arise anywhere in the world.
How to apply
Submit your résumé and a brief cover note to info@wfdsa.org or through LinkedIn describing why this role and this industry interest you. Candidates who advance past initial screening will be asked to share a small portfolio of work samples (writing, visuals, and short-form video) along with a short written response to a scenario prompt. We'll send the full portfolio brief at that stage.
