Communications Director

Job Description

The role:

The Communications Director leads the global communications function for World Aquatics, shaping and safeguarding the organisation’s reputation while strengthening its position among key stakeholders worldwide.

Operating at the intersection of sport, media, and governance, this role combines high-level strategic counsel with hands-on leadership of integrated communications. The successful candidate will oversee a broad portfolio spanning media, digital, social, editorial, corporate, and competition communications, managing specialist teams of staff and contractors globally.

As a senior leader within the organisation, the Communications Director plays a critical role in defining how World Aquatics is perceived on the global stage. This includes driving proactive storytelling, navigating complex reputational challenges, and ensuring clear, consistent, and authoritative communication across all touchpoints.

The role requires sound judgement, discretion, and the ability to operate effectively in high-pressure, fast-moving environments, particularly during major international competitions and sensitive governance situations. It also demands a forward-looking mindset, leveraging digital innovation and evolving media landscapes to enhance engagement with fans, partners, and the wider aquatics community.

Working closely with senior leadership, the Communications Director will help shape institutional messaging, support decision-making through strategic advice, and ensure that communications activities contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s broader objectives, including growth, visibility, and commercial success.

Key Responsibilities

• Define, own and deliver World Aquatics’ global communications strategy, aligned to the President and Board’s strategic priorities.
• Act as senior communications counsel to the Executive Director and senior leadership on reputation, risk and institutional positioning.
• Lead and oversee all communications functions, including media relations, media operations, editorial and content, corporate communications, competition communications, crisis management.
• Set and maintain editorial direction, tone of voice and standards across all platforms and outputs.
• Oversee internal communications across World Aquatics, ensuring clear, timely and aligned messaging across staff, leadership and Member Federations.
• Lead strategy and execution for internal campaigns, updates, briefings and information flows to maintain clarity, engagement and cohesion across the International Federation.
• Contribute directly to high-level outputs including presidential speeches, official statements and leadership briefings.
• Ensure operational clarity and alignment across teams during both planned communications cycles and high-pressure situations.
• Provide integrated storytelling strategies to elevate World Aquatics’ global profile, increase fan engagement and support broadcast and commercial objectives.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with key international, specialist and broadcast media.
  
  

Requirements

Experience & Skills:

• Minimum 12 years’ experience in communications, public relations or reputation management, ideally within international sport or a comparable global organisation.
• English mother tongue. Additional language skills beneficial but not mandatory.
• A latent interest in aquatics, the global aquatics community and the Olympic Movement.
• Demonstrated success managing complex communications challenges at scale.
• Excellent written English, with the ability to draft authoritative communications on complex and sensitive issues under pressure.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary communications teams across media, digital, editorial and corporate functions.
• Willingness to travel internationally and work evenings, weekends and holidays during major events and crisis periods.
  
  

Start Date: Q2/Q3 2026

Location: Budapest, Hungary.

We are committed to attracting the best global talent and will provide support with immigration and work permit applications for qualified non-EU candidates, in accordance with Hungarian regulations.

Closing date: May 8, 2026. Suitable candidates may be interviewed prior to the

closing date.

What we offer?

• Opportunity to work in an exciting, fast-paced, international sports environment.
• Exposure to high-profile major global sports events.
• A collaborative, multicultural workplace with opportunities to travel globally.
  
  

World Aquatics is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status If you are interested in this position and you meet the requirements in the profile, please submit your application with a CV and Covering letter.

Despite receiving a high number of applications, we will endeavour to respond to all applicants.