Regional Communications Specialist South Asia & Southeast Asia

The Regional Communications Specialist, South Asia and Southeast Asia produces and stewards region specific programme communications, translating regional programme strategies, partner work, and local insight into clear, credible narratives. The role supports systems change and learning by ensuring regional communications reflect lived context, programme logic, and the Foundation’s overall narrative direction.
 
Working closely with Regional Directors, Programme Managers, Learning and Impact colleagues, and central Communications teams, the Regional Communications Specialist supports thought leadership at regional level. The role helps connect programme level learning and partner perspectives to Foundation wide communications, contributing to coherence, credibility, and impact across the organisation.
 
As part of the Programmes team, the Regional Communications Specialist is responsible for South Asia and South East Asia and reports into a Regional Director. This is a full‑time position (38 hours), based in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Key responsibilities

• Region-embedded programme communications production: Produce original, context-specific communications content that translates regional programme strategies, partner work, and emerging developments into clear, credible narratives. Ensure content reflects deep subject-matter understanding, programme logic, and lived regional context.
• Regional narrative stewardship and thought-leadership inputs: Steward region-specific narratives and thought-leadership inputs that elevate partner voice, centre local expertise, and reflect the Foundation’s systems-change approach. Ensure narratives are grounded in programme learning, while remaining aligned with organisational narrative direction.
• Systematic insight capture from regional programme work: Work closely with Programme and Learning teams to distil emerging insights, lessons, and patterns from regional work. Translate complex programme-level learning into usable inputs for Foundation-wide thought leadership, learning synthesis, and strategic communication led by Learning & Engagement.
• Programme and partner communication enablement: Enable effective communication with and about partners by shaping programme-relevant messages, briefing materials, and narrative inputs that support transparency, mutual learning, and trust-based relationships within the regional ecosystem.
• Alignment to enterprise communications strategy: Apply the Foundation’s communications strategy, narrative architecture, and editorial standards to regional programme communications, ensuring regional content is coherent, strategically aligned, and usable for enterprise communications and learning.
• Communications support to regional convenings and events: Support regional programme and partnership convenings through communications planning, narrative framing, and learning-oriented messaging. Ensure communications linked to convenings amplify learning intent and partner collaboration rather than promotional outcomes.

You have:

• Ability to produce programme- or issue-based communications in international development, philanthropy, or a related social impact context.
• Experience working closely with programme teams or partners to translate context-specific work into credible external communications.
• Understanding of main political economy of assigned geographies matched the ability to capture tensions, elevate dilemmas and produce content that reflects the depth and breath of regional issues in collaboration with Programmes Managers.
• Experience operating within centrally defined communications strategies while embedded in regional or programme settings.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to frame stories clearly and accurately for external audiences.
• Sound judgement in selecting, framing, and timing regional stories within an agreed communications strategy.
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to represent partner perspectives with integrity and care.

 
You are:

• Motivated by living and sharing the values of the IKEA Foundation.
• Purpose and impact driven with a deep commitment to improving lives of people and the planet.
• Able to adapt to change and are always looking for ways to improve and develop.
• Deeply curious about regional programme work and context, proactively building understanding of partners, ecosystems, and emerging dynamics.
• A collaborator within a matrixed environment, balancing regional programme needs with enterprise communications expectations.
• Someone who exercises sound judgement and restraint, knowing when to surface, shape, or hold back stories in line with communications strategy.
• Culturally sensitive and show care in representing partner voices and local perspectives with accuracy and integrity.
• Pragmatic and reliable in a resource-constrained setting, managing competing priorities without sacrificing quality or trust.
• Fluent in English, oral and written.
• Able to travel internationally.
• Based in the Netherlands and eligible to work here.

At IKEA Foundation, you'll join a purpose-driven organization dedicated to creating positive change for people and the planet. We offer a supportive, collaborative culture, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day.

What we offer

• Benchmarked salary for a full-time (38 hours per week) contract, including 8% holiday allowance.
• Fully funded pension scheme, with no employee contribution required.
• Wellbeing allowance of €780 per year to support your mental and physical health.
• 30 days of annual leave (full-time basis).
• Flexible working arrangements, with office-based collaboration as the primary way of working.
• Fully covered public transport commuting through an NS Business Card.
• 15% IKEA co-worker discount (up to €500 per year).
• Access to the "Dankje" recognition programme, rewarding long-term contributions and service.

Please note that salaries are paid in 12 equal monthly instalments.

Recruitment process

What to expect?

Thank you for your interest in joining the IKEA Foundation.

Once you've submitted your application, we'll review it as quickly as possible. As a small organization, we receive many applications and have limited capacity, so we appreciate your patience while we carefully consider each candidate.

If your experience and profile look like a good match for the role, we'll invite you to a first online introductory conversation. Following a positive initial discussion, you'll be asked to meet with members of the team for a follow-up interview.

Depending on the role, the process may also include an assessment and pre-employment screening, followed by a final interview stage.

We look forward to learning more about you!

Please apply before the application deadline of Friday, September 4th, 2026.