Director External Relations
Are you a strategic connector and communicator who can lead and connect insights across teams? We are seeking a proactive senior director to drive advocacy and shape our thought leadership.
We usually respond within a week
About Maternity Foundation
Together, we work from a shared vision that it should not cost life to give life!
Maternity Foundation is a global organisation within maternal and new-born health. In 2005, we started out as a smaller Danish organisation working in western Ethiopia. Today, we are an international NGO with offices in Ethiopia, India, and Denmark and engagements in multiple countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa, and Asia. In 2023, we expanded our work into Latin America and the Caribbean. To date, we have reached 500,000 midwives and other healthcare professionals across more than 70 low-and middle-income countries.
Position summary
As a part of Maternity Foundation’s Executive Leadership, you will be a trusted strategic partner, insightful thinker, and skilled communicator with a strong focus on Advocacy. You will play a pivotal role in developing and driving our advocacy efforts, shaping our thought leadership, and supporting with speech writing, strategic positioning, and external representation. While your primary role is to drive the advocacy and thought leadership, you have a great responsibility as a strategic leader and connector across the teams in collaboration with the CEO and Director of the Safe Delivery Programme. You will lead our External Relations Division, comprising of three small, agile and self-directed teams that are each lead by a Head:
Business Development - BD (Head + 2)
Communications (Head + 1)
Insights, Research & Learning - IRL (Head + 3)
The profile we are looking for:
A strategic and proactive connector with exceptional communication and problem-solving skills. Practical and execution-focused, with a talent for seeing the big picture and aligning cross-functional efforts. Skilled at orchestrating complex work and ensuring ideas and initiatives come together seamlessly. You are motivated by purpose and eager to contribute to a meaningful cause.
Key responsibilities:
Strategic Advisory & Thought Leadership
Provide close counsel and strategic sparring to the CEO on advocacy, positioning, and organisational direction.
Draft speeches, talking points, and policy statements that reflect emerging trends and opportunities.
Identify and connect strategic insights across global health, maternal and neonatal health, philanthropy, and tech4good.
Lead the development of Maternity Foundation’s thought leadership as part of our new strategy.
External Relations
Lead and support the External Relations division, ensuring alignment across BD, Comms, and IRL
Foster collaboration and strategic coherence across the three teams as well as with the wider organisation.
Ensure, in close collaboration with the Safe Delivery Programme, that Advocacy is deeply aligned with lessons learnt, our data and results from the Safe Delivery Programme and represents the needs and realities on the ground for midwives and other healthcare professionals.
Qualifications and experience required:
A relevant background within International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, Communications, Journalism, or related.
At least 10 years’ senior-level experience from a similar role within international relations, advocacy, strategic communications, or diplomacy.
Demonstrable experience in writing and editing, including speechwriting and published work.
Strong conceptual and strategic capabilities with transferable skills to quickly understand and move freely from in depth maternal health analysis to connecting global trends in the intersection of global health, tech4good, philanthropy and business development.
Experience in global health or development is advantageous, though a strong strategic mindset and advocacy toolbox is paramount.
Fluency in English is essential; Danish is an asset.
A Danish work permit.
Attributes and Core Competencies we are looking for:
Proactive and self-driven – You take initiative and can manage work independently while knowing when to ask for input.
Exceptional communicator – Able to make complex topics clear and accessible, ensuring alignment across teams and external partners.
Collaborative and culturally aware – You work well with colleagues across departments and cultures and contribute to a positive team spirit in a multilingual, international setting.
Terms and conditions:
The position is a permanent full or part-time employment based in Copenhagen, Denmark. The way of working is a hybrid model with the possibility to work from home twice a week. Salary will be negotiated based on qualifications and Maternity Foundation’s salary scales. The deadline for applying is January 11th, 2026 and we will get back to you after the deadline. Interviews are scheduled for the last two weeks of January 2026. Starting date anticipated from March 2026 or upon agreement.
We value equal opportunity and encourage candidates regardless of race, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age to apply.
About Maternity Foundations workplace
We are a team of roughly 40 colleagues working across our three global hubs in Ethiopia, Denmark, and India. We come from various backgrounds – global health, midwifery, anthropology, IT, and business – and take pride in an entrepreneurial spirit and a can-do attitude. Together, we are an ambitious and purpose-driven team working in a welcoming and informal atmosphere shaped by or values that we trust you share:
We thrive on purpose. Making a real impact motivates you, and you want your work to contribute to safer childbirths and better healthcare globally.
We bring respect and inclusion. You value diversity, treat everyone fairly, and help create a workplace where trust and appreciation are the norm.
We think big and act smart. Innovation excites you—you’re bold, agile, and committed to finding sustainable solutions that make a difference.
We collaborate naturally. You enjoy working with others, building strong partnerships, and believe that together we achieve more.
- Department
- Executive Leadership
- Role
- Director External Relations
- Locations
- Copenhagen Hub
- Remote status
- Hybrid
Copenhagen Hub
Help us ensure safer childbirth for women and newborns - everywhere
About Maternity Foundation
Every other minute, a woman dies of causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. Every seventh second, a newborn suffers the same fate. Maternity Foundation works to ensure safer births for women and newborns – everywhere.
That is why Maternity Foundation is building midwifery knowledge and skills among healthcare professionals in low-resource areas.
Join us in making a difference.