About Zinc Network
For over fifteen years, Zinc Network has been helping governments and businesses navigate the world's most complex challenges using communications, technology, and behavioural science. We work on some of the toughest briefs: protecting children online, strengthening democratic resilience, and championing purpose-driven technologies and organisations.
Working in partnership with a global network of media outlets, communities, and influencers, we help clients understand complex issues, design and deliver behavioural interventions, create compelling campaigns, activate trusted grassroots networks, and evaluate impact.
We're now building Kora — our AI-powered platform that systematises this expertise into scalable technology, enabling clients to work faster, more impactfully, and more cost-effectively.
We're looking for people who want to operate at the intersection of geopolitics, security, and technological disruption, and who are committed to building a safer, more secure world.
The role
Zinc seeks a Project Director to lead a forthcoming donor-funded strategic communications programme focused on countering disinformation and violent extremist narratives in Central Asia. The Project Director will provide strategic, technical, and operational oversight of the programme, ensuring all activities achieve measurable impact within time, budget, and compliance frameworks. The position is contingent upon funding.
The ideal candidate
The Project Director will be a senior leader with a track record of managing complex strategic communications projects – ideally on countering violent extremism and disinformation. They can build and maintain strong relationships with donors, local partners and stakeholders across the region, and will be a strategic thinker and relationship-builder who can navigate sensitive political issues, lead multidisciplinary teams, and translate insight into effective communication interventions. The ideal candidate will bring a deep contextual knowledge of Central Asia – including social, political, and information dynamics – and a strong network of partners and practitioners in the region.
Key responsibilities
· Provide overall strategic leadership, management, and technical direction for the programme, serving as the primary liaison with donor and partners;
· Lead the design and delivery of evidence-based communication interventions to counter disinformation and violent extremist narratives;
· Oversee the development of strategies, work plans, and results frameworks aligned with donor priorities and regional needs;
· Manage cross-functional teams – including strategists, researchers, creatives, digital specialists, and regional partners – ensuring effective collaboration and knowledge integration;
· Represent Zinc Network to government counterparts, civil society partners, and international stakeholders across Central Asia;
· Oversee project implementation, budget management, and risk mitigation to ensure timely and compliant delivery;
· Ensure consistent application of safeguarding, security, and ethical communication principles;
· Provide senior oversight on reporting, MEL, and donor engagement, ensuring delivery of high-quality outputs and learning;
· Contribute to thought leadership and knowledge sharing within the broader strategic communications and counter-FIMI community.
Qualifications:
What we can offer you
The opportunity to work with colleagues from a diverse range of professional and cultural backgrounds including the very best ex-diplomats, television producers, digital media strategists, linguists, researchers, and behavioural scientists from both the public and private sector.
Across Zinc Network there’s a commitment by everyone to deliver meaningful, change across all the subject areas, social challenges, and policy goals we’re striving to achieve.
Area of selection
We’re committed to hiring a diverse workforce from different professional and cultural backgrounds, and to that end we encourage a variety of people to apply to join our company to represent the diverse range of subjects associated with our projects.
Conditions of employment
Candidates who receive a job offer will be required to:
· Disclose any previous disciplinary action against them resulting from a substantiated safeguarding (including any breaches involving trafficking- related activities) or workplace investigation.
· Undergo background checks including employment verification, sexual offender registry, identity confirmation, and anti-terrorism vetting.