Clarissa Perkins

• Lead communications for web products
• Ground strategies with UX research, data, and business goals and track analytics to ensure growth
• Manage client relationships
• Manage communications staff and facilitate career growth
• Oversee development of and strategy of video, events, editorial, podcasts, social, interactive tools and distribution channels
• Build and set governance, standard operating procedures, style guides, and other playbooks to ensure consistency and efficiency
• Develop and implement multi-channel outreach strategies to engage and grow audiences
• Collaborate with all members of product team, from front-end developers to product managers
• Develop brand identities and grow brand awareness, collaborating with creative leads
• Create processes and structures for Strategic Communications Practice Area efficiency and success
• Ensure high-quality communications products are delivered on-time to clients
• Serve as technical lead and subject matter expert on business development opportunities

• Lead integrated communications, including strategy, brand, events, social media, video, newsletters, and website content communications for USAID's Knowledge, Data, Learning and Training project
• Oversaw a 229% increase in page views on client site, Agrilinks.org, over the course of 2.5 years to more than 2.2 million global page views
• Oversaw a 58% increase in one client’s mailing list over 2 years
• Doubled page views and direct sessions of client site, Resiliencelinks.org, in the course of 8 months
• Guided creation of many communications strategies including for Resiliencelinks.org, Agrilinks.org, Linkedin pages, YouTube channels, webinar series, newsletters and more
• Oversee the content, social media, communications, audience engagement and day-to-day design on Agrilinks.org and ResilienceLinks.org
• Collaborate with clients to create and implement robust and flexible communications and learning strategies and products
• Oversee production and quality control of communications products including videos, web content, blogs, branding guidelines, editorial calendar, dissemination plans, online events, presentations, case studies, and more
• Manage a team of 10 staff, including copyeditors, communications specialists, video editors, SEO specialists and graphic designers
• Mentor and grow staff

• Lead communications for mSTAR, a major USAID-funded project, including videos, events, podcasts, campaigns, infographics, brochures, posters and social media kits.
• Collaborate closely with government, freelancers, leadership and others to develop strategies, concepts and stories that support mSTAR’s mission and results.
• Work with freelancers and contractors for editorial and other content needs.
• Ensure clarity, accuracy and branding on all materials.
• Develop copy for all promotional material including brochures, infographics, film, social media and e-blasts.
• Improve and update project branding and communications materials; train staff on best practices.
• Conduct national and international media outreach.
Notable Projects and Results:
• Communications Lead for USAID-funded Mobile Solutions Technical Assistance and Research (mSTAR) project.
o Developed the mSTAR blog, Closing the Digital Divide, podcast, and mSTAR/Liberia Facebook.
o Media outreach resulting in 100+ media mentions of mSTAR.
o Built communications strategies with the Liberian Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education.
o Doubled @mSTAR_Project Twitter followers; increased newsletter subscribers by more than 50%, increased blog views to an average of 500 views per month.
o Received internal NOW Award recognizing achievements.
Work examples:
https://uploads.knightlab.com/storymapjs/7f89af21afd630442036fed993dd5fb8/india-story-map/index.html
https://uploads.knightlab.com/storymapjs/7f89af21afd630442036fed993dd5fb8/mstars-journey/index.html
https://express.adobe.com/page/u2GDJI62lCuQv/

• Directed production process for all marketing projects and policy publications, including advertisements, annual reports and campaigns, from ideation to completion.
• Wrote copy, edited, and guided design for major marketing collateral.
• Tracked obligations, expenditures, and scopes of projects with internal and external stakeholders.
• Managed the LIRS blog, Redefining Welcome; published 442 posts and increased readership by 25%.
• Ghostwrote blogs and op-eds for LIRS President, Linda Hartke.
• Interviewed refugees and volunteers for Rebuilding Hope, the donor newsletter.
• Pitched and placed articles and op-eds on refugees, immigrants, and the US immigration system.

• Co-authored and edited a flagship publication on faith in the public sphere in the UK.
• Researched and analyzed news trends, legislation, and legal cases on faith.
• Wrote articles on political issues for the organization’s blog.

• Pitched clients’ stories to reporters; coordinated and mediated over ten interviews with reporters and clients.
• Pioneered business development, bringing more than five companies on board.

• Led outreach efforts through articles, monthly newsletters and social media as Communications Associate in the US.
• Increased the number of unique visitors to the website by 110%, increased the number of lenders by 15%, Facebook followers by 34%, and Twitter by 213%; oversaw 150 borrowers worldwide by phone and email.
• Assisted potential clients in applying for loans in Dakar, Senegal.