Director of Communications

Position: Director of Communications

Location: 1825 I (Eye) Street, Suite 800, NW, Washington, DC 20006

Department: Office of Government Relations and Public Affairs

Employment Status: Regular/Full-Time/Exempt

Schedule: Minimum of three days per week in office

ABOUT LSC:

Established by Congress in 1974, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the country’s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. LSC currently funds 129 independent nonprofit legal aid organizations operating in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. LSC’s mission is to promote equal access to justice and provide grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans.

JOB FUNCTION:

The Director of Communications leads the development and execution of LSC’s integrated communications strategy, advancing understanding of LSC’s mission, work, impact and priorities among key audiences. This role sets and drives the organization’s strategic approach to positioning and communicating with key audiences. The Director oversees LSC’s communication functions, including media relations, digital communications, content and storytelling, brand and institutional messaging, executive communications, publications, multimedia, and issues and crisis communication.

The Director works collaboratively across LSC to translate organizational priorities, research, data, initiatives, events and the work of LSC-funded organizations into compelling communications for policy makers, stakeholders, the civil legal services community, the media and the public. The Director serves as communications advisor to the Vice President, and as appropriate, the President, Board of Directors, and other LSC leaders. Reports to the Vice President for Government Relations and Public Affairs (GRPA).

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Communications Strategy. Leads the execution of an integrated communications strategy aligned with LSC’s mission, organizational priorities and the strategic direction as set by the Vice President for GRPA and President. Establishes communications priorities, plans and performance measures and regularly assesses and adjusts strategies based on results, changing circumstances and emerging opportunities. Monitors the broader communications environment to identify emerging narratives, stakeholder concerns, inaccurate information and changes in how priority audiences discuss LSC and civil legal aid. Uses these insights to inform communications strategy, anticipate risks and support proactive issues and reputation management. Anticipates communications risks, advises leadership as appropriate and maintains protocols for responding to sensitive situations.
• Team Leadership and Development. Leads communications staff. Cultivates a communications team culture grounded in collaboration, accountability and excellence. Provide coaching, mentorship and strategic direction to strengthen team performance and impact. Establishes clear priorities and expectations, plans and assigns work, reviews work products and provides timely and constructive feedback, and evaluates staff performance. Identifies opportunities for professional development and cross training.

Narrative, Messaging & Storytelling Leadership

• Brand and Institutional Communication. Oversees LSC’s institutional brand and messaging. Ensures consistency of tone and voice across all external communication. Works collaboratively across LSC to promote consistent, accurate, audience-focused communications. Reviews audience research, segmentation, message and creative testing to develop messaging frameworks, communications resources and standards to enhance LSC’s ability to communicate consistently across the organization.
• Content and Storytelling. Develops and oversees a content strategy that communicates LSC’s mission and impact through compelling written, visual, digital and multimedia storytelling. Identifies opportunities to elevate the experiences and impact of LSC-funded organizations and the people and communities they serve while ensuring appropriate standards for accuracy, content, privacy and dignity.
• Media Relations. Directs LSC’s media relations strategy. Establishes and maintains productive working relationships with national, regional, trade, policy and other relevant media. Proactively identifies opportunities to advance understanding of LSC and civil legal services, develops media strategies and pitches, prepares LSC representatives for interviews, and responds promptly and effectively to media inquiries.
• Spokesperson Responsibilities. Serves as the primary press spokesperson for LSC and coordinates media responses with the Vice President, President and other subject matter experts across the organization. Develops talking points, background materials, statements and other resources necessary to support accurate, timely and effective responses.
• Executive Communications and Thought Leadership. Oversees and develops communications for the LSC President, Board of Directors, and other designated LSC leaders, including speeches, talking points, presentations, op-eds, public statements and other external communications. Identifies opportunities to strengthen LSC’s institutional voice and visibility through thought leadership and public engagement.
• Cross Organizational Collaboration. Partners with offices across LSC early in developing major initiatives, research, reports, grants, convenings, announcements and more to develop communication strategies, identify audiences, anticipate communications needs and risk, and maximize opportunities for public engagement and visibility. Works with LSC subject matter experts to translate research, data, policy issues and other complex information into clear, accessible and compelling communications for internal and external audiences, promote consistent understanding of organizational priorities, and extend the reach and impact of LSC’s work through various communication channels.
• External Engagement. Oversees the planning and execution of events and works closely with Government Relations staff, LSC-funded organizations, and other partners to develop events and programming that advance LSC’s organizational communications, public education and engagement objectives. Provides strategic direction on event programming, audiences, speakers, messaging and content, including the development of events designed to increase the understanding of civil legal services among policy makers and other priority audiences. Works with Government Relations to develop communications strategies that target appropriations and oversight, congressional briefings, district engagement, major report releases and events involving public officials. Identifies opportunities for LSC leaders, grant recipients, clients and other stakeholders to share their expertise and perspectives.
• Communications with LSC-Funded Organizations. Establishes and maintains strong relationships with communications staff and other appropriate contacts at LSC-funded programs and in civil legal services advocacy organizations. Supervises outreach and support to LSC grantees regarding their communications outreach efforts. Facilitates information sharing, identifies stories and communication opportunities, develops resources and guidance where appropriate, and supports stronger communications capacity across the civil legal services community.
• Public Education and Awareness. Develops and executes communications initiatives that increase the understanding of civil legal services, the civil justice gap, LSC’s role and the work of LSC-funded organizations. Uses an appropriate mix of earned, owned, shared, and paid communications to reach priority audiences.
• Measurement and Innovation. Uses media monitoring, digital analytics, audience insights and other performance measures to evaluate communications effectiveness and inform strategy. Monitors emerging communications trends, technologies, platforms and practices and identifies opportunities to strengthen the reach, quality and effectiveness of LSC’s communications. Manages contracts with communications consultants and vendors.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

General:

• Outstanding leadership, management skills; excellent written communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate complex subjects clearly and persuasively to varied audiences; excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to manage conflicts; unimpeachable integrity and adherence to the highest standard of personal ethics; exceptional judgment and discretion; ability to establish credible and productive working relationships with senior leaders, colleagues, external stakeholders, grant recipient staff, and media; high degree of flexibility, initiative, capacity for self-management, and exceptional attention to detail; understanding of and commitment to organizational mission and goals; strong organizational and project management skills; adaptable and able to manage multiple priorities, rapidly changing circumstances, and tight deadlines; ability to influence, motivate, challenge, and inspire confidence among others; ability to develop and lead high performance/high morale teams and to foster teamwork; demonstrated experience working in and leading cross-functional teams in a mission-driven organization. Demonstrated sensitivity to impact of broader political environment required.

Technical/Specialized:

• A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public affairs, journalism, media relations or a related field required, including experience managing staff and complex communications initiatives. Minimum of four (4) years leading and developing high-performing teams, preferred minimum of eight (8) years.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing integrated communications strategies that advance organizational objectives and reach multiple audiences across communications channels.
• Significant experience in media relations, including establishing and maintaining relationships with reporters, editors, producers and other media professionals; responding to complex or sensitive media inquiries; preparing organizational representatives for interviews; and proactively developing media opportunities.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated ability to produce clear, concise, accurate and compelling materials in a variety of formats and for different audiences.
• Demonstrated experience with digital communications, content strategy, social media, websites, email communications, multimedia and audience engagement. Familiarity with communications analytics and demonstrated ability to use data and performance measures to evaluate effectiveness and inform strategy.
• Experience developing executive communications, including speeches, talking points, presentations, opinion pieces and other communications for organizational leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex research, data, policy, legal or technical subjects in accessible and engaging ways.
• Experience managing communications related to high-profile, sensitive, or rapidly developing issues and exercising sound judgment under pressure.
• Knowledge of the contemporary media and communications environment, including digital-first journalism, social platforms, newsletters, podcasts, multimedia, and emerging communications channels and technologies.
• Ability to understand and work within the statutory, regulatory, ethical and policy requirements applicable to LSC and its grant recipients.

COMPETENCIES PREFERRED:

• Familiarity with civil legal services, access to justice issues or the legal community.
• Demonstrated experience managing communications in a highly political environment
• Demonstrated experience implementing communications strategies within a complex environment, including working with multiple stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated experience managing crisis communications or responding to reputational risks
• Demonstrated experience at a comparable organization: a national organization, major nonprofit, public institution, association, foundation or government entity.

Salary and Benefits:

Salary range: $167,257 - $174,015 (Step 1- Step 3)

LSC has a competitive market-based salary structure that establishes a specific salary range for this position which has 10 steps. A new hire is typically hired at Step 1 and receives a step increase annually. In special circumstances, LSC may authorize a new hire to start at a higher step based on a special business need or the significantly higher qualifications of the new employee. Employees hired after October 1st of any calendar year will receive their first step increase the January following their first full year of employment.

Application Procedure: 

A cover letter and résumé must be included. To have your application considered, please answer all application questions and provide all requested information.

Note: If you need an accommodation during the application process, please notify OHR at

jobapplicant@lsc.gov.

LSC is an equal opportunity employer.

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