Director of Marketing & Communications

Location: Washington D.C. 

Salary range: $82,000 – $93,000

Start Date: May 1

Reports to: Executive Director

Manages: Contractors (website, video, social media, press), Digital Strategist (to be hired)

OVERVIEW

The National LGBT Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists, and affiliated lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender legal organizations. The LGBT Bar promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBTQ+ community in all its diversity. One of the Bar’s premier programs is the annual Lavender LawⓇ Conference and Career Fair, which serves approximately 1700 attendees and partnerships with Am Law 200 and smaller firms, nonprofits, government agencies, and corporations. The next Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair will be held in Washington, DC from August 12-14, 2020.

The Director of Marketing & Communications is a strategic role that will lead all distribution and marketing efforts for the LGBT Bar, support revenue-generation, and increase engagement. This position will play a key role in organizational planning and direct all communications work, in collaboration with staff and external consultants: media relations, email marketing, social media engagement, video production, website, design. 

The Director of Marketing & Communications will report to the Executive Director and work closely with the Director of Development and the Chief Program Officer. They must be familiar with the range of issues that the LGBTQ+ community is facing, and have a passion for this work. Their leadership in communications, marketing, and collaboration with the development team will be an integral part of the Bar’s next phase of growth, supporting all its programmatic areas, including:

• Annual Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair 
• Lavender Law 365® Diversity, Inclusion, Equity Training Program
• Out and Proud, 40 Under 40, and other Awards
• Advocacy efforts to shift the legal profession on key issues such as the LGBTQ+ “Panic” Defense, Jury Access Act/Juror Non-Discrimination Act
• Law School Campus Climate Survey & Toolkit, Resources for Law Schools & Students
• Professional development and growth of LGBTQ+ people within the legal profession
• The Family Law Institute® (a joint initiative with NCLR)

The Bar is the official LGBTQ+ arm of the American Bar Association, and works closely with sister diversity groups such as the National Bar Association, the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges, the National Association of Women Judges, and the Hispanic National Bar. Additionally, the LGBT Bar boasts over 40 affiliated local, regional, or state voluntary LGBT Bar Associations as well as 79 LGBTQ+ law student organizations under its umbrella. 

We are a small team that is passionate, collaborative, creative, and ambitious in the range of programs and services we offer to increase LGBTQ+ representation in the legal profession. We are looking for a visionary leader who is excited to hit the ground running as we gear up for our annual Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair — to build communications capacity to support the Bar’s goals in the years to come.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning

• Develop, implement, and evaluate the annual communications plan.
• Develop marketing & communications strategies that are linked to fundraising efforts, training and consulting services, and other revenue-generation.
• Support organizational strategic planning, business development, fundraising, programs, and interdepartmental collaboration.
• Support annual budgeting process to ensure the LGBT Bar has the resources & infrastructure it needs. Develop and monitor budget and resources related to marketing & communications goals.
• Ensure that the organization has the right technology platforms and resources to optimize our public engagement and communications efforts.

Communications

• Develop the Bar’s key messages, talking points, and storytelling; ensure consistent framing and messaging across the organization and in all communications.
• Raise visibility of the organization and deepen its impact through all communications channels: media, email marketing, social media, video production, website, graphic design, public speaking, trainings, advertising, and events. 
• Direct all marketing and communications efforts for the LGBT Bar’s Annual Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair. 
• Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic collateral including, but not limited to, newsletters, brochures, the LGBT Bar’s website.
• Lead marketing campaigns to increase awareness of the LGBT Bar’s products & services, including the new Lavender Law 365® Diversity, Inclusion, Equity Training Program.
• Support content creation efforts across the organization to engage key audiences in a way that meets organizational goals.
• Lead on all media relations work: writing and distributing press releases, pitching, cultivating media contacts, supporting key media partnerships.
• Lead on list-building, audience segmentation, and targeted growth of key audiences.
• Supervise website updates, track the administration and coordination of web properties, lead on website redesigns. 
• Increase visual storytelling through graphic design and video.
• Provide media and public speaking training and support as needed for staff.
• Speak at conferences and events on behalf of the organization.
• Develop the LGBT Bar’s brand identity and raise visibility of its achievements.

Revenue Generation

• Support overall fundraising strategy by collaborating with the Development team on overall messaging.
• Assist with integrated fundraising campaigns.
• Collaborate with development on evaluation measures and tracking; grant-writing and reporting for sponsors and other funders.
• Collaborate on retaining & growing membership.
• Explore and support revenue-generation opportunities through ads, merchandising, etc.
• Collaborate with Development on the creation of organizational brochures and other collateral to raise the visibility of the organization.
• Event marketing support such as event flyers, programs, and raising visibility.

Metrics & Evaluation

• Track and measure the level of engagement among our audiences over time.
• Test and track effectiveness of communications efforts, and analyze to optimize these efforts.
• Design and conduct surveys to best understand clients, site visitors, followers, and other key audiences.

Financial / Contract Management

• Create and track project budgets.
• Support RFP processes, negotiate fees, manage contracting.
• Manage deliverables and other details of contracts as needed.

Staff Management / Team

• Serve as direct supervisor of external consultants as needed.
• Support supervision of other staff/ongoing contractors as needed on communications work.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and training new staff as needed.
• Develop processes and systems as needed to streamline work and build institutional knowledge.
• Foster a culture of collaboration and accountability throughout the organization that is consistent with the value and mission.
• Support Board engagement on key communications goals.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Required Skills & Experience:

• 7-10 years of leadership in strategic communications and marketing.
• BA and/or MA in communications, marketing, public relations, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading strategic communications function across an entire organization.
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading skills and comfort with public speaking; must be an articulate and persuasive communicator and storyteller.
• Proven track record designing and executing successful campaigns; demonstrated success at growing a digital following.
• Knowledge of key communications tools and channels: PR Newswire, Cision, media databases; Mailchimp, or other email marketing systems; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn.
• Deep understanding of metrics and experience tracking and evaluating. communications efforts, including website, email, and social media analytics.
• Commitment to LGBTQ+, social, economic, and racial justice.
• A keen awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
• Comfort and flexibility in working with remote staff.
• Google Suite, MS Office Suite.

Desired Skills & Experience:

• Experience with event planning & coordination; sponsorships; conference apps.
• Familiarity with diversity, equity, and inclusion field.
• Familiarity with the legal profession.
• Knowledge of WordPress, Adobe Suite, and other communications tools.

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC, with travel required for special events. Occasional work during evenings and weekends will be required.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience, in the range of $82,000 to $93,000 per year. The LGBT Bar offers an excellent benefits package, including full health, dental and vision coverage for all employees and immediate family members, short and long-term disability and employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan.

The LGBT Bar is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, matriculation, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, medication, status as a veteran, tobacco use, or other classification protected by law.

How to Apply

To apply, submit a resume and a detailed cover letter outlining your specific interest in this position and your relevant experience to positions@lgbtbar.org. Please include “Director of Marketing and Communications” in the subject line of your email.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be evaluating applications on a rolling basis.

The National LGBT Bar Association celebrates diversity. All interested individuals, including people of color, women, persons with disabilities, persons with HIV, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or intersex are particularly urged to apply.