Legal Aid of the Bluegrass seeks a full-time Communications and Development Specialist to work in its Covington, Lexington, or Morehead office. The Communications and Development Specialist, in collaboration with the LABG Leadership Team, will develop and guide the strategy for all organization communications and development. That includes generating content, program promotion, website and social media maintenance, event and outreach coordination, fundraising, and collateral development to consistently articulate LABG's mission to various audiences, including: communities living in poverty; the legal community; healthcare, education, and social service professionals; private foundations; potential donors; and the public at large.
Responsibilities: The Communications and Development Specialist will enhance and deepen the brand identity of LABG, improve overall marketing collateral, and increase awareness of the issues that clients and other low-income people experience in our community. Additionally, the Communications and Development Specialist will work with the LABG Leadership Team and substantive Unit Managers to plan, implement, and publicize community outreach events, pro bono efforts, fundraising opportunities, and a myriad of special projects. The Specialist will transform key legal information into engaging and accessible messages, then disseminate those messages to relevant audiences through a range of technologies and distribution methods.
The Communications and Development Specialist will:
- Develop and implement a strategic communications plan that utilizes traditional and new media channels to reach stakeholders and target populations for education, advocacy, and fundraising purposes.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of communications and marketing strategies annually and as needed
- Source and write content for fundraising, outreach, advocacy, and issue campaigns, and manage the design and production processes.
- Develop crisis communication messaging as necessary (i.e., Flood, Covid-19, etc.).
- Develop media relations with television, radio, print and new media.
- Create and manage a robust online presence for the organization, including website management and social media.
- Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic content (email, website, social media, Twitter, etc.) and collateral content.
- Participate in the development, planning, and orchestration of special events.
- Manage all fundraising efforts, including annual giving campaigns, and grow the number of individual donors.
- Assist with investigating and developing resources for organizational funding with an emphasis on private foundations with which LABG does not have an existing relationship.
- Coordinate outreach event calendar and utilize traditional and new media channels to publicize, including coordination of Justice Bus, pro bono and pro se clinics, legal education and program presentations, etc.
- In coordination with the Leadership Team and substantive Unit Managers, cultivate and maintain relationships across diverse communities including social service agencies, libraries, bar associations, law schools, pro bono attorneys, local law firms, and members of the legislature
- Participate in the continuous quality improvement and data driven decision making processes to assess the efficacy of programming and to drive programmatic refinements. Ensure adherence to data collection requirements.
Requirements, Skills & Abilities include:
- Bachelor’s Degree required with communications experience
- Experience managing and using social media tools
- Experience with Microsoft Office 365 programs including PowerPoint and SharePoint
- Experience working with donor software such as Network for Good
- Experience with website management including working with platforms like Drupal
- Experience using Constant Contact, MailChimp or similar email platforms
- Highly collaborative style; experience developing and implementing communications strategies
- Ability to craft a compelling narrative illustrating our policy areas, campaign messages and LABG's impact
- Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills
- Relationship builder with the flexibility and finesse to "manage by influence"
- High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels
- Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, donors, member organizations, and other supporters
- Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives, highly organized
Salary Range: Salary Commensurate with Experience
Legal Aid of the Bluegrass is a non-profit law firm providing civil legal assistance to nearly 220,000 low-income people in 33 counties from 4 offices located in Covington, Lexington, Morehead, and Ashland. Legal Aid of the Bluegrass’ legal practice is primarily in the areas of family law, domestic violence, government benefits, and housing and consumer law. It has been and will continue to be the policy of Legal Aid of the Bluegrass to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal opportunity to all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected categories.
The position is open until it is filled.
Required Documents:
- Resume
- Cover letter
Qualified Candidates should send resume and cover letter to Resumes@lablaw.org with the subject line Communications and Development Specialist
