ALDF Communications Director

By Chris Green, Chris Green @ 2024-04-12T15:47 (+2)

Hey FAST Friends !

The Animal Legal Defense Fund is hiring for a new Communications Director !!

I've pasted the posting below and here are some direct links as well:

ALDF Communications Director – Posting
https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/2365009/Animal-Legal-Defense-Fund/Communications-Director/

ALDF Communications Director – Application 
https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/jobs/Apply/2365009

Please share with anyone you feel would be a great fit.

Cheers ! 
Chris

Chris Green | Executive Director 
Animal Legal Defense Fund | aldf.org 
cgreen@aldf.org | (707) 795-2533 ex.1014

ALDF Communications Director

Job Type : Full-time, Remote

Description

Who We Are:

The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. The Animal Legal Defense Fund accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to hold animal abusers accountable, supporting tough animal protection laws and fighting legislation harmful to animals, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the expanding field of animal law.

Role Description: 

The Communications Director will supervise a team of 10 remote communications professionals, with 5 direct reports, working collaboratively to meet ALDF’s communications goals. These include developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy that leverages both earned and owned media across print and social platforms. The Communications Director will report to and work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to build strong brand awareness for the organization and maintain ALDF’s stature as a primary source, disseminator, and conduit of information on animal legal issues. The Communications Director will serve as a strategic creative partner and subject matter expert on all aspects of media to assist organizational leadership and further ALDF’s core mission and values. 

How You Will Make a Difference:

Communications Operations

• Develop and oversee the execution of an ambitious communications strategy that is centered on collaboration and bolsters the programmatic work of the organization in measurable ways. 
• Manage and mentor all members of the communications department to foster a collaborative environment and team spirit. 
• Create and manage operating budget and annual business plan for the Communications Department. 
• Manage and maintain the brand of the organization, including oversight of the Graphic Design Standards and Organizational Messaging Guide, and ensuring collaboration with development program for all aspects of messaging and branding. 
• Ensure cross-departmental collaboration throughout the organization so that ALDF’s brand and media footprint is consistent with the priorities and focus of the organization. 
• Partner with ALDF’s development team to support fundraising goals and communications to donors and supporters.
• Create and oversee the production of regular reports to the Senior Executive Team, Leadership Team, and Board of Directors that provide a clear picture of the organization’s media and communications impact using measurable and strategic key performance indicators.
• Ensure department compliance with policies and protocol including litigation holds, contracts with outside vendors, special projects, accounting, and human resources matters.
• Serve as an engaged member of the Leadership Team, working with your peers to manage the day-to-day execution of ALDF’s business within the defined strategic and financial envelope established by the ALDF strategic plan, the ALDF business plan, and the ALDF budget.
• Serve as a strategic advisor on questions of messaging and internal communications.
• Other duties as assigned by the COO.

Public Relations

• Develop and oversee an organizational media relations strategy that is proactive, leverages the current media landscape, and ensures ALDF’s messaging remains timely and relevant.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of ALDF’s work to communicate our impact both internally and externally. 
• Stay informed about animal rights and animal law issues and monitor news coverage pertaining to the broader landscape of the animal protection movement’s work.
• Guide the public relations staff to ensure that the organization’s media relations strategy is executed in a way that amplifies ALDF’s work through the press. 
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson and provide media training to ALDF team members. 

Paid & Digital Media

• Oversee the continued development and enhancements of aldf.org, and other ALDF websites, based on industry best practices, site analytics, and improving user experience.
• Work with program directors to develop targeted advertising plans for events or campaigns. 
• Provide oversight for the organization’s social media strategy, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Ensure social media strategy is based on current industry best practices and analytics are on track with performance goals. 

Publications & Merchandise 

• Manage relationships with outside vendors, including printers, designers, photographers, and videographers.
• Develop and manage the strategy for collateral and merchandise production, with input from the program directors and organizational business plans. 
• Collaborate with the operations director to ensure the organization’s merchandise and printed collateral needs are managed in a financially prudent and organized manner. 

Requirements

We Are Looking for Candidates With:

• 7+ years of experience in communications and a minimum of 3 years of experience leading a team of communications professionals. 
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing communications plans and strategies that include both earned and owned media across both traditional and digital platforms. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Savvy media relations experience, including pitching to contacts in traditional and digital media, development of talking points, and the development and use of media lists. Experience as a journalist is a plus.
• Existing working relationships with journalists, reporters, and other media professionals and a proven track record of cultivating such relationships.
• Spokesperson and media training experience.
• A keen understanding of storytelling, messaging, and crafting narratives that resonate with key audiences.
• Familiarity with development and implementation of organizational branding guidelines, and with use of social media platforms for public outreach.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with experience managing multiple staff members and consultants/freelancers. 
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks efficiently in a busy environment.
• A creative, collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Experience creating and implementing a strategic plan and budget.
• Extensive knowledge of animal protection issues and demonstrated commitment to the mission of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
• A strong understanding of, experience with, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. 
• The ability to exercise good judgment and a commitment to working with integrity.
• The ability to travel periodically for staff meetings and retreats (estimated 1-3 trips annually).

We Offer Competitive Compensation with Excellent Benefits, Including:

• A starting annual salary of $158,398 for most geographic locations.
• For candidates located within 25 miles of Washington D.C., Cotati, CA, and Los Angeles, the starting pay is $166,735. For candidates located within 25 miles of New York City and San Francisco, the starting pay is $175,072.
• To ensure annual salary equity, we do not negotiate salary outside of the published starting rates. Rates are determined by role, using set geographical factors. 
• Comprehensive health care, dental, life, and vision benefits (100% employer paid); Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account (DCA) also are available.
• Generous paid time-off provisions:

                        192 hours of PTO 

                        17 paid holidays

                        1-month paid sabbatical after 5 years of continuous employment

• 401k plan with a 5% employer contribution after one year of employment.
• Alternative work schedules (at manager’s discretion).
• Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is a core value for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Additional information:  

This is a U.S. based position. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing an employment environment which is welcoming of persons from diverse backgrounds and free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and in which all legal rights of our employees are recognized and protected. ALDF conducts all internal and external operations, programs, and employment-related decision making (including hiring decisions) without regard to actual or perceived race, ancestry, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, disability or medical condition (including physical, intellectual, or psychiatric), sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, age, or other protected category, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws.

Consistent with the organization’s mission, our offices and events are free of animal products and byproducts.

The application deadline for this position is May 15, 2024. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage applicants to apply early as we may make a decision before the deadline closes.