Description
ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL
Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.
Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law.
Public Counsel has a staff of approximately 170. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Reporting to the President & Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Communications sets and executes a comprehensive, organization-wide communications strategy that advances Public Counsel’s mission, elevates its profile, and deepens engagement with key audiences. The Director leads Public Counsel’s communications efforts and oversees internal and external communications, media relations, digital strategy, branding, storytelling, and organizational messaging. Working closely with senior leadership, program staff, and the Development team, the Director ensures that Public Counsel communicates with clarity, consistency, and impact across all platforms. The Director also plays a key leadership role in shaping how Public Counsel responds to high-profile legal, policy, and advocacy developments, including litigation and crisis communications. The Director manages the two-member Communications team and ensures consistent, high-quality communications practices across a large and collaborative organization. The Director will strengthen the organization’s ability to engage supporters, amplify client and community voices, and advance meaningful systemic change through strategic communications.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership & Team Management
Develop and lead an integrated, organization-wide communications strategy aligned with Public Counsel’s strategic priorities, including by leading the implementation of the communication priority of our strategic plan
Supervise, mentor, and support the Communications team, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team culture focused on excellence
Establish clear goals, workflows, and performance metrics for the team, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement
Oversee the editorial calendar and ensure coordination across teams and platforms
Lead crisis communications planning and response, both internally and externally
Ensure organization-wide compliance with communications, branding, editorial, and messaging standards, and maintain consistent, high-quality communications across all platforms and teams, including by creating and implementing an organization-wide style guide for written communications
External Communications, Media & Organizational Positioning
Drive strategies to elevate Public Counsel’s visibility and influence locally, statewide, and nationally, including by overseeing awards, recognitions, and external opportunities that highlight organizational impact
Oversee our media relations strategy, including press outreach, messaging, and journalist engagement
Oversee our communications strategy and messaging for major litigation, policy advocacy, and organizational initiatives including special events
Create and implement a visibility plan for the President & CEO and senior leadership to expand thought leadership and external presence, including through speaking engagements and media opportunities
Manage relationships with external communications vendors, including media relations firms
Digital Strategy, Brand & Content Oversight
Oversee creation and implementation of a digital communications plan that includes clear objectives, content strategy, and voice across website, email, and social media platforms
Ensure content integration across channels to maximize reach, engagement, and impact
Serve as the steward of Public Counsel’s brand, including voice, messaging, and visual identity, by training staff, reviewing materials for consistency and quality, and ensuring compliance with branding and tone across the organization
Oversee the development of high-quality content and communications materials, including videos, newsletters, and e-blasts that meet branding, accessibility, and organizational standards
Programmatic Visibility, Development & Engagement
Ensure consistent visibility of program teams, litigation, and advocacy efforts across communications channels
Develop and oversee systems to identify, amplify, and track our client, staff, and pro bono stories, and share regular media round-ups with Public Counsel’s staff and board members
Partner closely with the Development team to align communications with fundraising and donor engagement strategies
Oversee creation and distribution of major organizational materials, including the annual report and key fundraising campaigns
Lead strategies to grow and engage Public Counsel’s supporter base, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of engagement strategies, and adjust tactics as needed
Promote strong internal communications practices and support staff capacity for storytelling and media engagement through effective onboarding and training
Requirements
Requirements
ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Bachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree in communications, journalism, public relations, public policy, or a related field preferred
At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, journalism, or a related field, including substantial leadership and supervisory experience, with experience in a nonprofit, legal services, advocacy, or mission-driven organization preferred
Demonstrated ability to develop and lead a comprehensive, organization-wide communications strategy that advances organizational priorities, public engagement, and mission impact
Strong leadership and management skills, including experience supervising and developing staff, fostering accountability, addressing concerns directly and constructively, and building an inclusive and high-performing team culture
Inspiring, decisive, collaborative, transparent, and flexible leadership style
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop clear, compelling, and values-aligned messaging for diverse audiences and platforms
Significant experience in media relations, public affairs, and external communications strategy, including cultivating media relationships and managing high-profile or sensitive communications matters
Demonstrated ability to provide strategic communications counsel to senior leadership and to exercise sound judgment in fast-moving, high-profile, or sensitive situations, including crisis communications
Excellent judgment and discretion as well as excellent interpersonal skills that gain and sustain respect internally and with external partners
Strong understanding of digital communications strategy, including website management, email communications, social media, analytics, audience engagement, and multi-platform content development
Experience overseeing brand stewardship and ensuring consistency in organizational voice, messaging, visual identity, editorial standards, and communications quality across teams and platforms, with strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate, polished, and high-quality work product
Demonstrated ability to establish, implement, and enforce organizational communications standards, including branding, editorial, messaging, accessibility, and style guidelines
Ability to work cooperatively across teams, levels, and functions within the organization and to navigate difficult conversations and address conflict effectively
Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in the communities Public Counsel serves
High levels of emotional intelligence and cultural competency, including being curious, self-aware, cognizant of bias, compassionate, patient, and willing to listen, and having a growth mindset and openness to new perspectives
