Communication & Development Specialist

Lablaw; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit legal assistance organization is seeking a full-time Communications and Development Specialist to develop and guide their communication strategies. The role involves enhancing brand identity, coordinating events, and managing online presence. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in communications and experience with social media, writing, and donor relations. This position offers an opportunity to work on various outreach projects within the community of Lexington, Kentucky and surrounding areas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required with communications experience.
• Experience managing and using social media tools.
• Experience working with donor software such as Network for Good.
• Experience with website management including working with platforms like Drupal.
• Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic communications plans using traditional and new media.
• Evaluate effectiveness of communications and marketing strategies.
• Source and write content for fundraising and outreach.
• Develop media relations with various channels.
• Manage all print and electronic content.

Skills

Communication experience

Social media management

Microsoft Office 365 programs

Donor software experience

Website management

Email marketing platforms

Collaborative style

Compelling narrative crafting

Excellent writing/editing

Relationship building

High energy and leadership

Self-starter

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Drupal

Constant Contact

MailChimp

Job description

Communications and Development Specialist

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 communicationsexperience
• Experience managing and using social mediatools
• 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 emailplatforms
• Highly collaborative style; experience developing and implementing communicationsstrategies
• Ability to craft a compelling narrative illustrating our policy areas, campaign messages and LABG'simpact
• Excellent writing/editing and verbal communicationskills
• Relationship builder with the flexibility and finesse to "manage byinfluence"
• High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and toposition communications discussions at both the strategic and tacticallevels
• 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, highlyorganized

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.