External and Media Relations Lead

Legal Voice; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, and life/AD&D

Wellness stipend

45 days PTO per year

401(k) eligibility

Family leave

Professional development opportunities

Technology stipend

Office closures in summer and year-end

Job summary

Legal Voice seeks an External & Media Relations Lead to shape public voice, elevate strategy, and manage media relationships across the Northwest. Remote/hybrid with preference for WA, ID, MT residents.

You will translate complex legal and policy issues for diverse audiences, craft press materials, and lead digital campaigns while advancing equity-centered practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, political science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of progressively responsible communications and media relations experience.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Experience translating complex legal, policy, or public affairs issues for broad audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive external communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
• Create annual communications plans with measurable goals and KPIs.
• Ensure consistent messaging across all public-facing platforms.
• Manage the organization’s brand identity, voice, and messaging framework.
• Serve as the organization’s primary media contact.
• Draft speeches, op-eds, blogs, and public statements.
• Prepare briefing materials for press conferences and events.
• Translate litigation victories and research into accessible narratives.

Skills

Writing skills

Editing skills

Storytelling

Strategic thinking

Project management

Deadline-driven

Equity & social justice

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, political science, or related field

Tools

Digital analytics tools

SEO tools

Email marketing platforms

Job description

Legal Voice fights for gender justice across the Northwest . From courtrooms to the court of public opinion, we create pathways to justice. Legal Voice works in state and federal courts in the Northwest, and advocates for legislative change at the local and state level in Idaho, Montana, and Washington.

Position Summary

REPORTS TO: Executive Director
LOCATION:Washington state, Idaho, or Montana (Remote; Seattle area is hybrid)
POSITION STATUS: Full-time, exempt

The External & Media Relations Lead is responsible for shaping and elevating the public voice of the organization. This strategic leader develops and executes integrated communications, media, and public engagement strategies that advance the organization’s mission, strengthen its reputation, increase visibility, and inspire action. The title and level of this position may be adjusted to Manager or Director based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Working closely with the Executive Director, legal staff, development team, and program leaders, this position serves as Legal Voice’s primary communications strategist and media expert, translating complex legal and policy issues into compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Though this is a remote/hybrid position, this staff member must live and work within our main advocacy region: Washington state, Idaho, or Montana.

Focus on Racial Equity: Legal Voice is developing internal and external structures to responsibly and meaningfully center racial equity in our work. The ideal candidate for this position will have a well-developed equity framework that includes an understanding of systemic racism and oppression and will be self-reflective and willing to grow and learn around these topics.

Salary & Benefits: This full-time position has a salary range of $95,000–$105,000, depending on experience.

• medical, mental health, dental, vision, and life/AD&D coverage as well as a wellness stipend
• 45 days PTO per year (self-determined holidays, vacation, and sick leave) plus two one-week office closures in summer and end-of-year
• 401(k) eligibility after six months of employment with a possible employer contribution
• flexible and generous family leave
• professional development opportunities
• technology stipend

Key Responsibilities

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

• Develop and implement a comprehensive external communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
• Create annual communications plans with measurable goals and key performance indicators.
• Ensure consistent messaging across all public-facing platforms.
• Manage the organization’s brand identity, voice, and messaging framework.

MEDIA RELATIONS

• Serve as the organization’s primary media contact.
• Build and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national journalists.
• Develop media strategies around litigation, policy advocacy, legislative priorities, research, and organizational announcements.
• Draft press releases, media advisories, talking points, and statements.
• Coordinate interviews, editorial board meetings, and media briefings.
• Prepare organizational leadership and subject matter experts for media appearances.
• Monitor media coverage and identify proactive media opportunities.
• Manage crisis communications and rapid response messaging.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

• Serve as communications advisor to the Executive Director.
• Draft speeches, keynote remarks, op-eds, blogs, letters to the editor, and public statements.
• Prepare briefing materials for press conferences, interviews, board meetings, and public events.
• Help position organizational leadership as trusted experts on gender justice and public policy.
• Oversee, develop and integrate digital communications campaigns across platforms.
• Collaborate with designers and digital consultants to produce compelling multimedia content.
• Analyze digital engagement and optimize communications strategies based on performance.

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

• Collaborate with staff, partners, community, and clients to elevate stories while protecting confidentiality and dignity.
• Translate litigation, policy victories, and research into accessible public narratives.
• Produce collateral including development and marketing campaign materials.
• Ensure all communications reflect equity-centered practices.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS & PARTNERSHIP

• Collaborate with coalition partners on coordinated communications strategies.
• Represent the organization at public events, conferences, and media opportunities as appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to expand the organization’s influence among policymakers, funders, and community stakeholders.

BRAND STEWARDSHIP

• Maintain brand standards and messaging consistency.
• Ensure organizational materials reflect professionalism, accessibility, and inclusivity.
• Manage relationships with external communications vendors, public relations consultants, photographers, videographers, and designers.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, political science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible communications and media relations experience.
• Demonstrated success securing earned media coverage.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Experience translating complex legal, policy, or public affairs issues for broad audiences.
• Strong strategic thinking and project management abilities.
• Experience working under tight deadlines and managing multiple priorities.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in nonprofit advocacy, legal services, public policy, or government.
• Existing relationships with regional and national media.
• Crisis communications experience.
• Familiarity with digital analytics, SEO, and email marketing platforms.
• Experience supervising communications staff or consultants.
• Understanding of gender justice, civil rights, or constitutional law issues.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic communications planning
• Media relations and press outreach
• Executive communications
• Crisis communications
• Public speaking and presentation coaching
• Exceptional writing and editing
• Brand management
• Digital communications
• Relationship building
• Project management
• Political judgment and discretion
• Collaborative leadership

Success in the First Year

The successful candidate will:

• Increase earned media coverage by developing proactive media strategies.
• Establish the organization as a leading voice on gender justice issues.
• Build a communications calendar aligned with litigation, legislative, and fundraising priorities.
• Expand executive thought leadership opportunities.
• Strengthen organizational public engagement.
• Improve digital engagement and audience growth.
• Develop systems and processes that support timely, coordinated communications across the organization.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to help shape public understanding of some of the most important gender justice issues of our time. The External & Media Relations position will play a central role in influencing public dialogue, amplifying community voices, and advancing meaningful legal and policy change through strategic communications.

Accessibility & Accommodation: Legal Voice is committed to making our hiring process accessible and welcoming to all applicants. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the application or interview process, please contact Operations at [e-mail] .

Non-discrimination : As an organization committed to prioritizing reproductive justice, economic justice, and racial justice, Legal Voice believes in fostering the leadership of all women, particularly those from underrepresented and marginalized communities. Legal Voice follows an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, veteran status, and marital status.