Associate Director, Communications and Outrea

Job Description

Associate Director, Communications and Outreach

While professional experience and qualifications are key for this role, make sure to check you have the preferable soft skills before applying if required.
Communications and Outreach Department (COM) – Washington State Bar Association (WSBA)

Salary Range: $115,934 to $115,934 + Washington State Employee Benefits and Retirement Plans
FLSA: Full-time, Exempt
Work Location: Hybrid-Commutable within Washington State

The WSBA's mission is to serve the public and the members of the Bar, to ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice.

Purpose and Position Summary:

The Associate Director for the Communications and Outreach Department is a bridge between high-level strategic planning and daily implementation of integrated, best-practice communication and outreach campaigns that support the WSBA's mission, goals, and core initiatives, all while elevating the organization's reputation and brand.

This position works closely with the Chief Communications and Outreach Officer to ensure messages and communication campaigns cascade down with fidelity across the organization and department while also directly overseeing a team that owns and expertly utilizes the WSBA's main communication channels, including the website, social media, blog, and bulk email system.

This is a highly visible and diplomatic position, interacting with leaders and dignitaries of the WSBA, the Washington Supreme Court, and the legal community; the media; national counterparts; and, at times, foreign delegations.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Department Leadership and Team Management:

• Serve as a thought partner for organizational leaders and department managers, providing a communications lens for decisions and actions.
• Drive strategy to lead the department and its managers in staying abreast of best practices, policies, processes, and guidelines, whether in response to organizational needs, best communications practices, or changing technology.
• Directly manage the Communications and Outreach Team, which includes setting and adhering to an annual budget, managing and mentoring a team of communications practitioners to achieve day-to-day and long-term professional goals, and holding regular team and one-on-one check-ins.
• Help develop department/team systems and workflows that capitalize on collaboration tools and technology, organize information and resources in intuitive and accessible ways, and keep everyone aligned.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive, mission-driven culture, which includes helping to plan department meetings, retreats, and team-building events; and promoting the WSBA's focus on excellence, integrity, unity, and joy.
• Serve as the designated proxy and second-in-command for the Chief Communications and Outreach Officer, maintaining oversight of departmental leadership, media strategy, media relations, and executive messaging.

Communication Campaigns and Events:

• Partner closely with the Chief Communications and Outreach Officer to translate organizational and departmental goals into cohesive and effective communication plans.
• Collaborate with colleagues in other departments to understand and support their key programs and initiatives.
• Ensure communication plans and messaging cascade with fidelity across the department's teams and channels. Guide unique content strategy and timelines for different channels and platforms, including the website, social media, electronic newsletters, the magazine, blog, outreach initiatives, and more.
• Craft compelling messages and stories, including executive speeches, internal and external presentations, magazine articles, and more.
• Build and maintain relationships with county bar leaders and, with assistance from the Outreach Specialist, ensure two-way communication between WSBA leaders and county-bar leaders.
• Project manage several high-profile events annually, including the 50-year service member lunch and summit to support volunteer bar leaders; provide support, such as speech writing and run-of-show planning, for other events.
• Project-manage the annual member awards process: Chair the Board of Governors Awards Committee, develop and oversee the award bestowal and related assets; implement a communication campaign to highlight excellence and service in the legal community.

Media Relations, Reputation, and Issues Management:

• Develop public, member, and staff communications strategy and messaging in consultation with the Chief Communications and Outreach Officer.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with influential media covering the legal profession, and with local, statewide, and national media.
• Monitor media inquiries and "hits" and provide an ongoing log for WSBA leaders. Work in collaboration with the Chief Communications and Outreach Officer to ensure timely responses to media inquiries.
• Counsel and collaborate with WSBA President and/or Board of Governors, Executive Director, Chief Communications Officer, and other members of the Executive Management Team for media statements and comment.
• Proactively outreach to the media and general public for WSBA core initiatives.
• Stay up to date on crisis communication best practices and work closely with WSBA leaders to keep emergency plans and processes up to date.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Serve as department representative on cross-departmental teams for long-term and ongoing operational planning, as well as short-term and ad-hoc teams.
• Partner with Human Resources to develop strategies for LinkedIn and Glassdoor.
• Be nimble and keep learning: The need for support from the Communications and Outreach Department is omnipresent across the organization and can come rapidly and at all hours.
• Responsible for carrying out disaster recovery measures with COMM department in the event of WSBA declared disaster.
• Serves as a designated event liaison, a point of contact for offsite or after-hours WSBA events.

Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, English or marketing (or a related discipline), or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Education Preferred:

• Advanced Crisis Communication Certificate Program (PRSA).

Experience Required:

• 7 years of experience in a management level role in communications with direct reports, including:
• Expertise in developing and implementing strategic communication plans with measurable results.
• Experience producing and integrating content across various media, such as newsletters, blogs, and speeches.
• Experience with managing media relations, public relations, or other organizational communications.
• Experience working with boards and volunteers.
• 3 years of supervisory experience directly managing team performance, daily operations, and employee relations, or equivalent experience.

Experience Preferred:

• Experience and/or knowledge of the legal profession.
• Experience working with a board of a membership organization, and/or in public service or a nonprofit, purpose-driven environment.

Competencies (Skills/Abilities) Required:

• Ability to think broadly and strategically while executing tactically, paired with clear, professional written and oral communication for diverse audiences.
• Strong customer service orientation with the ability to interact with a variety of stakeholders with responsiveness and clarity.
• Organizational skills with the ability to prioritize time and work, manage multiple tasks with competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail and accuracy across all aspects of this position.
• Ability to interpret and apply rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise professional judgement and ethics.
• Strong editing and proofreading skills, with the ability to create, refine, and integrate content across multiple media platforms—including newsletters, blogs, and speeches.
• Impeccable judgment and diplomacy as well as alignment with the WSBA's values: Championing justice, expanding inclusive systems and practices, and serving the legal community and Washingtonians with excellence.
• Crisis communications and issues-management skills.
• Understand both high-technology and high-touch strategies to deliver meaningful messages and build relationships with various stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and the ability to learn and use new software and technology platforms, including content management systems and the use of social media as a strategic communication tools.
• Fluent in leading-edge public relations practices and storytelling.

Competencies (Skills/Abilities) Preferred:

• Advanced crisis communications and issues-management skills.

Working Conditions:

This is a Hybrid - Commutable position and job duties may be performed in person or remotely. All WSBA staff must be flexible to work in office or travel within WA state as deemed necessary, or as required.

The WSBA headquarters are the primary location while working for the WSBA regardless of where staff may reside within Washington. WSBA does not offer fully remote positions and reserves the right to require employees to work in-person and on-site at the WSBA headquarters or at any worksite necessary to fulfill job duties. For remote work (if applicable), staff must have an adequate work environment and internet access for performing work of a sensitive and confidential nature. Staff are required to use a personal smart mobile device for multifactor authentication via a WSBA authorized App.

Employment with the Washington State Bar Association mandates that WSBA Staff must reside within the State of Washington at the time of hire, and during active employment status.

The essential functions of the job that must be performed, with or without a reasonable accommodation: This position must be able to regularly work WSBA's business hours in an office type environment (remote or in office), possess the ability to primarily sit/stand and use a computer, and lift/push/pull items weighing up to 25 pounds. Must be able to use standard computer and office equipment (e.g., copiers, scanners, printers, phones, fax, etc.).

WSBA Benefits Include:

• State of Washington Retirement system (DRS/PERS), including an optional Deferred Compensation Plan (DRS/DCP).
• Medical benefits (including Rx) through the WA Healthcare Authority, with WSBA paying a majority of the premium cost.
• 100% paid premiums for employee Dental and Vision.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance Plans.
• Generous Paid Time Off Benefits (sick/PSSL, vacation, holiday, float, emergency leave).
• Transportation incentives, *based on primary work selection requirements.
• Allowance to set up a home office, *based on a primary remote work selection.
• Free Employee Assistance Program, and National Employee Discount Program.
• The WSBA is a Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer.
• Eligible tuition assistance and continued training programs.
• Access to a discounted pet insurance program.
• You will be working with a team of supportive, collaborative, creative, and dedicated colleagues driven to accomplish WSBA's Mission.
• A company culture that truly focuses on a quality work and life balance for its staff through our 4 Pillars: 1) Excellence (Mission-driven results), 2) Unity (Team-driven results), 3) Integrity (Value-driven results), and 4 JOY! (People-driven culture).

For consideration and to apply: interested and qualified candidates must apply online and submit the following required materials: both a comprehensive resume and a cover letter (letter of interest) describing your interest and experience in this position. *Applications submitted without a cover letter will be considered incomplete.

WSBA Staff must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis, upon hire. This position is not eligible for Sponsorship.

WSBA administers pre-employment background screening upon a contingent verbal offer, and prior to hire.

The WSBA is subject to Washington State Court Rules General Rule (GR) 12.4, which specifies the Bar's responsibility and process to provide public access to Bar records.

The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court and exercises a governmental function authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license and regulate the state's nearly 40,000 legal professionals, including lawyers, limited practice officers, and limited license legal technicians. xhyhwjd The WSBA both regulates legal professionals under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. The WSBA administers the bar admission process, including the bar exam; provides record-keeping and licensing functions; administers the