Associate Director, Courts Communications & Special Projects

Earthjustice • Washington, DC

82d • $157,100 - $174,500

About The Position

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage in the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer. Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans, Tallahassee, Miami, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, and Washington, D.C. In addition to a talented cadre of environmental lawyers and legislative advocates, Earthjustice’s Communications department works in partnership with every other department at the organization. The Associate Director of Court Communications & Special Projects will fill a new role and will work closely with the Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications to create broad communications strategies for our organizational courts positioning. Earthjustice works both in and on the courts. As they have increasingly been under attack, it has never been more critical to use communications as a key strategy in our efforts to stop the destabilization of laws that regulate our environment and our government, and reducing people’s ability to hold the executive branch accountable for the law. The Associate Director will help lead this work through a number of ways. This person will be responsible for creating and implementing the communications strategy for the Strategic Legal Advocacy team. The five attorneys on this team play an innovative role, focusing on cases and issues that affect different offices and programs within Earthjustice and affect the broader progressive litigation community, with a focus on cases headed to or at the U.S. Supreme Court. This person will also create and implement thought leadership strategies around the courts and the law for Earthjustice leadership and the organization’s editorial functions. The Associate Director will create and lead the implementation of a communications strategy for our federal judicial work. Additionally, this person will be responsible for partnering with the VP of Public Affairs and Communications to implement communications strategy for special projects that fall outside of our litigation teams. Preference will be given to candidates based in Washington, DC but remote workers will be considered.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience, 2+ in a role developing strategy preferred.
• Experience writing communications materials for legal-focused audiences, or producing content in a law setting preferred.
• Ability to analyze legal materials and create content, messaging, narrative, and talking points based on them.
• Proven ability to translate complex issues into compelling, accessible communications.
• Ability to prioritize, manage multiple deadlines, and respond quickly to new opportunities and developments in a high-stakes environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other staff to meet shared, cross-team goals and appreciate contributions of others.
• Ability to give and receive feedback in an honest, constructive, and respectful manner.
• Contributes towards an equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages partnership, active listening, and integrating diverse perspectives.
• Supports Earthjustice’s core values of partnership, inclusion, justice and excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic communications guidance for the Strategic Legal Advocacy team projects, for specific cases and to advance legal theories for target audiences.
• Provide strategic communications guidance and execute thought leadership campaigns for Earthjustice leadership around high profile legal cases and issues.
• Serve as a thought partner for Communications teams developing courts-related content.
• Create strategy and communications plans for programmatic work around federal judges.
• Work with counterparts at other organizations to ensure we have shared communications strategies, messaging, and positioning.
• Lead Earthjustice’s implementation of coalition campaigns related to courts and judges.
• Conduct communications work for special projects related to courts and legal advocacy.
• Responsible for the creation and implementation of editorial content, earned media pushes, and thought leadership for SLA team, and for executive leadership on special projects.
• Help create special projects budget, tracking, metric measurement schemes, and reporting.
• Develop and advise on department strategy documents, timelines, budgets, and communications plans and tactics to determine effectiveness, ensure accountability, and inform future strategy.
• Participates in organizational training and professional development opportunities.
• Work collaboratively across teams to build and/or execute integrated strategies that support institutional and departmental priorities.
• Produce accurate, quality, and timely work in an ever-shifting landscape of news, technology, politics, and law.
• Pursue innovative, best-in-class approaches to communications work, and share those learnings with peers.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive
• Flexible, hybrid work environment
• Casual dress code
• Qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees