Communications Manager

THE POSITION

Legal Aid at Work seeks a Communications Manager to implement a comprehensive communications strategy in partnership with the VP of Strategy that amplifies LAAW’s impact, engages key audiences, and ensures consistency in messaging and branding.

This role is ideal for a dynamic professional who thrives in a mission-driven environment and is excited about hands-on execution.

The Communications Manager will report to the Vice President of Strategy and work closely with attorneys, leadership, and external consultants to elevate the organization’s profile.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Content Development & Messaging

• Translate complex legal and policy issues into clear, compelling, and accessible narratives for a wide audience.
• Create a bank of client “success” stories that demonstrate the impact of our work and translate those stories into compelling narratives for use in monthly newsletters, social media, and donor communications.
• Work with the VP of Strategy to ensure consistent messaging across all platforms, aligning communications strategies with LAAW’s broader organizational goals.
• Write and edit a range of public-facing materials, including op-eds and talking points for use by LAAW staff and partners.
• Coordinate with program teams to amplify messages through their networks and community partners (for example, to support advocacy campaigns).

Media Relations

• Develop and execute media outreach strategies to enhance LAAW’s visibility in the press and help generate narratives that advance LAAW’s mission, including:
  • Proactively pitching stories and expert commentary to reporters
  • Responding to incoming press inquiries and coordinating interviews with LAAW attorneys and leadership
  • Maintaining and growing relationships with journalists, editors, and other key players in relevant media outlets
  • Coordinating, publicizing, and hosting press conferences
• Monitor media coverage to assess reach and impact; share these stories with LAAW’s staff, board, and partners, as appropriate.
• Pitch spokespeople, including the LAAW leadership and senior attorneys as relevant, to speak at conferences and on panels, with a focus on events targeting peers, thought leaders, and donors in the field.
• Coordinate media training for attorneys, worker clients, and coalition partners to prepare for interviews and public speaking engagements.

Digital & Social Media

• Oversee LAAW’s social media presence across platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky/Twitter), leveraging the unique benefits of each platform.
• Maintain a content calendar aligned with LAAW’s key initiatives and advocacy efforts.
• Oversee the creation of compelling social media content, including simple graphics through use of existing templates (such as those on Canva), short videos, and storytelling posts.
• Oversee the tracking of social media analytics and adjust strategy to improve engagement and impact.
• Draft and manage LAAW’s email communications (set for distribution on a regular, monthly cadence of 2–3 mass emails per month) including newsletters, campaign updates, and donor engagement emails.

Website & Branding

• Maintain the content of the website, ensuring that it is visually appealing and all content is up to date, error-free, and accessible.
• Coordinate the annual process to update our 190+ fact sheets, toolkits, and other legal resources; ensure that they are also manually translated into Spanish and Chinese versions.
• Ensure consistent branding across all communication materials, including reports, presentations, and social media graphics.

Promotional Materials

• In partnership with program teams and outside vendors, oversee the creation of program-specific visually appealing promotional materials, such as print-ready PDF program flyers to provide to donors, partners, clients, and other supporters.
• In partnership with the VP of Strategy, oversee the production of a professionally produced video each year that highlights client stories for LAAW’s annual fundraising dinner.
• Oversee the creation of branded promotional merchandise, like tote bags, t-shirts, and other marketing materials to elevate awareness about LAAW.

REQUIREMENTS

The following list of core competencies and experiences is provided to share insight into the requirements of the role and the general level of experience we seek in candidates. We encourage all qualified candidates and those with relevant or transferable experience to apply, even if you do not bring experience in all of the areas noted below.

Candidates may be located anywhere in the state of California, with a preference for those based in the Bay Area. Legal Aid at Work offers employees the flexibility to work primarily from home, contingent on business needs and professional responsibilities.

• 5+ years of experience in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and civil rights work; a passion for Legal Aid at Work’s mission of seeking justice for low-wage workers.
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives.
• Strong social media and digital communications skills, with experience managing content across multiple platforms.
• Experience with email marketing platforms (such as Mailchimp, Constant Contact) and some familiarity with analytics tools.
• Familiarity with updating websites (WordPress), including updating written content and fact sheets.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in media relations, including pitching stories and building relationships with reporters, is a strong plus but not required.
• Nonprofit experience is a plus but not required.
• Spanish proficiency is a plus but not required.
• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and the ability to hold and foster difficult and necessary conversations about sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and other protected categories.

COMPENSATION

Legal Aid at Work offers salaries that are competitive in the public interest law community. Benefits include health plans, long-term disability and life insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, and generous paid vacation and holidays.

As a unionized organization, Legal Aid at Work believes in the importance of employees organizing to improve their working conditions. This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by ESC Local 20. Salary placement at hire and salary advancement will be in accordance with the negotiated salary scale in the union contract for this position.

The salary range for this position is $89,960 to $117,624.

TO APPLY

Please email (1) your resume, (2) a cover letter detailing your interest in the position, and (3) three references to:

Communications Manager Search Committee, Legal Aid at Work
Email: [email protected]

Legal Aid at Work is committed to a diverse, multicultural work environment. LAAW is an equal opportunity and fair chance employer.

Our complete EEO and DEI statements as well as further information concerning the organization and its programs can be found at
www.legalaidatwork.org.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Legal Aid at Work will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.