The Position

The Vice President for Campaigns and Communications (VP) is a key member of the Law Center’s senior staff, working across the institution to expand visibility, increase engagement of key demographics as well as grasstops and grassroots audiences, and elevate and further the integration of narrative change as core strategic pillar of work for both the c3 and the c4 entities. This creative leader will leverage digital and field organizing strategies, media relations, content creation and public education strategies, and engagement events to help advance the Law Center’s mission and realize the full vision of its strategic plan.

Reporting to the Chief External Affairs Officer, the VP will manage all departmental operations, including overseeing a budget of approximately $2.5 million, and lead and manage a talented, team of nearly 30 staff members focused in four key areas – content creation, campaigns, press, and events – with oversight of the organization’s owned, earned, and paid media efforts and channels. The VP’s direct reports will include a Director of Campaigns, the Director of Strategic Communications, the Director of Media Relations and Storytelling, and a Senior Manager of Events. Other close working relationships include the President and CEO, the Chief of Staff, the Vice President for Development, and the entire senior team.

This is a unique opportunity for a leader who is deeply committed to advancing gender justice. They set, follow, and understand the latest public engagement trends while bringing a deep understanding of how Congress functions and legislation works. They understand advocacy and activism and know that in order to achieve sustainable, generational change, our laws, policies, and culture must be in constant conversation with each other. They are a strong manager and mentor of individuals and teams and love the balance of leading, directing, and doing the work. The VP thrives in an environment of growth and change and will contribute to the learning culture and ethos at NWLC.

The Organization

The National Women’s Law Center fights for gender justice—in the courts, in public policy, and in our society—working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls. We use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us—especially women of color, LGBTQ people, and low-income women and families.

The National Women’s Law Center Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) affiliate of NWLC, aiming to drive progressive change in our policies and laws so that all women and girls can live, learn, and work with safety, dignity, and equality. Another affiliate, the National Women’s Law Center Fund LLC, houses and administers the Legal Network for Gender Equity and the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund.

The Law Center is entering a new phase as an institution, with a new strategic plan that reflects an updated vision for impact. The organization seeks to enhance and leverage its expertise, multi-issue approach, relationships with movements and influencers, and status within the legal and policy communities to drive a bold gender justice agenda. Working meaningfully at the intersections of race, gender, LGBTQ+, disability, age, national origin, and income, National Women’s Law Center is recognized and trusted by a broad range of stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

The Vice President’s specific responsibilities include:

• Provide overall strategic leadership of communications and campaigns development for the Law Center’s multi-issue agenda that leverages the Law Center’s unique history and accomplishments to strategically position it within a challenging political, legal, and fundraising landscape; develop, implement and track a brand success matrix including a framework that builds capacity to capitalize on unanticipated opportunities;
• Motivate and nurture a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing team, with attention to equity in all aspects of day-to-day work;
• Provide oversight and guidance for relationships with consultants, vendors, and partners, negotiating cost-effective professional services agreements with third-party vendors, and oversee compliance to such agreements;
• Proactively develop integrated campaigns to raise visibility and awareness of the Law Center’s issues among key grasstops and grassroots stakeholders, including coalition partners and policy makers; Translate legal and policy priorities for the purpose of public education and narrative change; mobilize public will to shift political power in favor of a more gender just country; ensure that these efforts are aligned with the Law Center’s strategic plan, responsive to evolving external opportunities/challenges;
• Collaborate with program staff to proactively shape and drive discourse on priority issues; increase size and diversity of stakeholder audiences, particularly millennial women and women of color, as well as the impact of litigation and advocacy efforts through effective messaging, storytelling and shared content through a strategic mix of channels, ensuring that the Law Center is strategically positioned in the broader gender justice movement;
• Foster an innovative, cutting-edge content creation program that employs a broad mix of technologies, formats, and media capable of attracting both earned and social media coverage; optimize assets to accelerate audience and revenue growth;
• Working with the Chief External Affairs Officer, develop and execute a plan to raise the Law Center’s profile as the go-to advocates for women and girls, cultivating strategic relationships with relevant and influential media outlets— including print, broadcast, and digital—to anticipate and maximize coverage opportunities; coach staff and other brand ambassadors to be effective spokespeople;
• In collaboration with the Director of Strategic Communications, provide strategic oversight of the writing, design and production of print and digital materials, publications, newsletters, reports, donor collateral, etc., ensuring that all materials align with the Law Center’s brand and communications guidelines and present a holistic narrative consistent with the organization’s strategic plan;
• Collaborate with development staff to implement proactive strategies that lead to deeper stakeholder engagement over time; ensure that donor events align with brand guidelines and maximize opportunities for engagement and visibility with current and prospective donors and other influencers;
• Direct analytical data gathering, opinion mining, market testing of strategies, and ongoing assessment against goals and benchmarks; share best practices and innovative ideas from other organizations and campaigns;
• As a member of the senior staff, provide vital input on strategic and operational planning and positioning for the Law Center, and help lead organization-wide internal change initiatives; and
• Formulate and implement communications and branding activities for the National Women’s Law Center’s Action Fund and the National Women’s Law Center Fund LLC, with such activities being implemented under a cost-sharing agreement with the Center.

Experience

The Law Center recognizes that one candidate will likely not bring the full collection of experiences listed here, and is open to candidates with a broad set of experiences and competencies. NWLC seeks a candidate with:

• Knowledge of and/or passion for gender justice and advocacy, with demonstrated ability to serve as a compelling ambassador for these issues; an existing network of influencer and movement relationships among the Law Center’s priority audiences is a plus but not required;
• Political savvy, with the ability to create and lead constructive partnerships; experience with influential personalities is preferred;
• Deep knowledge of and experience with running successful, national, multi-platform, issue-based campaigns;
• Senior-level experience successfully building and managing a collaborative and diverse team; strong interpersonal, problem-solving, and mentoring skills; demonstrated success applying an equity lens to leadership and management;
• Ability to work effectively with and gain the respect of multiple constituencies, including senior executives and decision-makers, team members at all levels, and staff across departments;
• Ability to adapt, be nimble and creative, and to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving organizational culture;
• Demonstrated experience steering an organizational brand and identity, ideally within a legal, policy, or campaign context;
• Experience with a broad range of media—print, broadcast, and digital—and with a proven track record that demonstrates an ability to leverage an organization’s content and expertise in the media;
• Exceptional writing, oral communications, and editing skills;
• Experience coaching others to be effective spokespeople and securing opportunities for them to be effective brand ambassadors, including in diverse media outlets;
• Ability to partner with fundraising staff to develop and implement integrated grasstops and grassroots campaigns and donor events that appeal to and engage a broad range of supporters, and that generate substantial unrestricted revenue;
• Past experience working with non-profit or movement leaders, legal scholars, policymakers, and/or attorneys is preferred;

Compensation & Benefits

A salary within the range of $224,321 — $258,381 will be provided to the successful candidate with up to 20 and 36+ years of experience, consistent with the National Women’s Law Center’s compensation framework. The successful candidate’s salary within this range will be determined by the number years of relevant experience they bring to the role.

The Law Center offers generous leave and a comprehensive benefits package — including a match of up to 3% of the employee’s compensation to their 403(b) retirement plan account along with a non-elective contribution of 6% of the eligible employee’s salary, after they successfully complete their 90-day probation period.

NWLC’s headquarters and staff are based in Washington, D.C. NWLC’s telework policy is currently under review as we prepare to move into our new office at 1350 Eye Street N.W., Washington DC, in March 2023. The assumption is that all roles are based in D.C. and will be required to work in person at least monthly. This role is based in the DMV. We continue to monitor public health guidance and keep safety, science, and flexibility top of mind as we evaluate what reopening looks like for our team.

The National Women’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people with disabilities, women, men, and people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, veterans, and LGBTQI individuals.

To Apply

National Women’s Law Center has retained the executive search firm LeaderFit to manage this search. Interested candidates should submit an application HERE.

The National Women’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people with disabilities, women, men, and people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, veterans, and LGBTQI individuals.

Reasonable Accommodations

As noted above, NWLC welcomes applications from individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email us at [email hidden] or you may send the request by mail to:

National Women’s Law Center
ATTN: Human Resources Director
1350 I St NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20015