Legal Defense Fund
Senior Communications Strategist
Legal Defense Fund, Washington, District of Columbia, us, 20022
The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative —to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.
LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system.
In 2015, LDF celebrated its 75th anniversary with the launch of the Thurgood Marshall Institute (TMI). The Institute is a collaborative hub within LDF that combines a multidisciplinary approach to advocacy with LDF’s traditional litigation strengths to advance a modern vision of racial justice. The Institute’s goals are to enhance LDF’s use and mobilization of research, archival materials, and public education to increase its capacity to fight for racial equity, justice, and a more inclusive democracy through targeted advocacy and high-impact communications campaigns. In 2024, TMI launched LDF Recollection: A Civil Rights Legal Archive. The website contains editorial content and primary source materials documenting the history of LDF and the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. This initiative represents a significant milestone in LDF’s mission to preserve and promote our legacy of civil rights, activism, and advocacy. The core of the website is a searchable digital collection with over 12,000 legal documents, letters, photographs, press releases, original oral history interviews, and other materials from the LDF Archives.
LDF operates in a hybrid work environment where employees are expected to be in the office a minimum of two designated days per week, unless otherwise indicated.
This role is part-time, a four-day-per-week, term-limited assignment, anticipated to conclude on or before December 31, 2026.
Along with a resume and cover letter, applicants are expected to submit an independently authored piece of writing. While it may have undergone review or editing by others, it should primarily reflect your own work. The sample should be a deeply researched, 750 – 1200-word editorial or journalistic piece.
Please see here for reference.
Position Overview:
The Senior Communications Strategist is the subject matter expert and primary author responsible for conceptualizing and developing communications tactics, strategies, and products that amplify the Legal Defense Fund’s brand, work, and goals within a specific pillar or program area. This position’s work will focus on the Thurgood Marshall Institute (TMI) as the program area.
The Senior Communications Strategist must proactively advance strategies and content, and drive Communications work for the Thurgood Marshall Institute using strong independent judgment. They are expected to propose ideas for content, campaigns, and narrative shaping to advance LDF’s work and objectives for the Institute. As subject-area experts, they will also independently advise on messaging accuracy and alignment within their pillar or program areas, and, as senior Editorial/Narrative team members, they will mentor new and/or more junior team members on best practices.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop and execute statements, press releases, op-eds, issue-related talking points, messaging, and journalistic editorial content (for LDF’s original content spaces (Substack, digital OC space, and print magazine) and the archival website Recollection). Shepherd writing projects approved by Editorial Directors from start to finish: from development, editing, and approval to publication. Assist researchers, archivists, and program team colleagues with written communications strategy. Work with the Digital, Media Relations, and Marketing & Brand divisions to guide content creation and develop appropriate internal and external tactics. Provide rapid response support as issues and events warrant. Spearhead the narrative strategy and strategic communications vision for the designated pillar or program area in collaboration with Editorial Directors, including but not limited to: building affirmative messaging, countering misinformation, and other narrative shaping outputs, conceiving, developing, and executing relevant campaign plans and projects, including long-term strategic plans, and shaping LDF’s communications outputs related to the pillar or program area. Participate in key internal and coalition meetings as communications subject matter expert. Lead members of the Communications team in understanding the priorities of a specific pillar or program area and how to direct work. Curate relationships with relevant external organizations and networks. Meet and strategize with key internal stakeholders to map out pillar or program priorities, needs, and outputs in a shifting landscape. Proactively follow current events, monitor trends, and identify emerging issues. Oversee other duties as assigned within the general scope of the position. Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Public Policy, History, or a related field is required, Master's preferred. Five (5) to eight (8) years of work experience in strategic communications in a public affairs, advocacy, or social change environment. Ability to translate complex racial justice issues into accessible narratives for diverse audiences. Exceptional writing, editing, and persuasive storytelling skills across formats, including press releases, long-form editorial, and digital content. Experience with digital distribution methods, including websites, podcasts, and email newsletters, is a strong plus. Experience with evidence-based storytelling in a research institution, academic, or archival setting strongly preferred. Experience working across departments to align strategy. Ability to manage high-volume, time-sensitive assignments in a fast-paced environment. Commitment to the racial justice mission of LDF.
The hourly range for this position is:
New York:
$36.53 - $48.07
Washington, DC:
$35.00 - $48.07
Atlanta:
$31.54 - $47.31
This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or require that other tasks be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment, and LDF may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.
*****
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to you without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, medical condition or disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system.
In 2015, LDF celebrated its 75th anniversary with the launch of the Thurgood Marshall Institute (TMI). The Institute is a collaborative hub within LDF that combines a multidisciplinary approach to advocacy with LDF’s traditional litigation strengths to advance a modern vision of racial justice. The Institute’s goals are to enhance LDF’s use and mobilization of research, archival materials, and public education to increase its capacity to fight for racial equity, justice, and a more inclusive democracy through targeted advocacy and high-impact communications campaigns. In 2024, TMI launched LDF Recollection: A Civil Rights Legal Archive. The website contains editorial content and primary source materials documenting the history of LDF and the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. This initiative represents a significant milestone in LDF’s mission to preserve and promote our legacy of civil rights, activism, and advocacy. The core of the website is a searchable digital collection with over 12,000 legal documents, letters, photographs, press releases, original oral history interviews, and other materials from the LDF Archives.
LDF operates in a hybrid work environment where employees are expected to be in the office a minimum of two designated days per week, unless otherwise indicated.
This role is part-time, a four-day-per-week, term-limited assignment, anticipated to conclude on or before December 31, 2026.
Along with a resume and cover letter, applicants are expected to submit an independently authored piece of writing. While it may have undergone review or editing by others, it should primarily reflect your own work. The sample should be a deeply researched, 750 – 1200-word editorial or journalistic piece.
Please see here for reference.
Position Overview:
The Senior Communications Strategist is the subject matter expert and primary author responsible for conceptualizing and developing communications tactics, strategies, and products that amplify the Legal Defense Fund’s brand, work, and goals within a specific pillar or program area. This position’s work will focus on the Thurgood Marshall Institute (TMI) as the program area.
The Senior Communications Strategist must proactively advance strategies and content, and drive Communications work for the Thurgood Marshall Institute using strong independent judgment. They are expected to propose ideas for content, campaigns, and narrative shaping to advance LDF’s work and objectives for the Institute. As subject-area experts, they will also independently advise on messaging accuracy and alignment within their pillar or program areas, and, as senior Editorial/Narrative team members, they will mentor new and/or more junior team members on best practices.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop and execute statements, press releases, op-eds, issue-related talking points, messaging, and journalistic editorial content (for LDF’s original content spaces (Substack, digital OC space, and print magazine) and the archival website Recollection). Shepherd writing projects approved by Editorial Directors from start to finish: from development, editing, and approval to publication. Assist researchers, archivists, and program team colleagues with written communications strategy. Work with the Digital, Media Relations, and Marketing & Brand divisions to guide content creation and develop appropriate internal and external tactics. Provide rapid response support as issues and events warrant. Spearhead the narrative strategy and strategic communications vision for the designated pillar or program area in collaboration with Editorial Directors, including but not limited to: building affirmative messaging, countering misinformation, and other narrative shaping outputs, conceiving, developing, and executing relevant campaign plans and projects, including long-term strategic plans, and shaping LDF’s communications outputs related to the pillar or program area. Participate in key internal and coalition meetings as communications subject matter expert. Lead members of the Communications team in understanding the priorities of a specific pillar or program area and how to direct work. Curate relationships with relevant external organizations and networks. Meet and strategize with key internal stakeholders to map out pillar or program priorities, needs, and outputs in a shifting landscape. Proactively follow current events, monitor trends, and identify emerging issues. Oversee other duties as assigned within the general scope of the position. Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Public Policy, History, or a related field is required, Master's preferred. Five (5) to eight (8) years of work experience in strategic communications in a public affairs, advocacy, or social change environment. Ability to translate complex racial justice issues into accessible narratives for diverse audiences. Exceptional writing, editing, and persuasive storytelling skills across formats, including press releases, long-form editorial, and digital content. Experience with digital distribution methods, including websites, podcasts, and email newsletters, is a strong plus. Experience with evidence-based storytelling in a research institution, academic, or archival setting strongly preferred. Experience working across departments to align strategy. Ability to manage high-volume, time-sensitive assignments in a fast-paced environment. Commitment to the racial justice mission of LDF.
The hourly range for this position is:
New York:
$36.53 - $48.07
Washington, DC:
$35.00 - $48.07
Atlanta:
$31.54 - $47.31
This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or require that other tasks be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment, and LDF may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.
*****
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to you without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, medical condition or disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.