Director of Media and Public Relations at Alliance Defending Freedom

<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our <a href="https://adflegal.org/about-us/careers/statement-of-faith/" target="_blank">Statement of Faith</a> to ensure we’re a fit for you.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Location: </strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Washington, D.C.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Team Overview</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">As the Director of Media and Public Relations, you will shape and protect ADF’s public voice. Reporting to the Vice President of Communications and Public Relations (PR), you will lead ADF’s media strategy, oversee the multi-media news division, manage rapid response and crisis communications, and ensure ADF’s messaging is strategic, consistent, and impactful.&nbsp;This role is both strategic and hands-on, requiring a leader who can build influential media relationships, craft compelling narratives from complex legal issues, respond quickly to emerging conversations, and position ADF as a trusted and leading voice on the most urgent cultural and legal topics of the day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Strategic Media Leadership</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Develop and lead a comprehensive media and public relations strategy that advances ADF’s mission, strengthens its brand, and supports legal advocacy objectives.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Translate complex legal concepts into compelling, accessible messaging for diverse audiences, ensuring consistent alignment across earned, owned, and paid media platforms.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Oversee cross-channel communications and message development for internal, external, and alliance audiences, while positioning ADF and its leaders as influential voices in national conversations on freedom and advocacy.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Media Relations &amp; Thought Leadership</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Build and maintain high-impact relationships with top-tier media, journalists, influencers, and opinion leaders to maximize visibility and coverage.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Lead ADF’s rapid response efforts by identifying and acting quickly on breaking news, cultural moments, and emerging trends.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Oversee the creation of proactive media strategies and events to amplify ADF’s profile, showcase cases, and shape public conversations.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Foster surrogate commentary and third-party advocacy by cultivating a strong network of aligned voices to amplify ADF messaging.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Crisis Communications &amp; Risk Management</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Serve as the organization’s first line of defense during crises, leading swift, strategic communications responses that protect ADF’s reputation.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Anticipate potential risks, develop crisis playbooks, and train staff and leadership on effective public response.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Coordinate with legal teams to ensure all external communications are accurate, compliant, and aligned with legal and ethical standards.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Messaging Oversight &amp; Content Strategy</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Direct the creation of high-impact media content designed to reach and engage target audiences, including articles, commentaries, interviews, videos, podcasts, and web content.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Oversee training, preparation, and deployment of attorneys, spokespeople, and staff for media appearances and public speaking opportunities.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Measurement, Reporting &amp; Continuous Improvement</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Define KPIs, track results, and report on media performance, audience reach, and message effectiveness.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Use data and insights to inform strategy, optimize campaigns, and ensure agility in responding to opportunities.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Manage budgets for media initiatives, ensuring resources are used effectively and aligned with strategic priorities.</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);">Minimum Qualifications</span></strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">8+ years of experience in media relations, public affairs, or strategic communications.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">3+ years of experience leading a communications or media team.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Demonstrated success designing and executing impactful media and PR strategies that shape public opinion and advance organizational objectives.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Exceptional ability to distill complex legal and policy issues into clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Proven track record of building strong relationships with national and international media outlets and securing high-impact coverage.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Experienced in defining KPIs, analyzing performance data, and adapting strategies to maximize impact.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Deep understanding of emerging media platforms, content optimization, and audience engagement strategies.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Pay &amp; Benefits</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges, our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Want to Know More About ADF?</strong></span></p> <p><strong><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/van66FA4WEY?si=TNM22CBW4cgBPbFf" width="560" height="315"></iframe></strong></p><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description"><p><em>This salary range is reflective of a position based in Washington, D.C. This range is<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>a good faith<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, and office location.</em></p></div><div class="title">Washington, D.C. Salary Range</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$107,073.89</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$171,318.22 USD</span></div></div></div>