Vice President of 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);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 87);"><strong>Location: </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lansdowne, VA</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(0, 48, 87);"><strong>Team Overview</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">The Vice President of Public Relations leads Alliance Defending Freedom's media relations, reputation management, and external communications, advancing our mission to protect religious freedom, free speech, and the sanctity of life through proactive, disciplined engagement with the public and the press. Reporting to the Chief of Enterprise Strategy, you will direct a multidisciplinary PR team working across owned, earned, and internal channels. You will build and execute integrated communications plans, cultivate lasting relationships with national and regional media, guide the organization through high-profile legal and public moments, and partner with leaders across ADF and outside stakeholders to strengthen our credibility and impact.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(0, 48, 87);"><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><strong>Messaging Strategy</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Serve as ADF's chief messaging strategist, deciding which issues receive amplification and aligning stakeholders and channel leaders across the organization.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Partner with attorneys and senior leaders to set messaging priorities, and direct the creation of fact sheets, op-eds, and other materials that turn ADF's mission into compelling stories.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><strong>Measurement</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Establish metrics, KPIs, and benchmarks showing the reach, influence, and impact of ADF's advocacy, and report results to senior leadership.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><strong>Strategy and Media Relations</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Set the strategic direction for ADF's earned media program, advancing advocacy priorities and supporting ADF's cases and events.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Lead media strategy and events for ADF's Supreme Court advocacy, from pre-argument positioning through decision-day response.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Build and grow relationships with journalists, thought leaders, allied organizations, and ADF's network of surrogates and validators.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><strong>Executive and Spokesperson Engagement</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Develop and execute a communications plan that elevates the CEO as a leading voice on religious freedom and free speech, and counsel executive leaders on media engagement.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Assess, train, and coach ADF spokespeople, and represent ADF at external events and press conferences as needed.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><strong>Crisis and Issues Management</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Build and lead ADF's crisis communications processes and plans, and equip attorneys and communications staff to produce effective briefing and messaging materials.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><strong>Team Leadership &amp; Collaboration</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Lead, develop, and retain the media relations and communications strategy teams, and serve on the MarComm leadership team to align work into one integrated strategy.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><strong>Digital</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Direct ADF's presence on X (formerly Twitter), ensuring content advances strategic goals and grows audience and impact.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 87); font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><strong>Minimum Qualifications</strong></span></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;">Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent experience</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">12+ years in public relations, communications, or public affairs, including 5+ years of people management experience</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Proven record of securing and shaping national media coverage, with established relationships across print, broadcast, and digital</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Experience leading responses to high-profile, high-scrutiny situations, including hostile media environments and legal controversies</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Experience managing and developing multidisciplinary teams, including managers</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 87);">Preferred Qualifications</span></strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Master's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or related field.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Master's degree or relevant advanced training</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Experience with a legal, advocacy, policy, or faith-based organization</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Familiarity with constitutional and religious liberty issues</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Experience coordinating with attorneys on messaging around active litigation</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Background in both proactive storytelling and rapid-response communications</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Experience with media training and spokesperson preparation</span><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(0, 48, 87);"><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(0, 48, 87);"><strong>Want to Know More About ADF?</strong></span></p> <p><strong><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEUAsJ0jDCw" width="560" height="315"></iframe></strong></p><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description"><p><span data-teams="true"><em>This salary range is reflective of a position based in Lansdowne, VA. This range is a good-faith estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, and office location.</em></span></p></div><div class="title">Virginia Salary Range</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$166,300</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$250,800 USD</span></div></div></div>