Now Hiring: Marketing and Communications Director

Full-Time and Exempt Employee, Reports to the Executive Director

The salary range for this position is $94k to $112k DOE

Disability Rights Washington (DRW) seeks to fill the position of Marketing and Communications Director. The position plays a key role in advancing DRW’s brand, voice, mission, and visibility across internal and external audiences. The person in this role will partner with all teams at DRW to develop and execute integrated marketing, communications, media presence and initiatives that increase philanthropic and other support, strengthen market presence, and drive awareness of our mission.

You can view our Employment page here ^[1] to see other open positions at DRW.

DRW understands the importance and contribution of candidates with lived experience. DRW encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including individuals of all races, colors, religions, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, ages, national origins, marital statuses, disabilities, and veteran status backgrounds. Disabilities include, but are not limited to, mental health conditions, physical and sensory disabilities, learning and intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and chronic health conditions.

Candidates must be dedicated to actively engaging in anti-racist advocacy and applying Disability Justice principles to DRW’s work. Information about Disability Justice can be found here: https://www.sinsinvalid.org/blog/10-principles-of-disability-justice ^[2].

This position will be based in Washington State (you must currently reside in WA State, or plan to relocate) and will be done in a hybrid role (in the office and at home). Our office is located in Seattle, WA.

Reasonable Disability Accommodations

DRW is committed to providing reasonable disability accommodation at all steps of the hiring process. If you are unsure about what may be considered a disability or what accommodations may work for you, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) ^[3] provides information about potential accommodations that are searchable by disability, work-related function, and accommodation. Applicants for DRW employment seeking reasonable disability accommodations for the application and hiring processes can contact Jodi Rose, DRW’s Advocacy and Administrative Support Manager by calling (800) 562-2702 or by emailing info@dr-wa.org ^[4].

Job Overview

The Marketing and Communications Director is a key contributor to Disability Rights Washington’s mission to protect and advocate for the human, legal, and civil rights of people with disabilities while advancing dignity, equality, and self-determination.

This role will serve Washington’s disability community in a pivotal role by ensuring that the work and mission of Disability Rights Washington is communicated clearly and passionately.  The Marketing and Communications Director will elevate our brand presence, strengthen relationships with media and stakeholders, and ensure consistent messaging across all internal and external channels. This role will be responsible for developing and executing brand messaging and overseeing our brand identity, brand values, and brand positioning. The Marketing and Communications Manager will adopt our public relations strategy, focusing on driving high-quality and engaging communication with both internal and external partners.

This job may involve unsupervised contact with vulnerable adults or children.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• In partnership with the Executive Director, formulate, determine, or effectuate DRW’s marketing and communication policies and procedures, exercising discretion in their work.
• Oversee marketing and communications projects from concept to completion, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met while coordinating with all teams across the organization and maintaining clear communication with invested parties.
• Manage communications and logistics to deliver impactful engagement opportunities and provide strategic storytelling of the work at DRW.
• Organization of the DRW website to ensure information is updated on a regular basis, which may include but is not limited to updated resources, news and alerts, job postings, and more. Will also be responsible for ensuring all content on the website is accessible and in plain language.
• Lead content initiatives that amplify DRW’s brand and mission across audiences, including donors, partners, colleagues, and policymakers.
• Build and manage the agency’s social media presence to engage current invested parties and attract prospective supporters.
• Partner closely with any fund development and special events work to develop and execute bold and creative marketing and communications campaigns that support revenue-generating efforts and increase DRW’s visibility across target demographics.
• Collaborate with external agency consultants to drive press coverage to events and highlight initiatives, coordinating incoming media requests, strategizing with staff re: talking points and potential stories to relevant reporters and outlets.
• Support internal communications logistics across All-Staff emails, Town Halls, and agency-wide events.
• Assist with strategic communications plans and campaign development, brand messaging, digital experience, research, and both proactive and reactive media relations.
• Support executive communications initiatives across speaking engagements, thought leadership opportunities, media engagement, and internal departmental and agency-wide communications.

Conflict Resolution

• Effectively utilizes conflict resolution and advocacy skills to resolve both internal and external conflicts

Timely Paperwork and Reporting

• Submits all required reports, timesheets, and other documentation in an accurate and timely manner 

Work Conditions 

• This position operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and printers. The role requires regular interaction with colleagues, leadership, and external partners.
• The position may involve occasional evening or weekend work to support organizational activities or events, as well as limited travel as needed
• Travel may be required to attend in-person meetings at the DRW main office in Seattle, to meet with media and other invested parties and partners. Overnight travel may be required for this position.

Workload Monitoring

Maintain a reasonably ambitious workload and keep their immediate supervisor informed when there is insufficient work to perform and when there is a risk that work won’t be completed on a timely basis.

Qualifications

Employee Commitment
All DRW employees are expected to have a commitment to the values expressed in DRW’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Philosophy Statement ^[5]

Education and Experience

• The position is intended for someone with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or a related field and 3+ years of experience in Marketing, PR, or similar environment.
• Excellent communication skills: verbal, written, interpersonal, and inter-departmental with the ability to present across teams and with senior leadership.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience working with different teams across an organization.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

General Abilities
An employee in this position is expected to have these general abilities:

• Be an effective team member
• Effectively relate to people with all kinds of disabilities
• Exercise initiative, ingenuity, and sound judgment
• Organize and manage time
• Set work goals and create work plans of activities
• Take direction and coordinate work with others
• Use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and internet
• Work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Work independently

Transportation

The candidate must have reliable transportation to travel to the DRW office in Seattle, and other locations as needed and requested.

Background Check 

• DRW conducts background checks of conviction and arrest records on final candidates prior to extending offers. The hiring process will be conducted in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17 and Washington’s Fair Chance Act, RCW 49.94. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain and correct background information. A criminal background does not automatically eliminate candidates from consideration. If a criminal background exists, the nature of the offense will be considered in the context of the essential functions of the position.

About Disability Rights Washington (DRW)

DRW is a private nonprofit organization that advances the dignity, equality, and self-determination of people with disabilities. We are designated by the governor of Washington as the independent federally mandated protection and advocacy system for Washington State. We work to pursue justice on matters related to human and legal rights. Our Board of Directors, which is majority Black, Indigenous, people of color, and majority disabled, sets the priorities of our work in consultation with two advisory councils and input from the community to ensure leadership by the most impacted and “nothing about us without us.” Information about our priorities can be found here: https://www.disabilityrightswa.org/priorities/ ^[6].

DRW is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. DRW encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including individuals of all races, colors, religions, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, ages, national origins, marital statuses, disabilities, and veteran status backgrounds.

For information about us, please visit: http://www.disabilityrightswa.org/ ^[7].

To Apply

Please fill out the online application below and include a cover letter and resume. You may also mail your application to: Disability Rights Washington, Attn: Jodi Rose, 315 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 850, Seattle, WA 98104

DRW is committed to promoting universal accessibility and fairness in our interview process. At least three business days before an interview, DRW will tell applicants the names, pronouns, and titles of DRW interviewers and will provide the interview questions, which will be the same for all applicants. During interviews, DRW will provide a visual description of the interviewers and turn on captions for online interviews. We also know that other efforts to make our process more accessible may be needed based on individual needs and we will provide reasonable accommodation for any portion of the application or interview process. You can request accommodation by contacting Jodi Rose, DRW’s Advocacy and Administrative Support Manager, using the information provided above. If you are not sure if you would benefit from an accommodation, you can review the Job Accommodations Network (JAN) website, which provides many ideas about possible accommodations that have worked for others, and you are more than welcome to call Jodi to discuss ideas you have or what we have done in the past. JAN is located here: https://askjan.org/soar.cfm ^[8]  

Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted until the position is filled. The first review of applications will take place a few days upon receipt. Applicants will only be contacted if they are selected for an interview. The interview process will include two rounds of interviews. If selected as a finalist, DRW may ask the applicant for contacts to verify previous employment. 

• Position Title: Marketing and Communications Director
• Company Name: Disability Rights Washington (DRW)
• Location: Hybrid. Candidate must be based in WA State, or be willing to relocate
• Job Type: Full time, Exempt
• Generous benefits including 401k contribution, medical, dental, and vision care, Health and Flex Spending account options, Costco Membership, Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability, vacation, sick, holiday, parental, and other types of leave, and a 35-hour work week.