Marketing & Communications Director/Coordinator

The Iowa Association for Justice (IAJ) is seeking either a marketing and communications director or coordinator to oversee its event and membership marketing programs, as well as its internal and external membership communications and public relations. 

How You Will Spend Your Days

Event and Sponsor Marketing

– Take the lead on marketing all IAJ continuing legal education (CLE) events, and non-CLE association events.

– Attend all IAJ events to take photos and promote presenters, sponsors, and attendees through social media, email, the Iowa Trial Lawyers Magazine and other avenues. 

Membership Marketing

– Work with the director of education and membership to market the benefits of IAJ membership to current and potential members.

Public Relations

– First point of contact with press to promote a pro-justice narrative through earned media, or to respond rapidly to negative news stories or disinformation, working in concert with the executive director. 

– Concerted communications collaborations with allied organizations. 

– Developing and implementing strategic public relations initiatives. 

– Frequent content creation for IAJ’s Accountable Iowa project. 

– Frequent communication with IAJ members and (through them) their clients in order to identify powerful stories that demonstrate the human impact of negligence, workplace injury, and/or wrongful criminal prosecution. 

– Synthesize public opinion research and spearhead development and delivery of strategic messages.

– Social media and earned media promotion of association, foundation, and justice in deed accomplishments.

External Communications

– Manage IAJ’s website. 

– Manage IAJ’s social media accounts, creating regular content that builds engagement with our target audience. 

Internal Communications 

– Manage and continue to build IAJ’s CLE Materials Library, Work Comp Resource Library, and Criminal Law Resource Library. 

– Write and distribute quarterly e-newsletter. 

– Work with executive director to produce and edit Iowa Trial Lawyers Magazine (distributed three times per year). 

The executive director may alter these assignments at any time, and may assign other duties from time-to-time.

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Minimum Experience for Director Title/Salary: 4+ years in relevant field

Minimum Experience for Coordinator Title/Salary: 1-3 years in relevant field

Skills & Abilities

The following skills and abilities are essential requirements for this position:

– Affinity for legal issues and absolute commitment to the cause of justice for all.

– Familiarity and experience with social media. 

– Familiarity and experience with website management and email marketing platforms.

– Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.

– Ability to travel throughout Iowa for in person IAJ-hosted continuing legal education events (5-6 per year), IAJ board meetings (4 per year) and other association events (2-3 per year). Some of these events will require overnight hotel stays away from the Des Moines-area. 

– Ability to plan and organize strategic communications and earned media campaigns.

– Excellent writing and oral communication skills are a must.

– Ability to assimilate and articulate complicated information and complex issues.

– Ability to work well as part of a team, while also taking individual initiative.

The following skills and abilities are desired for this position:

– Familiarity and experience with graphic design. 

– Willingness to travel outside of Iowa for professional development opportunities. 

– Background and experience in the media and/or PR communications fields.

– Political and/or legislative campaign experience.

Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried position, based in West Des Moines, Iowa. The position of director will pay between $60,000 – $70,000 per year. The position of coordinator will pay between $50,000 – $60,000 per year. Benefits include:

– Great group health insurance, monthly premium covered at 95%

– Group dental insurance covered at 100%

– Convenient office location and parking

– Personal office

– All staff are permitted to work remotely one day per week

– 15 paid vacation days

– Simple IRA retirement program

– Great office environment

– Work to protect the civil and constitutional rights of Iowans

Equal Opportunity

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, marital status or any other protected status designated by federal, state or local law.

Whether to Apply

We understand not everyone’s path is the same, so even if you don’t meet all the requirements, we encourage you to apply.

How to Apply

Qualified applicants should submit resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Deadline for application is June 14, 2023.

About IAJ

IAJ is a statewide association of trial lawyers seeking justice, even when taking on a more powerful entity. Its members practice in the areas of plaintiff-side personal injury, claimant-side workers’ compensation, criminal defense, plaintiff-side employment law, family law, and more. IAJ maintains an active lobbying and bi-partisan electoral advocacy program in order to protect and advance justice for our members’ clients. IAJ maintains an active continuing legal education seminar program in order to prepare and support Iowa trial lawyers. And IAJ maintains a strategic public relations program in order to promote and defend its members and their clients. 

Iowa Association for Justice