Responsibilities

• Develop and support comprehensive internal and external communications strategies that highlight client advocacy, systemic inequities, and mission-driven public defense work.
• Strengthen organizational messaging to ensure the public has an accurate, informed, human-centered understanding of challenges faced by indigent clients.
• Create messaging frameworks and talking points for leadership engagements, media appearances, and communication with the community.
• Assess communications effectiveness and identify opportunities to improve clarity, impact, and engagement.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists to elevate stories illustrating client experiences and the importance of public defense.
• Draft and edit press releases, statements, media advisories, and rapid-response communications.
• Identify and pursue media opportunities that enhance public perception, highlight advocacy efforts, and increase visibility of systemic issues.
• Create and oversee other staff in preparation of compelling written and digital content—including newsletters, brochures, web content, reports, and storytelling pieces—that communicate client experiences and organizational impact.
• Maintain and update website content to ensure timely, accurate, mission-aligned information.
• Lead social media strategy to strengthen public understanding, promote holistic advocacy and resources for clients, and uplift client-centered narratives.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• Five or more years of communications experience with success creating persuasive, mission-forward messaging. (Additional experience could substitute for educational requirement listed above).
• Outstanding writing and editing skills with experience translating complex systemic issues into clear, compelling narratives.
• Proven ability to strengthen public understanding of organizational mission through strategic storytelling and media engagement.
• Highly collaborative style with strong relationship-building skills across diverse staff, clients, and stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills with experience managing multiple projects, deadlines, and content streams.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Proficiency with digital communications tools, content management systems, and social media platforms.

Preferred

• Familiarity with the legal system or public defense environment is a plus.

Benefits

• The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage.
• To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here.