Communications and Development Senior Associate

For over two decades, Discovering Justice has been bringing students and communities together to examine the workings of the justice system, explore the ideals of justice, and prepare them to engage as active citizens. We believe in the power of the next generation to sustain our democracy. We value the belief that the justice system can and should work for everyone.

Discovering Justice runs after-school programs for middle school students through our Mock Trial and Mock Appeal Programs, provides in-school curricula for Grades K-3 and professional development for elementary grade educators, and brings students and community members of all ages into the Moakley Courthouse in Boston for tours, field trips, and educational events. We believe in the power of the next generation to sustain our democracy and work every day towards making that a reality.

As the Communications and Development Senior Associate, you'll be the driving force behind promoting Discovering Justice’s programs, cultivating and stewarding our partners, and helping raise the resources to make our programs flourish. You'll not just be managing; you'll be creating and delivering our messages that align with our core values, ensuring every step we take resonates with our mission and unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Senior Associate will work with the Executive Director to coordinate the effective implementation of the communications plan and the development work.

The Senior Associate is responsible for coordinating the organization’s communications to its wide range of partners and supporters. School district leaders, school administrators and teachers help implement our unique civic education programs. The Massachusetts legal community, which includes judges, lawyers, and courthouse staff, provide the expertise and perspectives to give students a behind the scenes look at our justice system.

All of the work is supported by a diverse set of financial supporters including charitable foundations, corporate donors, and individual contributors. The Senior Associate will work with the Executive Director to craft and implement a compelling communications plan to steward these partners and build a sustainable set of support for the organization.

• Strengthening and Managing Organization’s Communication Plan: Write, produce, and broadcast materials to promote Discovering Justice’s programs. Use social and earned media and the organization’s website to publicize events and successes.
• Partner Cultivation and Stewardship: Write and produce materials to deepen organizational supporters' engagement and support. Work with staff to compile the annual report, online newsletter (8X a year), and email communications.
• Program Fundraising: Develop materials and fundraising proposals to support the organization’s outreach and fundraising work with foundations, corporate givers, and individual donors.
• Event Planning and Operations: Coordinate Annual Gala, the organization's biggest fundraiser. Work with staff to direct fundraising and communications operations for the event that is held in June.
• Align Communications to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Cultural Diversity Standards: Ensure the communications adhere to and promote DEI principles, reflecting a commitment to cultural diversity in all operations.
• Continuous Improvement: Collect data and strategic feedback to assess, report, and enhance the organization’s public recognition and engagement with its programs.
• Fellow Management: Hire and oversee a fellow each semester, emphasizing mentorship and professional development. This fellow supports the operations of the programs.

Don’t quite meet the qualifications but feel like you could be a strong fit for the role? We would love to still hear from you and encourage you to apply!

• We strongly encourage applications from members of marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color; women; and the LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities.
• Discovering Justice prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

We value a diverse workforce and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where we strive to embed equity and inclusion into everything we do.

Each day working on communications and development for Discovering Justice is dynamic and fulfilling. Your morning might start with crafting an email that announces the opening week of our 35-team Mock Trial Program and asks our members to chip in $50 to support the program. From there you work with our Courthouse Programs Manager to develop materials to send out to schools about our Moakley Courthouse Field trips that bring students from across the Commonwealth to experience the history and architecture of the building and provides experiential learning opportunities for the students. By afternoon, you could be working with the Executive Director to craft a grant proposal to a new foundation who loves our work with students Grades K-2. After checking our social media feed, and sending out a couple of posts on LinkedIn, you work to finalize an attractive donor package to be used in our sit down meetings with our corporate sponsors for our Gala that is coming up in June.

• Your Manager: You report to the Executive Director, Matt Wilson.
• Your Team: You will work closely with all members of our nine-person staff. You will work closely with the Program Managers to develop outreach, cultivation, and stewardship plans and materials for them and with COO Ann Gogel to build and our network of donors
• Your Reports: Semester-long Communication Fellow who will report directly to you.

• Initial Phone Call with Community Partnership Manager Malia Brooks
• Final Round interview with Staff Leadership

We want someone to come on board by December 1

Will I get notified? Yes

Our office is situated within the iconic John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in the Seaport District of Boston. The location allows us to work closely with federal judges and other members of the Courthouse community to make the Courthouse a vibrant civic space. We embrace a hybrid work approach, working at least two days a week at the Moakley. combining the advantages of face-to-face interactions with the flexibility of remote work.

• 4+ years of relevant experience, ideally in communications and development work
• Excellent writing and communication skills, both online and on paper
• Experience in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding organizational supporters
• Ability to develop and implement targeted communication strategies and plans.
• Experience in writing online solicitations and grant proposal writing.
• A demonstrated commitment to social justice and a belief that the justice system can and should work for everyone