Director of Marketing & Development
Program Description:
Founded in 1967, California Indian Legal Services (CILS) is the oldest public interest Indian rights law firm in the country, promoting the fundamental rights of California tribes and Indians through litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, community development, and other strategies for systemic change. CILS is a state and national leader in protecting and advancing the rights of California Indians, and each year works with dozens of tribes in the state and thousands of Indian individuals and families.
CILS provides a full range of legal representation to California Indian tribes and Indian organizations, advocates for the rights of California Indians at the local, state, and national levels, and provides direct services and community education to low-income Indian individuals on issues related to Federal Indian Law. Our work includes such diverse practice areas as the Indian Child Welfare Act, trust lands, Indian probate, Indian cultural and religious rights, tribal community and economic development, tribal justice systems, tribal governance, tribal social service delivery systems, protection of sacred sites, and environmental protection.
CILS has an annual operating budget of more than $1.8 million derived from a wide variety of sources, including federal and state grants, tribal donations, and tribal grants and contracts. Escondido serves as the principal location for CILS, with branch offices in Bishop, Escondido, Eureka, and Sacramento. The staff currently numbers 16, including 9 lawyers/advocates and 4 volunteers. Our Board of Trustees is comprised of California Indians appointed by Indian tribes and organizations across the state, as well as representatives appointed by the State Bar of California.
Additional information about CILS may be found on our website, at www.calindian.org/employment.
Responsibilities and Duties:
The Director of Marketing and Development (DMD) is responsible for the planning, development and implementation of all of the CILS’s marketing strategies, marketing communications and public relations activities, and all fundraising and development efforts, both external and internal. The DMD oversees the development and implementation of support materials and services for CILS as well as its branch offices in the areas of marketing, communications, public relations, and fundraising. The DMD works closely with the Board Development Committees and coordinates at both the strategic and tactical level with the other functions of CILS. The resulting responsibilities and duties include:
Primary Relationships
The DMD position reports to the Executive Director and serves as a member of the management team. The DMD participates with the Board of Trustees, Executive Director and other management staff in charting the direction of CILS, assuring its accountability to all constituencies, and ensuring its effective operation.
Within CILS, the DMD has primary working relationships with the Executive Director, management team, and the Directing Attorneys. Outside CILS, the DMD coordinates primarily with the media and both current and potential funding sources.
Principle Accountabilities
Marketing, communications and public relations
- Responsible for creating, implementing and measuring the success of a comprehensive marketing, communications and public relations program that will enhance CILS’s image and position within the marketplace and the general public, and facilitate internal and external communications; and all CILS marketing, communications and public relations activities and materials including publications, media relations, client acquisition, etc.
- Ensure articulation of CILS’s desired image and position, assure consistent communication of image and position throughout CILS, and assure communication of image and position to all constituencies, both internal and external.
- Responsible for editorial direction, design, production and distribution of all CILS print and electronic publications.
- Coordinate media interest in CILS and ensure regular contact with target media and appropriate response to media requests.
- Coordinate the appearance of all CILS print and electronic materials such as letterhead, use of logo, brochures, etc.
- Develop, coordinate and oversee programs, technical assistance and resource materials to assist branch offices in the marketing, communications and positioning of their activities.
- Ensure that CILS regularly conducts relevant market research. Coordinate and oversee this activity. Monitor trends.
- Lead projects as assigned, such as cause-related marketing and special events.
Development
- Responsible for creating, implementing and measuring the success of a comprehensive development program that will enhance CILS’s financial resources and ability to expand and strengthen services.
- Provide the Development Committee and Board of Trustees with current, accurate information regarding the status of fundraising activities and plans.
- Research and develop all required policies and procedures related to fundraising.
- Develop the annual fundraising budget and goals for review by the Development Committee and for approval by the Board of Trustees
- Research, identify, and cultivate possible organizational and corporate partners.
- Write and oversee the content and production of all fundraising materials.
- Develop, coordinate and oversee programs, technical assistance and resource materials to assist branch offices with fundraising efforts.
- Recruit, train, and support volunteers engaged in donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and recognition, including the Board of Trustees.
- Ensure that CILS keeps accurate records of all fundraising activities (including prospect/member/donor research, calls and visits) as well as all fundraising transactions.
- Organize and lead projects as assigned, such as special events.
Salary:
Competitive based on experience. Full family/partner medical, vision and dental benefits, AD&D, short & long-term disability insurances, life insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, generous leave policies and potential for annual performance incentive.
Qualifications:
Required
- Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design and execution of marketing, communications and public relations activities.
- Strong creative, strategic, analytical, organizational and personal sales skills.
- Experience developing and managing budgets, and recruiting, training, developing, supervising and retaining volunteers.
- Demonstrated successful experience writing press releases, making presentations and interacting with media.
- Experience overseeing the design and production of print materials and publications.
- Demonstrated success with fundraising campaigns, donor development and grant writing.
- Computer literacy in word processing, data base management and page layout.
- Commitment to working with shared leadership and in cross-functional teams.
- Strong oral and written communications skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects at a time.
- Direct experience with event planning and execution.
- Out-of-town, overnight travel is required.
Highly Desired
- Five years’ experience in marketing, communications or public relations with demonstrated success, preferably in the not-for-profit or association sector.
- Experience working with Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and individual tribal members preferably in California.
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, public relations preferred. Graduate degree in a related field is desirable.
- Experience working with volunteers.
Application Procedure:
Please submit letter of interest, resume and three professional references to Patricia De La Cruz-Lynas, Director of Administration, California Indian Legal Services, Re: Director of Marketing & Development Position, 609 S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025. E-mail hiring@calindian.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
CALIFORNIA INDIAN LEGAL SERVICES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. NATIVE AMERICANS, WOMEN, MINORITIES AND THE DISABLED ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.