Careers

Development and Communications Manager
Denver, Colorado
(Salary Range: $63,000 - $75,000 annually + benefits)

 

DEPARTMENT: Development and Marketing
REPORTS TO: Director of Development and Marketing
FLSA STATUS: Exempt, Full-Time (36 Hours/Week)
DATE: January 25, 2024
 

ABOUT DISABILITY LAW COLORADO
Disability Law Colorado (“DLC”) is a statewide, nonprofit legal organization dedicated to advancing the rights of Coloradans with disabilities. DLC works to achieve fairness and justice, through advocacy, legal action, education, and outreach. As Colorado’s designated Protection and Advocacy System (P&A), we use our federal authority to serve clients with disabilities—everywhere from nursing homes to prisons, schools to voting booths. For more information about DLC, please visit: http://www.disabilitylawco.org.
 

POSITION OVERVIEW
We seek a Development and Communications Manager (“Manager”) that is a dynamic team member who can enhance donor support, build awareness about the organization, and effectively message to a broad range of audiences. The new manager should excel at event planning and execution, donor cultivation and stewardship, partnership development, community engagement, and implementation of diverse social media strategies. An ideal candidate will have intermediate-level fundraising experience; a proven record of supporting to meet or exceed fundraising goals; exceptional communication and networking skills; a background in e-communication and social media; and a desire to foster deeper community engagement. This role requires a self-motivated, resourceful team member who takes initiative and possesses a fierce commitment to disability justice. We are especially excited to hear from candidates with lived experience.
 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The following are an overview of the primary duties and responsibilities of the Manager and should not be considered an all-inclusive list.
 

General Duties 

  • Exercise discretion and independent judgment in job performance.
  • Prepare drafts of correspondence, forms, and other documents, as requested by, and under the supervision of, the Director of Development and Marketing.
  • Consistently promote a professional image of DLC.
  • Communicate clearly and frequently with the Director of Development and Marketing.
  • Attend Board meetings, as requested.
  • Supports the marketing aspects of the Director of Development and Marketing's role.
  • Enter data and generate reports.
  • Maintains knowledge of state and federal disability rights laws, legislation affecting people with disabilities, and all of DLC's services and program areas.
  • Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
     

Fundraising

  • Support Director of Development and Marketing with year-round stewardship of a donor base, donor tracking, personalized engagement, and donor acknowledgment.
  • Support Director of Development and Marketing with executing fundraising and marketing strategies that will attract new and diversified donors and expand the existing donor base.
  • Explore opportunities to expand donor outreach and raise general awareness.
  • Collaborate with staff to align social media, communications, and outreach/advocacy efforts.
  • Support Director of Development and Marketing with management of foundation and corporate grant pipeline, grant research, LOIs and proposal writing, tracking, and reporting.
  • Recruit champions and enlist partners to share DLC’s vision and mission with the broader community as part of targeted fundraising campaigns.
  • Create and manage department forecasting and analytical activities.
  • Help to meet annual fundraising goals that are meaningful to DLC’s growth.
     

Communications

  • Protect and steward the brand of Disability Law Colorado through a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as the highest ethical standards.
  • Continue to build DLC’s brand by designing and piloting innovative communications approaches.
  • Develop and implement a communications strategy that increases visibility through multiple avenues, including relationship building, targeted messaging, content creation, media releases, and social media.
  • Manage the gathering and sharing of impact stories through coordination with staff, advocates, and former clients.
  • Explore new partnerships and event opportunities to expand awareness about Disability Law Colorado.
  • Identify areas of opportunity to increase DLC's visibility across key stakeholder audiences and position the organization as a vital voice for disability rights issues.
  • Ensure all communications, products/services, and other materials abide by organizational guidelines, as defined by the Director of Development and Marketing.
  • Write and edit content for all press, media, and public appearances.
  • Manage all aspects of statewide priority-setting process.
  • Maintain DLC's digital presence across all social media platforms, including measuring and reporting on the performance of digital campaigns.
  • Plan and execute all special events, outreach initiatives, and exhibition opportunities.
     

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
The Development and Communications Manager reports directly to the Director of Development and Marketing. The Manager has no direct reports and is expected to work collaboratively across the organization.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • 2+ years of experience in a mid-level development and/or communications role.
  • Strong networking and excellent written and verbal communication skills, plus a determination to sustain existing relationships and build new ones.
  • Ability to travel and work nonstandard hours, as needed.
  • Ability to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines under time pressure or other constraints.
  • Ability to generate content, edit content, and develop both printed and multimedia materials.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Suite applications, as well as Zoom, databases (e.g., CRMs), and basic office equipment usage.
  • Capacity to work independently and under supervision in a hybrid or remote work environment.
  • Passion for and dedication to DLC’s mission.
  • Ability to develop skills for creating materials in accessible formats within the first four months in this position.
  • BA or equivalent years of work experience.
     

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The following qualifications are highly desired to advance DLC’s work, but they are not required:

  • Experience working with the Protection and Advocacy System or a disability justice organization.
  • Established relationships with philanthropists, foundations, and individual donors.
  • Ability to raise at least $150,000 of unrestricted funds from a diverse set of donors in the first year of the job with increasingly ambitious and successful fundraising targets in subsequent years.
  • Experience working with a range of individuals, partners, and communities, including marginalized communities, social service providers, public agencies, nonprofit partners, and donors.
  • Proven track record of successful event planning and execution.
  • Bilingual or multilingual.
  • Experience developing materials in accessible and culturally responsive formats.
     

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Applicants for this position must live within Colorado or be willing to relocate to Colorado before they begin the position. DLC is promoting a mostly remote work environment, with the understanding that employees will travel and meet in person as needed for conducting their job functions and collaborating with other staff members, donors, and partners (DLC currently has office space in Denver, which is available for employee use). DLC provides equipment to employees to work successfully in a remote environment, including, but not limited to, laptops and phones.
 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The hiring range for this position is $63,000-$75,000 annually, depending on experience. Disability Law Colorado offers competitive salaries; generous leave; and an excellent benefits package, which includes a 403(b) retirement savings plan and medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability insurance.
 

APPLICATION PROCESS
We encourage candidates with disabilities and others with lived experience and diverse backgrounds to apply. Candidates should submit a cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume to Esther Brieno at ebrieno@disabilitylawco.org by February 16, 2024, for priority consideration. Candidates wishing to mail or fax their materials, instead, may send them to:

Esther Brieno, Operations Manager
Disability Law Colorado
455 Sherman Street, Suite 130
Denver, CO  80203
FAX: (303) 722-0720 

DLC provides reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their jobs and participate in the recruitment and interview processes. For support with the application process, please contact Esther Brieno at ebrieno@disabilitylawco.org.

Disability Law Colorado is committed to providing a work environment that is free of unlawful discrimination and unlawful harassment. Disability Law Colorado’s policy prohibits harassment and discrimination based on age (40 & over); ancestry; national origin or ethnicity; citizenship; immigration status; race; color; hair style or hair texture; marital, registered domestic partner or civil union status; pregnancy and perceived pregnancy (including breastfeeding or related medical conditions); religion; sex; gender, gender identity or expression; sexual orientation or an employer’s perception thereof; wage disclosures; lawful off-duty, off-premises activities; because the person is a victim of a crime, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking; military or veterans' status; physical or mental disability; family or medical care leave status; or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.