Sr. Director of Communications Operations

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure we’re a fit for you.

Locations: Scottsdale, AZ / Lansdowne, VA

Team Overview

The Sr. Director of Communications Operations will drive operational excellence within the Communications and Marketing Departments. This strategic role combines project management expertise with operational leadership to drive efficiency, standardize processes, and ensure seamless execution of communications initiatives. The ideal candidate will serve as the operational backbone of the department, supporting the SVP of Communications and Brand while managing complex projects, systems, and processes that enable the team to deliver impactful communications.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Operations & Departmental Leadership:

• Serve as the operational backbone to the SVP of Communications, ensuring organizational alignment and efficient execution of department goals.

• Lead the annual planning process in alignment with the organizational strategic plan, incorporating budget planning and resource allocation.

• Oversee creation, facilitation, and follow-through of departmental scorecards, including monthly performance meetings and action item tracking.

• Manage internal team-wide communication on behalf of the SVP, ensuring timely and clear rollouts.

Project & Change Management:

• Lead end-to-end project management for communications and marketing initiatives, ensuring delivery on time, on budget, and within scope.

• Supervise the Communications Project Managers, including training, delegation, accountability, and workload management.

• Implement and scale project management methodologies, tools, dashboards, timelines, risk mitigation, and executive reporting.

• Design and execute change management strategies for reorganizations, new systems, and process changes, including readiness assessments, communication plans, training, and adoption tracking.

Process Optimization & Standardization:

• Map, develop, and document workflows and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across content creation, campaigns, digital production, and communication functions.

• Establish quality assurance checkpoints, approval structures, KPIs, and metrics to enhance efficiency and brand consistency.

• Provide training and ensure consistent department-wide adoption of processes and SOPs.

• Foster a culture of evaluation and continuous improvement through campaign debriefs, feedback tools, and institutionalized learnings.

Systems & Resource Management:

• Own and optimize the Digital Asset Management System (DAM): structure, permissions, workflow integration, asset lifecycle, brand compliance, and system training.

• Maintain inventory of all templates, collateral, and brand resources, ensuring version control and accessibility.

• Oversee development and operationalization of the Podcast/Vodcast Studio, including technical setup, booking systems, multipurpose use strategy, and iterative improvements.

Financial and Vendor Oversight:

• Partner with the SVP to develop and manage the department budget.

• Track expenditures, approve expenses, coordinate purchase orders and invoicing, and provide financial reporting to leadership.

• Identify cost-saving opportunities and manage vendor/contract negotiations to maximize value and compliance with financial policies.

Department Events, Retreats & Special Initiatives:

• Lead planning and operational execution of internal Communications staff retreats: format design, logistics, outcomes alignment, and follow-up tracking.

• Coordinate strategic and operational delivery of Supreme Court rallies in partnership with Legal and administrative teams (physical and digital components).

• Support execution of high-visibility events and initiatives as delegated by the SVP.

Cultural Leadership in Evaluation & Learning:

• Champion a department-wide mindset of accountability, evaluation, and data-informed improvement.

• Schedule and facilitate evaluations of key campaigns, initiatives, events, and rallies.

• Develop tools and processes to capture insights and ensure lessons learned are applied to future work.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business administration, project management or related field, or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• 10+ years of relevant experience.

• 5+ years of managerial experience.

• Exceptional strengths in building cross-functional partnerships and fostering a culture of teamwork and shared accountability.

• Ability to anticipate risks, resolve conflicts, and implement sustainable solutions while driving continuous improvement.

• Proven ability to drive process improvement, SOP development, and workflow optimization.

• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

• Knowledge of project management methodologies and best practices, including change management and adoption strategies.

• Knowledge of marketing/communications operations and campaign workflows.

• Knowledge of digital asset management standards and lifecycle governance.

• Ability to deliver complex projects on time, within scope and budget.

• Budgeting, financial oversight, and vendor/contract management experience.

• Balance multiple priorities while ensuring accuracy, quality, and timeliness

Pay & Benefits

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges, our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

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