Director of Public Engagement & Outreach

Job Title:  Director of Public Engagement & Outreach

Department:  Public Affairs

Reports to:  Chief Legal Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Date Revised: May 2026

Position Summary

The Director of Public Engagement & Outreach is tasked with providing strategic leadership for LOPA’s outreach and community engagement initiatives throughout the state, centered on the vital mission of organ, tissue, and eye donation. Holding primary accountability for the impact and performance of these efforts, the Director designs and implements a comprehensive strategy aimed at bolstering public support and increasing life-saving donor registrations. This leadership role focuses on advancing public understanding of donation through high-level strategic planning and statewide execution.

Overseeing a team of Public Engagement Specialists, the Director ensures high-quality outreach that prioritizes donor registration and elevates LOPA’s presence through strategic partnerships, media relations and public affairs alignment. This role moves beyond general engagement to build the systems and visibility required to influence public perception, maximize donation potential, and drive measurable mission impact across Louisiana.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Develop and lead a statewide public engagement and outreach strategy aligned with organizational goals and growth targets
• Establish clear priorities, target audiences, and engagement models that enhance public awareness, increase community support and drive donor registration based upon cultural and community dynamics
• Design and implement scalable programs that integrate donation awareness, health education, and prevention messaging
• Collaborate with peer leaders across the organization to shape and align engagement initiatives with enterprise priorities, ensuring outreach strategies are integrated, consistent, and impactful 
• Translate organizational strategy into actionable outreach plans for regional execution

Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Public Engagement Specialists (Level I & II)
• Establish performance expectations tied to outcomes (e.g., engagement quality, relationship depth, registration impact)
• Provide ongoing feedback, mentorship, and professional development opportunities
• Ensure consistency in messaging, presentation quality, and community engagement standards across regions

Public Engagement & Community Strategy

• Establish and oversee high-impact community engagement efforts, ensuring alignment with LOPA’s mission and brand
• Identify and prioritize key communities, organizations, and stakeholder groups for strategic outreach
• Guide the development of regional engagement plans that deepen relationships and expand reach
• Partner with peer leaders to evaluate and refine engagement approaches based on community feedback and performance data

Public Affairs & Media Relations Alignment

• Oversee and support LOPA’s media engagement strategy, including intake, evaluation, and guidance for participation in media opportunities
• Partner with Communications and Marketing to ensure consistent messaging, brand alignment, and high-quality execution across all media engagements
• Partner closely with other internal leaders to align engagement and outreach with media, messaging, organizational and brand strategy
• Influence cross-functional initiatives by providing community insights, stakeholder perspectives, and engagement expertise
• Ensure field insights inform organizational messaging, positioning, and decision-making
• Support and guide participation in public awareness campaigns and community storytelling
• Strengthen LOPA’s visibility and credibility through coordinated external engagement efforts

Partnership Development & Community Leadership

• Work in partnership with internal leaders to identify and advance strategic opportunities that elevate LOPA’s presence and community impact
• Serve as a connector between internal strategy and external execution, ensuring alignment across teams and initiatives
• Establish and maintain high-level relationships with community leaders, healthcare partners, advocacy groups, and civic organizations
• Represent LOPA in leadership forums, coalitions, and community initiatives as appropriate
• Drive collaboration opportunities that extend beyond transactional outreach to sustained engagement
• Partner with the LOPA Foundation and internal leadership to identify, pursue, and support philanthropic, grant, and sponsorship opportunities that advance public education and community engagement initiatives
• Support the development of compelling grant proposals, funding narratives, stewardship reports, and community impact materials aligned with organizational priorities
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with foundations, philanthropic partners, and community investors to expand resources supporting donation education and outreach efforts
• Collaborate with the LOPA Foundation to align community engagement strategies with fundraising priorities, donor stewardship efforts, and mission advancement initiatives
• Assist in evaluating funding opportunities and ensuring grant-supported programs demonstrate measurable outcomes and community impact
• Support sustainability of outreach initiatives through strategic funding partnerships and community investment opportunities 

Volunteer Strategy & Oversight

• Align volunteer efforts with organizational priorities to extend reach and impact
• Support the development of a strong volunteer pipeline that enhances community advocacy

Public Policy Engagement (Coordination Only)

• Support alignment with government and legislative initiatives related to donation and public health as appropriate 
• Maintain awareness of relevant public policy topics and appropriately communicate key information to team and external stakeholders as appropriate
• Build foundational relationships with community and civic leaders that support informed dialogue and trust as appropriate 

Data, Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Accountable for establishing and achieving metrics related to outreach effectiveness and community impact 
• Regularly report on performance, outcomes, and strategic opportunities to LOPA leadership
• Use data insights to drive a culture of donation through continuous improvement, innovation, and responsiveness to community needs

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Affairs, Public Health, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 7–10+ years of experience in public engagement, community relations, public affairs, or outreach leadership
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing multi-regional or large-scale engagement programs
• Strong background in relationship management, partnership development, and public-facing strategy
• Experience working with media, community leaders, and/or public sector stakeholders preferred
• Experience with grant writing, philanthropic partnerships, foundation collaboration, or community-based funding initiatives preferred 

Core Competencies 

• Strategic Leadership: Visualizes and translate strategy into execution at scale
• Relationship Stewardship: Builds and sustains high-trust partnerships across diverse stakeholders
• Influence & Presence: Represents the organization with credibility in high-visibility environments
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Uses insights to guide strategy and improve outcomes
• People Development: Coaches and develops talent to strengthen organizational capacity
• Resource Development & Stewardship: Supports sustainable mission growth through strategic funding partnerships, grant development, and community investment initiatives 

Work Environment & Expectations

• Full-time, salaried position (Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM), with flexibility as needed
• May require after-hours availability and occasional travel
• Office and clinical environments; occasional exposure to clinical materials

ADA & EEO Compliance

LOPA provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you need accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources.

LOPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.