Strategic Communications Coordinator

Description

Executive Communications. Thought Leadership. Real Ownership.

Full-Time | Washington, DC | In-Person | $70,000–$90,000 + Performance-Based Bonus Opportunities 

We're looking for a resourceful, intellectually curious communications professional with exceptional writing skills, strong research abilities, and the project-management experience to turn leadership priorities into completed initiatives. 

Hylton-Rodic Law (HRL) is a boutique intellectual property law firm serving innovators in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, universities, and the life sciences.

Our work combines sophisticated legal expertise with trusted professional relationships and a deep understanding of the industries we serve. 

This isn't a traditional content creation or social media role. You'll work directly with firm leadership to execute executive communications, coordinate thought leadership initiatives, support professional relationships, and manage projects from direction through completion. 

Leadership establishes strategy, priorities, positioning, substantive messaging, and final approvals. You'll translate that direction into actionable plans, coordinate contributors, and deliver polished, complete work. 

You'll collaborate with Marketing, which leads visual design, creative production, and routine publishing. 

You don't need expertise in intellectual property law or biotechnology—just the curiosity, initiative, and resourcefulness to learn. 

What You'll Do 

• Develop executive and professional communications, including correspondence, presentations, briefings, talking points, speeches, and leadership messaging aligned with approved priorities. 
• Execute thought leadership initiatives, researching topics and coordinating articles, interviews, speaking opportunities, webinars, and other professional communications. 
• Own projects from direction through completion, identifying resources, milestones, and dependencies; coordinating contributors; managing approvals; and delivering completed work. 
• Research industry developments and professional opportunities, identifying relevant organizations, events, publications, networks, and emerging topics; present practical recommendations to leadership. 
• Support business development and relationship engagement, drafting targeted outreach, coordinating follow-ups, and helping leadership maintain professional connections. 
• Translate complex technical and legal subjects into clear, accurate communications appropriate for clients, prospective clients, and industry stakeholders. 
• Coordinate communications initiatives, including newsletters, executive LinkedIn campaigns, webinars, podcasts, and other programs, collaborating with Marketing on production and publication. 
• Manage conferences and speaking engagements, coordinating submissions, speaker materials, presentations, promotional communications, approvals, and follow-up. 
• Maintain project plans and workflows, tracking priorities, timelines, responsibilities, outstanding actions, and dependencies while providing proactive leadership updates. 
• Anticipate and resolve execution challenges, identifying delays, developing solutions, escalating decisions appropriately, and ensuring initiatives reach completion. 

You'll receive direction and feedback, but we'll expect you to independently organize execution, communicate proactively, and keep projects moving without constant supervision. 

Requirements

What We're Looking For 

We're looking for an emerging professional with exceptional writing ability, intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, and demonstrated experience independently executing projects. 

You should bring: 

• 2–4 years of experience in strategic communications, executive communications, public relations, professional services, business development, consulting, journalism, project coordination, or a related field. 
• Demonstrated end-to-end project ownership, including planning, coordinating contributors, managing timelines and dependencies, and delivering completed work. 
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives and deadlines. 
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, including polished communications for professional and executive audiences. 
• Strong research and analytical abilities, including understanding unfamiliar subjects and synthesizing information clearly. 
• Professional interpersonal and verbal communication skills, including working directly with senior leadership and external stakeholders. 
• Strong editorial judgment concerning audience, tone, accuracy, confidentiality, and professional credibility. 
• Sound judgment, independent problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, project-management and research tools, and the thoughtful use of AI to improve drafting and workflow efficiency. 
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent demonstrated professional experience. 

Especially valuable: Experience supporting executives or senior professionals; working in a law firm, consulting firm, professional services organization, or knowledge-intensive environment; and coordinating thought leadership, speeches, presentations, proposals, webinars, or executive-level initiatives. 

We value strong writing, demonstrated execution, resourcefulness, and sound judgment over experience with every responsibility listed. 

Compensation & Benefits 

$70,000–$90,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience, plus potential performance-based bonus opportunities. 

This is a full-time, in-person position based in Washington, DC. 

Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) with employer matching; commuter benefits; paid time off; mental-health days; birthday leave; Sunshine Fridays; professional-development support; and an extended year-end holiday break. 

How to Apply 

Please submit your résumé and a brief cover letter (one page maximum) addressing the following: 

1. Demonstrated Project Execution: Describe a substantial professional project or initiative you personally managed or coordinated from beginning to end. What did you own, how did you organize and execute the work, and what was the outcome? 
2. Resourcefulness & Problem-Solving: Share an example of an unfamiliar challenge or obstacle you encountered without an obvious solution. How did you investigate your options, what actions did you personally take, and what was the result? 

Please use examples from your actual professional experience and distinguish between responsibilities you independently owned and those you supported. 

Selected candidates may be asked to provide additional materials, including a college transcript, short video response, or writing sample. Finalists will complete a compensated practical assessment.