Job Description

At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging and creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome—both here and Outside. We value individual differences and are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment where everyone can bring the best of their experience and talents and truly thrive.

Position Purpose

The Senior Governance & Family Communications Advisor supports the communications and related needs of L.L.Bean’s family governance leaders. Alongside HR, other members of the Governance Resource Team and external advisors, this role supports the governance system through strategic communications, coordination, project management, and facilitation.

The advisor consults with the Board Chair, Governance Committee Chair, Governance Liaison, and family governance leaders to provide communications and project support, as well as connect family members to company resources and help progress important family initiatives. The advisor develops and distributes communications supporting the governance system, especially on behalf of the Board Chair. The role helps ensure appropriate family awareness and involvement in key company issues while maintaining alignment across internal and external resources.

Family and Governance Communications

• Serve as communications advisor to the Board Chair, Governance Committee Chair, and other family members as needed.

• Create and maintain a communications strategy for the family audience, including curating business updates.

• Develop and execute an annual Governance Committee Roadmap that encompasses communication and project needs for the Board Chair, Governance Committee Chair, and the family editorial planning calendar of all communication activities.

• Generate and deliver original written and multimedia content for the Board Chair, Governance Committee Chair, and other key family governance leaders (including formal and informal presentations and talking points, written announcements, speeches, video messages, etc.) for internal and external communications on topics such as governance, Purpose, and stakeholder engagement.

• Maintain and update the Family SharePoint site and the Family Guidebook. Stay abreast of advances in communication technologies as they pertain to enhancing communications practices at L.L.Bean.

• Work in close partnership with the Corporate Internal & External Communications teams, ensuring the family audience stays abreast of key business developments and that all messaging is appropriate and aligned with external messaging objectives.

Governance Support, Project Management & Meeting Facilitation

• Provide support and content for Board, Owners Council, and Governance Committee meetings.

• In partnership with Governance Leaders, coordinate topics and agendas to ensure cohesion across governance and alignment with management.

• Coordinate Owners Council meetings, milestones, and events in partnership with the Owners Council Chair and Co-Chair.

• Attend Governance Committee meetings and assist in progressing agreed-upon actions in partnership with the Board Chair, Governance Committee Chair, Governance Liaison, and external advisors.

• Support the Board Chair and Governance Committee through project management and planning tasks, as well as ad hoc projects such as Continuity Check-Ins—engaging with external parties as needed.

• Provide professional facilitation.

• Help identify matters that may require Governance Committee or family input/awareness.

Coordination of Internal Resources

• Quarterback requests for internal services, overseeing coordination and ensuring follow-through.

• Support the Governance Liaison in coordinating internal resources with various internal groups in support of the governance system, including (but not limited to):

Talent & Learning and HRBT

• Career advising and employment opportunity identification for current or prospective family employees

• Relevant group and/or individual learning and education opportunities

• Support for employee relations matters involving family employees

• Succession planning for future family leaders and key management roles

• Annual family employee check-ins to discuss development

Compensation

• Compensation analysis for leadership positions within the family structure or ad hoc projects (e.g., meeting fees)

• Oversight, with external support, for Shareholder Dividend and Compensation policies

Finance / Strategy Planning

• Understanding of family POVs on areas of oversight, including financial return and Brand execution

• Content coordination for quarterly meetings aligned with owner needs

Team Leadership

• Oversee the tasks of the part-time Family Project Specialist who supports family communications and SharePoint maintenance.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years’ experience in a communications role focused on executive and/or Board messaging

• Strategic thinker with excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Strong project management capabilities and experience

• Integrator who recognizes interdependencies and collaborates across the governance system and company to achieve results

• Able to act as a consultant to Executives, Owners, and Board members

• Able to integrate behavior, culture, and Brand with communication objectives

• Strong, results-focused leader whose behaviors align with L.L.Bean’s values

• Diplomatic and reliable

• Able to influence without authority

• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management abilities

• Able to simplify complex information and design messaging for audiences under tight timeframes

• Able to manage multiple projects independently and collaboratively

• Strong industry knowledge

• Prior experience working in a family-owned, privately held organization a plus

If you care about the outdoors, joining L.L.Bean is a great way to feel good about what you do. Our benefits package makes a good thing even better, with programs and perks designed to support your health and financial goals. Plus, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and re-charging outside are all part of the plan.

If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you'd be great at this role, we'd love to learn more about you! At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We strive to reflect this every day in our commitments to employees and partners and in our efforts to promote belonging.