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.
Are you knowledgeable and passionate about helping family businesses thrive? Do you want to partner with governance leaders at an iconic brand to help them progress initiatives and communicate with stakeholders? L.L.Bean in Freeport, Maine is seeking a Senior Governance & Family Communications Advisor to become a trusted partner to governance leaders. In this role, you would shape clear, thoughtful communications, coordinate meaningful initiatives, and help connect family members to the business in ways that strengthen alignment, trust, and long‑term stewardship. This position requires a strategic mindset, collaborative approach, communications expertise, and project management and facilitation skills. Experience operating in a family business environment is strongly preferred. This role requires (minimum) 3 days per week onsite.
Job Description:
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 connects family members to company resources and helps progress important family initiatives. The advisor develops and distributes communications supporting the governance system, especially on behalf of the Board Chair. The role helps to ensure appropriate family awareness and involvement in key company issues, while maintaining alignment across internal and external resources.
Responsibilities:
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 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.
Provide Governance support, project management and meeting facilitation for the 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.
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 – engaging with external parties as needed.
Provide professional facilitation as needed.
In alignment with the Governance Liaison, quarterback needs for internal services, overseeing their coordination and ensuring follow through – this may include HR support or internal consulting.
Help identify matters that may require Governance Committee or family input/awareness.
In coordination with Finance/Strategy, help facilitate the understanding of family points of view on areas of oversight such as financial return or brand execution, participating in the coordination of quarterly meeting content aligned with owner needs.
Health and Safety Requirement: Every employee is responsible for contributing to a safe and healthy workplace. Employees are expected to be active participants in health and safety by following all safety policies and procedures, reporting unsafe conditions or at-risk behaviors to leadership, and conducting work in a safe manner. Those in a leadership role are also expected to model safe behaviors, evaluate risk, and ensure that risks are reduced to acceptable levels.
Education Level: 4-Year Bachelors Degree
Years of Experience: 7+
Skills and 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.