The Broadcasting Board of Governors named Lynne Weil director of communications and external affairs. That’s likely to be a high-profile job, given that the board is in the midst of trying to secure support for its planned restructuring.

BBG Chairman Walter Isaacson said Weil has foreign affairs and journalistic experience “as well as first-hand knowledge of how Congress works. The board will draw heavily on Lynne’s expertise as we craft the proposed legislation to innovate U.S. international broadcasting for the 21st century.”

Weil will act as the board’s “primary strategist on communications and outreach activities, and as the board’s chief advisor for congressional and external affairs,” it announced. Part of the job is coordinating communications operations of Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks and Radio and TV Marti.

Weil comes from the U.S. State Department, where she was director and spokeswoman for the U.S. Agency for International Development and then a senior advisor to the under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs. She is a former legislative fellow for Sen. Ted Kennedy and had communications roles for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee. She was a journalist for United Press International, California Public Radio Network and Radio Deutsche Welle.

She replaces Diane Zeleny, who held the job for a short time last year. Letitia King continues as director of the office of public affairs at BBG.