Chief External Affairs Officer

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Job Description - Chief External Affairs Officer (240009KQ) The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged. We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas.
At Children's Trust, we are seeking a creative, strategic leader to fill the pivotal role of Chief External Affairs Officer (CEAO). The CEAO will lead marketing and communications, development, and advocacy to support our work of preventing child abuse and neglect across Massachusetts. The CEAO will help to restructure and expand a cross-functional external affairs team including dedicated staff for:
Marketing, Communications & EventsDevelopmentPublic PolicyThe CEAO's initial focus will be to increase raised dollars by solidifying fundraising campaigns and developing multiyear pipelines of major donors, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships. An additional priority area will include building an advocacy program that aligns across strategic priorities.
The mission of Children's Trust is to partner with organizations and communities to drive systemic change that addresses the root causes of child abuse and neglect. We provide and fund high-quality programs and services, deliver training and technical assistance to the family support workforce, and advocate for statewide policy decisions that build resilient families, enabling children to grow up safe and thrive. Our values of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and celebrating successes are at the core of the work we do. Children's Trust Massachusetts has an annual budget of approximately $26M from Federal and State funding and an additional average annual raise of $850K from our 501c3, with plans to significantly expand non-profit fundraising to support the organization's new strategic plan.
Position Overview Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the CEAO will lead an integrated team that includes staff, consultants and student interns responsible for marketing & communications, special events, institutional and individual giving, and legislative advocacy. The CEAO will work to create awareness about CT's vision, mission, and programs to support our broader initiatives and specifically diversify our giving strategy and donor pipeline across all development constituencies. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in fundraising, as well as implementing marketing and communication strategies and supporting government affairs.
If you are a dynamic, strengths-based, collaborative leader, driven to create positive change and advance our mission, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding position and join our passionate team at the Massachusetts Children's Trust.
Key Responsibilities Fundraising and Development Design and execute multi-year, high impact development strategy that provides cross-organizational support to reach revenue targets, which grow substantially over the next five years.Manage and expand a diverse portfolio of major donors and prospects and build a multi-year strategic pipeline of new and expanded funding streams.In partnership with the ED, be visible in the state and externally represent Children's Trust, attending events and meetings and serving as spokesperson when required.Manage annual giving appeals that acquire, retain, and engage donors through direct mail, digital, and email communications.Together with the ED, engage and activate board members, ensuring they are effectively oriented and ready to participate in donor cultivation strategies; increase the board's overall understanding and capacity to cultivate new donors and to fundraise.Actively serve as a key steward and liaison for major donors and board members, managing and facilitating board gift strategy and executing key asks.Integrate a revenue diversification lens into the development strategy, expanding support from major donors and securing new revenues from corporations and foundations.Communications and Marketing Oversee the development and execution of a comprehensive strategy for CT that promotes a strong public image, as well as advances fund development priorities and other organizational goals.Work across all public relations disciplines and tactics to increase awareness and engagement statewide (including but not limited to media relations, community outreach, social media, events, and wider digital/OOH campaigns as needed).Manage the development of substantive, consistent messaging across the organization to promote CT's mission, vision, values, and programs.Collaborate with Children's Trust staff and consultants to turn program and evaluation insights, policy advocacy, and research, into compelling communications tailored to target audiences.Oversee the writing, editing, production, dissemination, and maintenance of all written and electronic communications.Organizational Leadership and Management As a member of the five-person executive team, participate in agency wide planning and provide strategic direction and leadership to staff.Ensure external affairs staff are equipped with the strategies, expertise, and support necessary to advance the organization through performance evaluations, professional development and coaching.Foster efficient and effective cross-functional teamwork and metric based short and long term deliverables, executing against multi-year strategic goals and financial objectives.Promote and build a culture of philanthropy across the organization, building staff capacity to support external affairs efforts that expand CT's impact.Identify, develop, add and/or refine systems to ensure smooth operations such as technology, software or subscriptions, including leading the organization's successful selection and transition to a new CMS.Integrate and foster an organizational culture that promotes growth, collaboration, accountability and is intentional about practices that advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.Supervise, mentor and coach direct reports, delegating work streams effectively to ensure streamlined collaboration, communication, and planning.Oversee department budget.Oversee the special events strategy, working in partnership with CEO, board and staff to promote special events, building targeted cultivation strategies, and securing honorees, sponsorships, and VIP guests.Lead and attend board meetings and work with the CEO to deepen understanding of CT's work, ensuring board members are engaged and energized.Other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements A minimum of 5-7 years of senior level experience driving significant philanthropic revenue generation (e.g. $1M+); experience in either the private or nonprofit sector is valued, while cross-sector experience would be ideal.Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams including multiple facets of external affairs to accomplish ambitious goals.Proficient in MS Office Suite and computer skills and proficiency in development software preferred.Ability to consult, advise, communicate, and work collaboratively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.Impeccable integrity, judgment, and discretion. Must be a proficient and diplomatic communicator.Strategic thinker and planner; strong project management skills; highly organized and detail-oriented.Highly skilled in exercising initiative, judgment, discretion, and decision-making to achieve objectives.Ability to refine and tweak systems and tools for development operations, including databases, reporting, and donor research tools that support revenue growth and diversification.High standards of excellence combined with a supportive and growth-oriented management style.Culturally competent regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Able to have difficult and effective conversations about race and equity while meeting audiences where they are.Exceptional writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills.Excellent manager of people, ready to coach, and develop our greatest asset at CT, our people!Travel will be required for this position.
Questions regarding this position or the application process should be directed to ******.
Qualifications MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must have at least (A) seven (7) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least three (3) years must have been in a managerial capacity.
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Official Title : Program Manager IX Primary LocationJobJob: EducationAgencyAgency: Department of Early Education and CareScheduleSchedule: Full-timeShiftShift: DayJob PostingNumber of OpeningsNumber of Openings: 1Salary: 113,723.38 - 176,097.31 YearlyIf you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Ferdousi Faruque - 7813386108
Bargaining Unit : M99-Managers (EXE)
Confidential : No
Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : Yes

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