Chief External Affairs Officer

PRIMARY PURPOSE: The Chief External Affairs Officer is a vital member of the North Texas Food Bank's executive leadership team with responsibility for leading stakeholder relationships, programs and messaging including the leadership and management of philanthropy, marketing, volunteer engagement, and advocacy. Specific areas include individual philanthropy (major and planned gifts, direct mail appeals, digital outreach), foundation and corporate giving, Board and Advisory Council relations, brand management, marketing, communications and public policy strategies. This innovative and results-driven leader is actively engaged in the development and execution of NTFB's strategic plan, with the goal to advance the organizations position with relevant constituents as well as to drive broader awareness and donor support for the organization. The Chief External Affairs Officer works closely with the CEO, executive leadership team, Board of Directors and Advisory Council.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Education/Certification:• Bachelor's degree• Advanced degree or CFRE a plusSpecial Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:• Best practices in fundraising, communications and marketing for a nonprofit organization• Collaborative team member• Skilled communicator to credibly inspire various audiences, written and oral• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills• Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail• Ability to develop long-term plans and programs and to evaluate work accomplishments• Ability to successfully implement organizational programs and initiatives• Ability to present objective facts and recommendations effectively in oral and written form• Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, project management and CRM systemsExperience:• Minimum of 10 years of success in leading, building and growing comprehensive philanthropy and marketing programs of comparable size, including 5 years of experience supervising staff, budgeting, planning and managing workflow in a multi-layered organization• Demonstrated success in soliciting and closing 6- and 7-figure gifts with substantial experience working with high-net-worth individuals, preferably in the North Texas community• Must be able to persuasively articulate mission, values and strategy to multiple audiences in a compelling way, including presentations and on-air interviews• Excellent strategic thinking skills, with the ability to operationalize concepts, transform ideas into action and apply data and research to ongoing program developmentPRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Leadership and Strategy• Inspire, motivate and influence others by continuously connecting the work to those we serve through authentic, positive communication, thoughtful actions and meaningful connections with staff, Network Partners, donors, volunteers and other key stakeholders to secure necessary resources• Enable strategies and investments to support the multi-year strategic plan and annual workplans of the North Texas Food Bank, inclusive of engaging the community• Drive performance management and results orientation through effective objective-setting, coaching, monitoring action plans and evaluation of results, while creating a culture of empowerment and growth for employees• Collaborate as a business partner across NTFB and with executive leadership to align and support decisions as a team• Manage the work and membership of NTFB's Advisory Council with Council leadership and engage NTFB's board in philanthropic and thought leadership opportunities• Plan and carefully manage budgets and forecasting to ensure resources are allocated accurately, efficiently, and effectively to adequately support NTFB's mission• Learn, lead and collaborate in opportunities within our local community as well as our Feeding America and Feeding Texas networks• Manage results-driven supplier relationships to ensure a strong ROI in execution of our work.• Perform other tasks and duties as assignedPhilanthropy• Lead the development, implementation and management of multi-year strategies with the philanthropy team to increase, diversify and sustain support for the organization's mission through multiple channels to achieve eight-figure public support goals annually and for the endowment• Build transformational relationships for sustainable revenue, relevance and impact across individuals, corporations, foundations, organizations and government entities via multiple fundraising channels• Oversee key processes, tools (e.g., CRM systems) and reporting that help the team deliver results by channel, supporting the ability to meet neighbor needs and drive innovation• Manage and steward a personal portfolio of key donors (including board members) to cultivate, maintain and grow engagement and revenue• Support revenue growth of the Feeding North Texas Foundation in support of strategic plan while also ensuring annual operational goals are metMarketing, Communications and Volunteerism• Develop and implement strategies that advance NTFB's brand identity, broaden awareness of its programs and priorities, and solidify its position as the region's expert on the hunger landscape• Partner with the Community Impact team to develop external communications that support outreach initiatives related to NTFB programs and services for our neighbors and partners.• Create marketing/public relations strategies and messaging that will allow NTFB leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted external audiences, including the media, public officials, community leaders and other key influencers• Oversee marketing, events, campaigns and cause-related programs, from concept to completion• Provide leadership to optimize the volunteer experience• Oversee the development of all NTFB print communications, including annual reports, marketing collateral and direct mail; manage relationships with associated vendors• Lead the continued growth of Network Engagement Services to invest in and equip agencies in the NTFB's Network to deliver upon their missions with enhanced development and storytelling• Lead, define and execute recommended external communications strategies to mitigate organizational challenges and opportunities, inclusive of managing a Crisis Communication PlanGovernment Relations• Oversee the plan to influence legislation and public policy on behalf of NTFB at the local, state and federal level• Collaborate to develop and align with Feeding America and Feeding Texas legislative agendas, participating in collaborative planning and advocacy with elected officials and staff as needed• Increase stakeholder engagement and training for hunger policy advocacySUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:• Lead a team of ~5 direct reports responsible for Philanthropy (including Major Gifts and Donor Strategy), Foundation Giving and Strategic Programs, Marketing and Communications (including Events and Volunteerism), Government Relations and an Executive Assistant• Approximately 35 in total departmentMENTAL DEMANDS:• The person in this position needs to adapt well in the face of workplace stressors, such as completing priorities of reasonable or high significance to the successful function of the unit.• Must be able to effectively interpret data and make critical decisions that will have a significant impact on the team and organization.PHYSICAL DEMANDS:• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk or hear.• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:• The position is onsite at Plano campus with regular presence at the Dallas campus as needed.• Regular local travel to donor and community meetings is expected as well as some travel out of the area for conferences and training.ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:• Moderate noise (i.e., business office with open floor plan with computers, phones, printers and light traffic)The mental and physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all skills, duties, responsibilities, efforts, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, NTFB reserves the right to revise the job or to require other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

Created: 2025-02-25