Chief External Affairs Officer

Job Purpose/Summary

The Chief External Affairs Officer (CEAO) for Communities In Schools of Nevada serves as a member of the senior leadership team and supervises the Manager of Community & Government Affairs to identify and secure additional public funding for CIS’ model of Integrated Student Supports.

The CEAO’s primary areas of responsibility include strategic messaging and communications, policy advocacy, government relations and stakeholder engagement as outlined in detail below.

The CEAO should be an innovative and collaborative leader who will actively represent Communities In Schools of Nevada (CIS) in the community on behalf of our students. The CEAO must share a passion for our mission to radically improve the ways kids live, learn, and achieve success in school and in their communities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Messaging & Communications

• Ensures that the strategic marketing and communications plan, positions the organization with key networks and constituencies by working in collaboration with the Chief Development Officer
• Collaborates with the Director of Marketing & Communications to identify necessary budget and vendor support to execute on marketing and communications plan.
• Provides guidance for strategic messaging, public relations, and relevant stakeholder briefing documents.
• Serves as a final review on any collateral, assets or other press materials that have elected or appointed officials as the target audience.
• Considers the implications of the organization’s diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion efforts when approving and advising on messaging and the engagement of students and families in storytelling.

Policy, Government Relations & Stakeholder Engagement

• Acts as a key advisor to the CEO on critical changes in education policy, legislative, and regulatory issues.
• Manages the CISpeaks program, an internal advocacy and training program for high school students, alumni, and site coordinators.
• Facilitates, establishes, and maintains appropriate relationships with elected officials, social service organizations, community agencies, and other key stakeholders in all affiliates, ensuring a clear understanding of organization’s community impact.
• Provides strategic guidance to Affiliate Executive Directors on cultivating and stewarding relationships with senior school district leaders, including Superintendents, school board members, and relevant cabinet and department leads.
• Partners with the Director of Grants to facilitate and manage internal public funding meetings to include key staff from both departments in coordinating outreach to elected and appointed officials.
• Collaborates with the Development team to identify appropriate stakeholders to include in various events and fundraising campaigns to leverage private gifts and public contributions to meet the organization’s revenue goals.
• Ensures the maintenance of a database of relevant external affairs stakeholders to provide regular communications tailored to that audience and maintain a record of engagement with those elected, appointed officials and community leaders.
• Develops a strategy for how and which staff across the State Office and affiliates will represent CIS to external partners, committees, coalitions, and boards; works with Manager of Community & Government Affairs to host meetings and debrief these engagements.
• Manages retained government affairs firms and relevant staff, ensuring coordination of message, assigned elected official relationship portfolios, and policy positions and requests.
• Travels throughout the state for relevant meetings and events, ensuring strong representation of Communities In Schools of Nevada in all affiliates, and in Carson City during the legislative session and interim.
• Promotes collaboration between Government Relations Manager, Marketing Manager and Director of Marketing & Communications to ensure strategic alignment of messaging to high-level stakeholders including elected officials, social service organizations, community agencies, and other key stakeholders in all affiliates served.
• Cultivates a diverse array of funding streams, including a fully braided fund development program across relevant jurisdictions including federal and state government, municipalities, and school districts to shift organization’s funding mix to 75% public funds.
• Testifies on behalf of Communities In Schools of Nevada during legislative sessions and at other relevant public bodies.
• Partners with the Director of Grants and Resource Development Department to broker public-private partnerships and conduct outreach to relevant stakeholders for public grants.
• Identifies, cultivates, and facilitates partnerships with key community leaders and agencies, coordinating with program staff on appropriate follow-ups and reporting.
• Considers organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion when recommending policy positions and coalitions and networks with whom to engage.
• Mobilizes organization’s network of champions, including donors, members of the Board of Directors, Leadership Circle, programmatic and community partners, and key staff for advocacy opportunities.

Organizational Leadership

• Serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, advising the CEO and other senior leaders on decisions affecting the organization.
• Participates in relevant convenings, including the annual Communities In Schools National Town Hall, Today for Tomorrow gala, biannual Leadership Circle events, and other events as assigned.
• Engages in organization’s diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion efforts, and considers this lens when supervising, coaching and mentoring staff.

Supervision, Mentorship & Coaching

• Oversees the external affairs functions of the organization, including supervision of the Manager of Community & Government Affairs.
• Provides ongoing mentorship and performance coaching for members of the department.
• Conducts annual performance reviews for direct report(s) and supports their professional and personal development goals.
• Serves as a coach and strategic advisor to department employees by conducting weekly one-on-one meetings.

Qualifications and Competencies

At a minimum, the Chief External Affairs Officer will have a bachelor’s degree in political science, education, business administration, social work, or nonprofit-related field.

In addition, the CEAO shall have:

• At least five years of management experience.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated superior written and oral communication skills with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated success in leading an organization to new levels through creative and effective funding strategies and programs.
• Comprehensive knowledge of operations, financial management, strategic planning, and improvement.
• A proven history of working effectively and building relationships with key stakeholders including board of directors, legislators, government officials, education leaders and/or corporate leaders.
• Ability to remove barriers, drive decision-making and influence ethical and compliant outcomes.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Work environment is indoors and climate controlled. Occasionally, exposed to outdoor weather conditions.
• Moderate noise levels as found in a business office setting.
• Travel is required.

**Starting salary is $90,000 but is negotiable depending on experience***

***This position is subject to a DISC Profile Assessment & Employee Campaign Contributions Policy***