Chief External Affairs Officer

Compass Working Capital•Boston, MA

1d•Remote

About The Position

Compass is an innovative, mission-driven organization that supports families with low incomes to save for their future and access greater economic opportunity. We believe in our clients and in their ability to achieve their goals and dreams. We deliver high-quality financial coaching combined with externally funded savings opportunities and seek to shape the national approach to poverty alleviation through practice and policy change. Compass is also an emerging leader in a national effort to leverage housing assistance as a platform for economic mobility. Our mission is to partner with families with low incomes to build assets as a pathway out of poverty. We focus on reaching families led by Black and/or Latina women. To achieve our mission, we operate client-centered savings and financial coaching programs, deliver training and technical assistance to other practitioners, and shape policy solutions that dismantle barriers to asset building. Since 2010, Compass has partnered with more than 7,300 families and helped them increase their earnings by over $50 million and build more than $35 million in savings. Graduates of our asset building programs save on average $10,000, average 70 point credit score increases, and increase their annual income by $26,000. An independent, multi-year evaluation by Abt Associates found that Compass’ Family Self-Sufficiency program produces benefits to families that far outweigh the cost. We are looking for a senior leader who wants to be part of taking our programs and our impact to the next level. This is a rare opportunity for an experienced advancement leader who combines philanthropic fundraising depth with a genuine marketing and brand-building mindset – someone who can bring rigorous analytics to fundraising strategy, translate marketing investment into visibility and revenue, and build the team capacity Compass needs to sustain a multi-year, multi-channel resource strategy across individual philanthropy, corporate and foundation partnerships, business development/earned revenue, and government funding. Reporting to the CEO and serving as a key member of Compass’ Executive Team, the Chief External Affairs Officer (CEAO) will lead Compass’ development, business development, marketing, and communications functions, driving the philanthropic, earned-revenue, and brand strategies that fuel the organization’s national growth. With a $15M+ operating budget, 85+ staff members, and a growing base of institutional, corporate, and government support, Compass is midway through a seven-year strategic plan and scaling innovative approaches to economic mobility for families with low incomes. The External Affairs team is composed of 8 staff based in Greater Boston. The current fiscal year budget allows for the expansion of the development and marketing team, and the CEAO will play a pivotal role in building the team and systems needed to sustain that growth. Compass’ federal and state policy strategy is led directly by the CEO, with support from a dedicated Director of Policy and an experienced policy team. The CEAO will partner closely with the CEO on policy-related communications and external messaging, ensuring Compass’ policy priorities are well integrated into its brand, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement strategy, without owning day-to-day policy management.

Requirements

At least 10-15 years of progressive experience spanning development, marketing/communications, and business development, ideally in a growth-oriented nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
10+ years of progressive leadership experience spanning fundraising/development and marketing or communications; prior Chief Development Officer, Chief Advancement Officer, or equivalent experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success building and leading a multi-year philanthropic fundraising strategy, including major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, and government grants.
Genuine marketing and brand understanding, able to translate marketing investment into fundraising results and organizational visibility.
Experience building or scaling a business development or earned-revenue function, and defining how it works alongside a philanthropic development team.
Strong analytical orientation: comfortable modeling revenue scenarios, assessing risk and opportunity, and using data to drive fundraising and marketing strategy.
Track record of building, mentoring, and elevating teams, including newer or less-experienced managers.
Experience managing up effectively and independently, with a demonstrated ability to bring recommendations and decisions to senior leadership rather than deferring.
Comfort partnering on policy and public affairs communications, even without direct policy expertise.
Experience managing special events and high-visibility external engagements.
Bachelor’s degree required.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to affordable housing, asset-building, or economic mobility sectors is a plus.
Advanced degree in a related field (e.g., nonprofit management, communications, business) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Design and lead a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy across individual giving, corporate and foundation partnerships, government grants, and special events to meet Compass’ annual philanthropic revenue targets.
Build out and manage a growing development team, adding capacity to support major gifts, corporate partnerships, and grants management.
Bring a strong analytical lens to fundraising — modeling revenue scenarios, tracking risk and opportunity, and using data to sharpen strategy and prioritize the highest-return relationships.
Partner with the CEO on major gift cultivation and solicitation, and support Board members in fundraising engagement.
Own Compass’ relationship with growth-capital and philanthropic investors, coordinating regular check-ins and ensuring funders see clear evidence of program cost efficiencies and earned-revenue growth.
Lead and grow Compass’ business development function, building the connective tissue between training/technical-assistance sales, direct-service growth leads, and the development team’s institutional fundraising.
Develop a clear operating model for how business development, development, and program teams coordinate on pipeline, pricing, and lead qualification.
Own new corporate revenue opportunities beyond traditional philanthropy, expanding Compass’ earned revenue base.
Set the vision and strategy for Compass’ brand, marketing, and communications, elevating Compass’ visibility with donors, policymakers, media, and other external audiences.
Oversee the Marketing & Communications team, ensuring the function operates as a strategic driver of revenue and visibility rather than solely a brand-approval function.
Partner with the Chief Program Officer on program marketing, clarifying the division of labor between brand/external marketing and client-facing program marketing.
Guide the evolution of Compass’ organizational and client-facing brands, ensuring clarity and consistency across national audiences.
Ensure PR strategy, media placements, and engagements with outside communications partners are effectively mobilized.
Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and a full member of the Executive Team, contributing to enterprise-wide strategy and decision-making.
Manage up effectively — proactively surfacing decisions, trade-offs, and recommendations rather than waiting to be directed.
Partner with the CEO on policy-related communications and messaging, ensuring alignment between Compass’ policy positioning and its broader external affairs strategy.
Model clear, well-sequenced communication that helps the Executive Team and broader staff understand and act on complex strategic shifts.
Recruit, coach, and retain a high-performing, inclusive development, business development, and marketing team, including managers who need strong mentorship to grow into their roles.
Right-size and structure the development, business development, and marketing functions as Compass scales, building durable systems.
Model accountability and follow-through consistent with Compass’ culture of ownership and delivery.
Serve as an active member of Compass’ Executive Team.

Benefits

Healthcare: medical, dental, vision: Compass covers up to 80% of employee premiums and 80% for dependents. There is no waiting period to enroll in health insurance.
Paid time off: Employees receive up to 36 Wellness days and 8 holidays per calendar year, plus the final week of the calendar year off and Fridays in August as organizational wide holidays. All employees enjoy a two-hour early closure starting the Friday after Memorial Day through the week of Labor Day.
Parental Leave: Employees who have been employed for at least three (3) months are eligible to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Employees must be with the organization for six (6) months to receive up to twelve (12) weeks of full pay from the organization.
Retirement plan 401(k) & 3% match
Life insurance & disability Insurance
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
Professional development & certification
Pre-tax commuter benefits
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Equipment: $200 one-time stipend for work from home expenses
Internet Reimbursement: Up to $40 per month for personal internet expenses