Deputy Chief of Development and Communications

Chinatown Community Development Center•San Francisco, CA

4d•$185,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the CEO, the Deputy Chief leads the team responsible for fundraising, communications, and storytelling. As a member of the Executive Team, the Deputy Chief shares responsibility for cultivating philanthropy, collaboration, and effective communication across staff and the Board. This full-time, exempt position is based in Chinatown, San Francisco, and is scheduled Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with some or occasional nights and weekends. The Deputy Chief works with the CEO, CFO, Executive Team, Board, and staff to develop and implement an integrated annual development and communications strategy. They set goals, turn organizational priorities into work plans and calendars, track progress, evaluate results, adjust strategies, and report progress, opportunities, and challenges. They bring an enterprise-wide perspective to ensure the department's work aligns with CCDC's broader strategic priorities, programs, advocacy, and community-building work. The Deputy Chief leads and develops a growing team of seven staff, including hiring, supervision, coaching, annual work plans, performance expectations, and resource support. They help shape the department's structure and workflows, strengthen a culture of philanthropy and effective communication throughout CCDC, and oversee departmental budgets. The role provides strategic leadership for fundraising and resource development, building a diversified and sustainable base of philanthropic support. It includes managing individual and institutional giving, unrestricted operating support, annual giving, major gifts, multi-year commitments, and development of a legacy giving program. The Deputy Chief oversees the full development cycle, cultivates long-term relationships with donors and funders, engages the CEO and Board, and ensures development systems, data, policies, and practices support organizational priorities and long-term growth. The Deputy Chief also leads communications, storytelling, and external positioning. In partnership with the Director of Marketing and Communications and communications staff, they translate CCDC's work in affordable housing, community development, grassroots leadership, and resident engagement into compelling narratives for existing and new audiences. They guide communications across fundraising materials, annual reports, digital communications, media, events, and multimedia, with attention to accessibility, cultural relevance, and multilingual content when appropriate. As an advisor to the CEO and Executive Team, they guide media, policy and advocacy communications, public positioning, and crisis communications, and serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for CCDC. The Deputy Chief provides strategic fundraising and marketing oversight for relevant events, ensuring alignment with departmental goals and clear objectives, work plans, budgets, and effective use of resources. They also represent CCDC at external events and speaking engagements. Chinatown Community Development Center is a private nonprofit founded in 1977. It owns and/or manages approximately 30 affordable housing buildings serving more than 3,800 low-income seniors, single adults, formerly homeless adults, and families in several San Francisco neighborhoods. CCDC also builds housing, develops grassroots leadership, and engages low-income residents and youth. The organization is committed to culturally competent services and encourages people of color to apply. Salary is $185,000–$200,000 annually, with comprehensive benefits.

Requirements

Strong commitment to CCDC's mission and values and to advancing equity and social justice in diverse communities.
Strong strategic thinking, leadership, and decision-making skills, including the ability to turn organizational priorities into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to engage donors, funders, Board members, staff, and community partners.
Ability to lead, coach, and inspire high-performing teams in a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable work environment.
Strong understanding of fundraising, donor stewardship, and communications strategies that strengthen organizational visibility and long-term sustainability.
Ability to develop communications strategies that engage diverse audiences and translate organizational mission, values, and impact into compelling, culturally relevant narratives.
Strong judgment and ability to provide strategic direction on public positioning, media relations, advocacy, and sensitive or high-profile communications while protecting organizational reputation.
Minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience in fundraising, development, communications, or related fields, with demonstrated success in strategic planning, team leadership, and organizational management.
Demonstrated experience leading fundraising and communications strategies, including establishing and achieving fundraising goals.
Proven success cultivating major donors, securing significant gifts, and developing relationships with individual and institutional funders.
Experience supervising and developing staff, managing budgets, and overseeing departmental operations.
Experience partnering with executive leadership and a Board of Directors to advance fundraising and organizational priorities.
Experience overseeing communications strategies, branding, storytelling, and public relations to engage diverse audiences and strengthen organizational visibility.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in community development, affordable housing, or social justice organizations, particularly in San Francisco.
Experience developing legacy giving programs and strengthening organizational fundraising capacity.
Experience engaging AAPI and Chinese American donor communities.
Proficiency in Mandarin and/or Cantonese.

Responsibilities

Partner with the CEO, CFO, Executive Team, Board, and staff to develop and implement integrated annual development and communications strategies.
Set fundraising and communications goals, translate organizational priorities into work plans and calendars, track progress, evaluate results, and adjust strategies.
Communicate progress, opportunities, and challenges to the CEO, Executive Team, and Board, using data, learning, and external trends to inform strategy.
Lead, hire, supervise, coach, and develop a growing team of seven staff; establish work plans, performance expectations, role clarity, and accountability.
Shape departmental structure, workflows, and ways of working, and foster a collaborative, supportive, inclusive, and high-performing culture.
Strengthen philanthropy and effective communication across CCDC by helping staff and Board serve as ambassadors, storytellers, and fundraising partners.
Oversee departmental budgets and ensure resources are effectively deployed in support of organizational priorities.
Lead CCDC's development program and build a diversified, sustainable base of philanthropic support.
Manage individual and institutional giving, including unrestricted operating support, annual giving, major gifts, multi-year commitments, and development of a legacy giving program.
Oversee the full development cycle, from prospect identification and cultivation through solicitation, recognition, and stewardship.
Cultivate long-term relationships with donors, funders, and supporters, and identify opportunities to deepen existing and new relationships.
Ensure development systems, data, policies, and practices align with organizational priorities and support long-term growth.
Lead communications, storytelling, and external positioning in partnership with the Director of Marketing and Communications and communications staff.
Develop compelling narratives that convey CCDC's history, values, communities, comprehensive model, and impact to existing and new audiences.
Provide strategic direction across fundraising materials, annual reports, digital communications, media, events, and multimedia, ensuring content is accessible, culturally relevant, and multilingual when appropriate.
Advise the CEO and Executive Team on media, policy and advocacy communications, public positioning, and crisis communications.
Serve as an ambassador and spokesperson, building relationships with donors, civic and community leaders, funders, partners, and media.
Provide strategic fundraising and marketing oversight for relevant events, including alignment with goals, objectives, work plans, budgets, and team resources.
Represent CCDC at external events, speaking engagements, panels, networking opportunities, and community gatherings.
Embody organizational values of respect and compassion, empowerment, and teamwork; contribute to a safe and pleasant work environment; follow policies, procedures, and safe work practices; and perform other duties as assigned.