Vice President, External Affairs

One Hope United•Chicago, IL

2h•$165,000 - $200,000

About The Position

The Vice President, External Affairs provides executive leadership for One Hope United’s philanthropy and advancement, marketing and communications, government relations, and external engagement. The role develops and executes an integrated external affairs strategy to strengthen organizational sustainability, visibility, reputation, and capacity for mission-driven growth. Reporting to the President & CEO, the Vice President leads the External Affairs department, setting priorities, budgets, performance expectations, and measurable outcomes while developing a high-performing team. The Vice President plays a central role in growing philanthropic support, preparing for and executing a multiyear comprehensive fundraising campaign, building public and private partnerships, and positioning One Hope United as a recognized leader in services for children and families. The role leads philanthropic revenue strategy and fundraising accountability; oversees marketing, communications, brand positioning, and public relations; coordinates government relations, advocacy, and external partnerships; and manages departmental staff, budgets, vendors, and performance reporting. The Vice President also partners with the CEO and the organization’s Board and Foundation Board on fundraising, campaign leadership, advocacy, relationship building, and external ambassadorship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in advancement, fundraising, external affairs, communications, government relations, nonprofit leadership, or related areas.
At least five years of progressively responsible management experience, including supervising professional staff, managing budgets and vendors, leading through organizational change, and delivering measurable results.
Demonstrated success personally securing or directing significant philanthropic revenue, including major gifts and institutional giving, with accountability for fundraising targets, donor pipelines, and stewardship.
Experience with a substantial advancement portfolio and campaign planning or execution.
Experience advising or partnering with a CEO and governing or foundation board, engaging senior-level donors and external stakeholders, and cultivating productive public-private relationships.
Experience setting priorities and supervising leaders or specialist teams across at least two external affairs functions, such as development, communications, or government relations; ability to direct other functions through qualified staff and partners.
Executive judgment, integrity, discretion, collaboration, and ability to lead through complexity and change.
Excellent writing, presentation, public speaking, relationship-management, and negotiation skills.
Ability to translate strategy into actionable plans, budgets, metrics, and results.
Strong people leadership, coaching, delegation, financial management, and cross-functional coordination skills.
Ability to use donor CRM and fundraising data to manage prospect pipelines, forecast revenue, monitor performance, and maintain sound records; proficiency with business, analytics, and project management tools.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, public administration, public policy, or a related field.
Direct public policy or lobbying experience.

Responsibilities

Lead the integrated philanthropic revenue strategy, including annual giving, major and principal gifts, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, grants, sponsorships, and donor stewardship.
Manage departmental fundraising execution and accountability against approved annual goals; establish prospect pipelines, moves management, stewardship practices, reporting, and reliable donor data.
Lead planning, readiness, infrastructure, volunteer coordination, and operational execution of the contemplated three-year comprehensive fundraising campaign, in partnership with the President & CEO and Board/Foundation leadership.
Partner with the President & CEO on campaign priorities, high-value relationships, leadership solicitations, and major donor engagement; ensure clear ownership of prospect follow-up and delivery.
Oversee fundraising proposals, grant development coordination, donor communications, campaigns, fundraising events, and performance analysis, aligning commitments with program outcomes and finance-approved budgets.
Own and execute an integrated marketing and communications strategy that advances the organization’s mission, strategic positioning, reputation, and visibility.
Oversee brand management, public relations, media engagement, digital presence, social media, executive and organizational communications, impact storytelling, and public-facing materials.
Lead external positioning for priority services and initiatives, including Hope House United, in partnership with program and executive leaders.
Ensure consistent, accurate, accessible, and compelling messaging across fundraising, advocacy, government relations, community engagement, and campaigns.
Oversee communications planning for major events, launches, and announcements; coordinate crisis and sensitive-issue communications with the CEO, Legal, HR, and Operations under approved response protocols.
Develop and implement a coordinated government relations and external engagement agenda aligned with approved organizational priorities and operational markets.
Cultivate and maintain relationships with elected officials, government agencies, corporate partners, foundations, coalitions, community leaders, and other external stakeholders.
Monitor policy, legislative, appropriations, and public funding developments; coordinate with program, finance, legal, and executive leaders on implications, opportunities, and organizational responses.
Coordinate advocacy priorities, public engagement, and external partnerships with the CEO and Legal; ensure required review of lobbying registration, disclosures, restrictions on political activity, and government-funding conditions before activities are undertaken.
Represent One Hope United at selected public, industry, community, donor, and coalition events; identify partnerships that support mission impact and sustainable growth.
Serve as an active member of the OHU leadership group and contribute to organization-wide strategy, planning, decision-making, risk awareness, and leadership accountability.
Lead, coach, evaluate, and develop the External Affairs team; establish roles, decision rights, priorities, professional development plans, and performance expectations.
Develop and manage the departmental budget, staffing plan, contracts, vendor relationships, workplans, and resource allocation; monitor efficiency and return on fundraising and communications investments.
Establish dashboards and reporting routines for philanthropic revenue, pipeline health, campaign milestones, communications reach, strategic partnerships, and team performance.
Collaborate with the COO, CFO, Chief Legal & Risk Officer, and program leaders to ensure external commitments are realistic, appropriately approved, and operationally deliverable.
Partner with the President & CEO to engage the One Hope United Board of Directors and Foundation Board in fundraising, advocacy, introductions, relationship building, and external ambassadorship.
Provide timely reports and materials for Board and Foundation committees on advancement, campaign progress, communications, and other matters within the External Affairs portfolio.
Support recruitment, orientation, and engagement of campaign volunteer leadership, including campaign chairs and a potential campaign cabinet.
Lead selected strategic projects related to advancement, external partnerships, public positioning, or campaign execution; coordinate cross-functional dependencies with the responsible executive.
Deliver against approved performance targets, including fundraising goals, campaign-readiness milestones, donor pipeline and stewardship measures, communications reach and engagement, government relations and partnership priorities, budget performance, staff development, role clarity, and accountability.

Benefits

Tuition assistance up to $2,500 per fiscal year.
Up to four weeks of paid vacation, up to six paid personal days, one paid mental health day, and up to five paid sick days annually.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
403(b) retirement plan.
Flexible spending accounts, health savings account, dependent care benefits, and commuter and transit benefits.
Agency-paid life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance up to $50,000 based on salary, and short-term disability insurance.
Agency-paid long-term disability insurance after one year of employment.
Voluntary supplemental life and accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness, accident, and hospital coverage for employees and eligible family members.
Voluntary legal plans.
Voluntary pet insurance.
Employee Assistance Program with six free counseling sessions.
Career ladders, professional development, and promotion opportunities.
Free LCSW and LCPC supervision hours available in some locations.