Executive VP of Donor Engagement and External Relations

Boston, MA (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1340+Boylston+St+Boston+MA+USA+02215) • Executive

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Executive Vice President of Donor Engagement and External Relations (“EVP”) is a key member of Fenway Health’s executive leadership team and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. The EVP creates and implements a proactive, innovative, and comprehensive external relations strategy that advances equity and social justice, successfully positioning Fenway Health and its work and mission to inspire engagement, garner resources, and leverage impact. The EVP integrates Fenway Health’s community engagement, government relations, resource development, and communications efforts, creating a strong and interdependent team that brings out the best in everyone and amplifies and elevates the work of Fenway Health overall.

Representative Duties:

• Serve as a key thought partner and advisor to the CEO.

• Design and implement the establishment of a resource development and donor engagement program that is grounded in equity principles and designed to engage a contemporary, diverse, dynamic community of donors, sponsors, and partners in a competitive environment.

• Establish long-term resource development expansion goals and design long-term strategies and plans to achieve them, while nurturing relationships with a dedicated community of longstanding Fenway Health donors.

• Implement best practices to maximize efficiencies in fundraising efforts, while re-imagining special events to inspire continued engagement within the context of post-COVID related constraints and beyond.

• Develop new donor prospect engagement opportunities to meaningfully cultivate multi-racial, diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, and younger potential donors and supporters.

• Foster relationships with community organization leaders and regularly engage community members on matters pertaining organizational efforts towards equity and social justice.

• Guide the organizations investment in community-based partnerships to build knowledge of key priorities in the community, inform decision making, and foster shared leadership within the communities we serve.

• Develop strong relationships with federal, state, and local public officials and work closely with federal, state, and local government agencies to advance Fenway Health’s policy and advocacy goals.

• Develop and implement a proactive, mission-driven strategy to advocate on issues of concern to our patients, clients, partners and community, and to secure available private and public funding to support our work.

• Ensure the establishment of an outstanding strategic communications program that effectively utilizes both traditional and digital media (web, mobile, and social) to inform, engage and inspire our patients, donors, public and community partners, stakeholders, and the public. Evaluate the effectiveness and success of our communications strategy and efforts on an ongoing basis.

• Work closely with the Director of Communications to identify and make visible compelling information, data, and stories that convey the impact and importance of Fenway Health in the communities we serve.

• Collaborate closely with the Director of Racial Equity, Social Justice and Community Engagement and other senior leaders to ensure that we are focused on and accountable to equity-based principles, strategies, and practices in our external work.

• Ensure that Fenway Health optimizes the communications/external relations vehicles at our disposal to amplify our successes and advance our goals.

• Guide and support the CEO in her role as chief spokesperson of the organization, serving as a co- strategist with the Director of Communications and the Director of Racial Equity, Social Justice and Community Engagement on internal and external messaging. Ensure that the CEO is well-briefed and deployed effectively in Fenway Health’s external relations and communications.

• In cooperation with the Director of Communications and other senior leaders, ensure a broad, organization-wide understanding of Fenway Health’s strategic direction, policy goals, and programmatic achievements. Ensure that internal communications are timely, informative, and transparent.

• Support employees in their role as external ambassadors for Fenway Health. Recognize and engage external partners who might serve as key voices in furthering shared goals.

• Ensure that Fenway Health’s external relations efforts are regarded as collaborative and responsive, able to professionally and effectively address both opportunities and concerns.

• Cultivate staff as thought leaders whose opinion is sought after and respected. Foster excellence with respect to patient and client collaboration, customer service, and problem solving.

• Attend board meetings as appropriate to present external relations goals and achievements. Develop an outreach plan to support and engage the board.

• Set clear direction and priorities for professional and administrative staff, as well as external consultants. Continually assess staff strengths and refine responsibilities; augment as necessary to maintain a high-quality, diverse team.

• Maintain a leadership style that is open and fluid, which empowers staff through active communication and delegation. Manage expectations and resources to ensure that departmental goals and activities are challenging and realistic.

• Foster an environment that rewards new ideas and risk taking, builds confidence, encourages teamwork and collaboration. Celebrate current achievements and set clear expectations for future success. Create and contribute to a work environment of openness, candor, and mutual respect.

• Play a leadership role in cultivating a positive, energized organizational culture.

• Perform related duties as required.

Requirements

• Superior strategic skills with a strong grasp of best practices and a holistic understanding of all aspects of external relations, resource development, and communications. The ideal candidate must think strategically, effectively transform new ideas into executable and enduring programs, and implement effectively on advocacy, collaborations, fundraising, and messaging in the community, ensuring that Fenway Health’s public-facing efforts are aligned and successfully executed to meet organizational goals.

• Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with colleagues, patients, clients and vendors across the spectrum of diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, national origin and immigrant status, religious or spiritual identity, disability (physical, mental, emotional and developmental), veteran status, and/or limited English proficiency.

• Willingness to contribute towards Fenway’s efforts in becoming an anti-racist organization and promoting a culture dedicated to ongoing development in service of humility, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, where differences are acknowledged and valued.

• Experienced in senior fundraising roles with a significant track record of engaging individuals and communities in a shared cause and building a strong culture of philanthropy.

• Demonstrated capacity to build, design, and implement successful resource development campaigns, including events, peer giving programs, major donor cultivations, legacy giving, and other means.

• Demonstrated success in cultivating and promoting a diverse, inclusive, equitable workplace environment.

• Capacity to develop ambitious, achievable goals, specific plans to meet these goals, milestones to measure progress, and effect course correction/recalibration as needed.

• A deep appreciation for the history, mission, achievements, and contributions of Fenway Health, and the ability to effectively and eloquently articulate those to diverse audiences.

• Strong familiarity with federal, state, and local public policy landscape as it pertains to health and healthcare, social determinants of health, racial equity and the intersectional impacts of systemic oppression and disparities, and of LGBTQIA+ issues.

• Demonstrated ability to craft substantive and cohesive narratives based on an institution’s strategic goals, communicate them successfully to key audiences, and adapt and adjust as appropriate over time.

• Broad experience in strategic communications, as well as proven effectiveness engaging local, state, and national media.

• A strong preference for someone with prior work experience in healthcare and/or LGBTQIA+ serving organizations.

• Experience working in a complex environment serving internal patients and clients as well as external constituents, utilizing their communications strengths to further institutional goals.

• Ability to build relationships and collaborate across the institution, serving as a resource to others and obtaining their input.

• The intellectual depth, experience and confidence to work with and command the respect and confidence of the CEO, senior administrators, board members, and key external stakeholders.

• Collaborative and collegial orientation, eager and able to engage a diverse client base and build strong professional relationships. A convener who is able to synthesize many ideas and produce work products that address a wide variety of goals and objectives.

• Superlative interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work well with people at all levels of an organization. Strong personal integrity and work ethic, as well as a sense of humor and perspective.

• Record of creative and entrepreneurial management; the ability to build, lead, mentor, and motivate staff; and to encourage change and growth in both people and programs. A strong commitment to personal and professional development, and the ability to build a robust, autonomous, and collaborative team.

• A keen eye for operational efficiency and optimal use of resources; the ability to plan, monitor, and manage a budget.

• Ability to marshal group alignment around vision, guiding principles and direction.

• Capacity to work with and manage individuals with diverse work and communications styles.

• Ability to anticipate challenges and develop proactive approaches to prevent/mitigate setbacks.

• Results-oriented, tenacious, persistent, and patient.

• Demonstrated track record of effectively engaging senior leadership, staff, boards of directors, and other key stakeholders.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Sit at a computer station or stand at a counter for extended periods of time

• Ability to keyboard for extended periods of time

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervises the Director of Communications, Director of Racial Equity, Social Justice, and Community Engagement, Senior Officer of Corporate & Foundation Relations, Director Institutional Giving, Database Specialists, and Director of Health Policy Research.

Education and/or Experience

At least seven years related executive leadership experience and/or training.

Experience and ability to interact and influence decision-making at the highest level of management is required.

We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more.

LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary Description

200,000-245,000