Director of External Affairs

Strategic Leadership

Job Overview
The Director of External Affairs is a senior leader responsible for shaping and executing Alliance for Positive Change’s communications, policy, and advocacy strategy. This position will strengthen Alliance’s policy influence and external visibility, ensuring that messaging, branding, media relations, and policy initiatives work together to advance the organization’s mission, influence stakeholders, and build public trust. They oversee both the Communications Manager and Policy/Advocacy Manager, aligning work to deliver clear, consistent, and impactful storytelling, legislative engagement, and community mobilization, with a wide range of ad-hoc initiatives to support the organization’s mission and goals.

Duties

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and oversee an integrated communications and policy/advocacy plan that strengthens the organization’s visibility and influence to help achieve its advancement goals.
• Build infrastructure and systems for communications and advocacy.
• Serve as the primary advisor to the CEO, CSAO, and senior leadership on external affairs.
• Represent the organization externally with media, elected officials, coalitions, and partners.

Communications and Branding

• Supervise and guide the Communications Manager to ensure consistent, timely, creative, and compelling messaging across all platforms.
• Develop and manage communications initiatives that advance the organization’s goals.
• Oversee production and quality control of e-newsletters/evites/eblasts, press releases, reports, social media campaigns, briefing materials, video, and website content.
• Lead the team in producing pitches, marketing initiatives, print materials, quotes, participant testimonials, impact stories, and both virtual and in-person events.
• Manage organizational branding and support program staff developing diverse marketing material (flyers, brochures, etc.). With attention to detail, support content and branding policies and procedures (staff training and providing templates) and monitor compliance.
• Design and implement social media strategies in partnership with direct reports. Stay abreast of trends and tools to suggest new social media approaches and best practices.
• Ensure that the communications infrastructure evolves to strongly support advancement, program, and policy initiatives.
• Manage media relations strategy and consultants; mentor and train Alliance staff and Peers to serve as spokespeople and/or to interact with media; serve as spokesperson when appropriate.

Policy and Advocacy

• Supervise and guide the Policy/Advocacy Manager in advancing legislative priorities at city, state, and federal levels.
• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, policymakers, and coalitions.
• Identify and enact new strategic partnerships to deepen the organization’s influence and position in dynamic/changing external environments.
• Oversee community organizing, advocacy campaigns, and legislative education activities.
• Ensure policy priorities are clearly communicated internally and externally.

Cross Departmental Integration

• Collaborate with Advancement staff to ensure messaging supports revenue goals.
• Partner with Program staff to ensure participant stories and outcomes are shared ethically and powerfully.
• Coordinate with Advancement, Contracts, and Finance teams on discretionary funding applications and compliance.

Management and Capacity Building

• Lead, mentor, and support the Communications Manager and Policy/Advocacy Manager, fostering collaboration and professional growth. Direct outside consultants, interns, and professional volunteers, leveraging talents and contracted services.
• Build systems for measuring communications reach and advocacy impact.
• Identify, track, and maintain records of all contacts and outreach prospects. Report on department goals and other metrics.
• Foster staff and board capacity to engage in external affairs efforts.

Skills

Bachelor's degree. Graduate degree in communications, policy, nonprofit management, public health, or related field highly desirable. 8 years of experience in communications, policy, and/or external affairs, preferably in a nonprofit/public health/social service context. Demonstrated success leading communications and/or advocacy teams. Strong knowledge of legislative processes, media engagement, and coalition building. Proven track record of managing multiple priorities, setting goals, and delivering results. Strategic communicator who can craft clear, compelling narratives, and/or tailor messages to diverse audiences. Exemplary writing/editorial, verbal, and presentation skills, including attention to detail and quality-control. Strong computer skills, especially MS Office and social media platforms, and experience with content management systems (i.e., Salesforce, Squarespace, Mailchimp). Success in building and maintaining trusted relationships with media, policymakers, partners, and community. Experience integrating communications and policy work with program and fundraising needs. Collaborative leader fostering a culture of accountability, attention to quality, and inclusivity. Flu and COVID-19 vaccination required.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Cell phone reimbursement
• Commuter assistance
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $90,000