Vice President

WHO WE ARE

Third Plateau is a social impact and philanthropy consulting firm. We partner with nonprofits, philanthropists, families, and the public sector to achieve transformative, community-centered impact.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We work with clients and communities as partners in achieving a future where people and the planet thrive – creating meaning and joy in the process. At Third Plateau, we lead with partnership, evidence, equity, and optimism for a fundamentally better world. Everything we do, internally and externally, is rooted in our four core values:

Team Up

We recognize that people are at the center of social change and approach our interactions with the belief that we will go further together than we can alone. We cultivate relationships and collaborations rooted in trust and shared purpose. Centering empathy, we develop deep and authentic connections with those around us. We ask for what we need and lead with generosity to provide for others.

Step Up

We passionately rise to the challenge of co-creating a just world we have yet to see but know is possible. We courageously and boldly advocate for the health, vibrancy, and prosperity of all and advance equity for current and future generations. We embrace our work with purpose, intention, and creativity. We experiment, take calculated risks, and question the status quo in an effort to design solutions that can scale impact swiftly and broadly.

Learn Up

We know that communities closest to the challenge are closest to the solutions, so we stay insatiably curious and lead with humility and an open mind. We actively listen, reflect, and explore with individuals from varied backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences to address gaps in our understanding. We push the boundaries of our thinking by asking powerful questions and integrating diverse ways of learning. We commit to continuous learning and adaptation, celebrating progress over perfection for ourselves and those around us.

Live Up

We believe all people are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. We care for ourselves, each other, and our communities by finding meaning and joy in our work, practicing balance, and prioritizing wellness. We center authentic connection to help nurture a resilient, creative, and vibrant team, which is vital for fostering fulfillment in our work. We are here to improve our communities and live fully while we do it.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

The Vice President (VP) will manage a portfolio of philanthropic advisory work, leading multiple engagements to help Third Plateau clients generate meaningful impact through their philanthropy. The VP will provide strategic leadership and help drive the growth and performance of Third Plateau in a rapidly evolving philanthropic landscape.

As a member of the Leadership Team, the Vice President will focus on enhancing organizational effectiveness, developing and fostering relationships with high-net-worth individuals, families, and foundations, nurturing high-performing and thriving teams and cultivating a results-oriented, mission-driven culture within the firm.

We anticipate the VP to manage a client portfolio that includes funders supporting a range of issue areas as well as some specifically active in the Jewish community. In a time of rapid change in the philanthropic field, this role is critical not only to the firm’s growth but to the evolution of the broader social sector. If you’re looking to help create the future of effective philanthropy, this is the opportunity for you.

Client Relationship Management

Building and maintaining strong, trusting relationships

• Engage deeply with clients to understand their individual and family dynamics, philanthropic goals, and community involvement. This requires maturity, professionalism, patience, and a genuine interest in understanding each family’s story and vision.

Customizing approaches to diverse needs

• Recognize that each family’s needs and level of expertise will differ, and tailor strategies accordingly. The VP must be able to pivot quickly and adjust strategies or communication styles based on varying client circumstances and preferences.

Navigating family and foundation dynamics

• The VP should be comfortable with complex family and foundation structures and have the ability to balance differing viewpoints and perspectives, ensuring smooth interactions and alignment towards shared goals.

Cultural and community competence

• Though this VP may have experience within a specific community, they should possess the ability to learn and adapt quickly to the needs of clients outside their immediate experience—whether clients in different geographic locations or from varied cultural backgrounds.

Driving client satisfaction

• The VP will be responsible for ensuring client satisfaction and ensuring that projects are aligned with client expectations, all while managing internal teams to effectively deliver results.

Program Development

Define and Drive Impact

• The VP is responsible for shaping meaningful work that fulfills each client's mission and aligns with Third Plateau's vision for a world with equitable and abundant opportunity for all. The VP will need to help clients define how impact is measured and ensure that impact goals are realistic and aligned with community needs and effective practice.

Strategic Program Design

• The VP will develop thoughtful, high-impact philanthropic strategies that align with client goals. This includes creating and managing diverse portfolios that consider different sectors, geographic areas, and stakeholder needs.

Community Ecosystem Understanding

• The VP must be adept at leveraging existing relationships and building new ones to ensure that programs are deeply rooted in their target communities or ecosystems. This may require them to have strong local knowledge or the capacity to quickly learn and build those relationships wherever the work is based.

Risk Assessment

• The VP will help clients assess the risks of different program strategies and how best to balance innovation with caution.

Collaboration & Partnerships

• The VP will collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including other philanthropic organizations, community leaders, and experts in various issue areas. The role involves working as a connector, bringing together different perspectives and expertise to design more effective, collaborative programs. This requires both hard skills (e.g., program management, financial oversight) and soft skills (e.g., relationship-building, diplomacy, managing differing opinions).

Program Management

• As the "eyes and ears" for clients, the VP will be deeply involved in program oversight. They will ensure that programs are running smoothly, that stakeholders are aligned, and that programs are delivering measurable impact. This requires an understanding of both the strategic and logistical aspects of program management, as well as a hands-on ability to address challenges that arise during implementation.

Innovation & Out-of-the-Box Thinking

• We expect the VP to think creatively, especially in the context of changing philanthropic landscapes. They should be able to challenge conventional approaches to philanthropy, designing programs that reflect new trends, emerging needs, and innovative solutions to entrenched challenges.

Team Leadership

• Responsible for direct supervision of Senior Directors and/or Directors (and/or in some cases, Associate Directors) as well as management of client teams.
• Represents the Leadership Team to the rest of the firm (alongside other VPs, Chiefs, and Principals).

Business Development

Helps develop and execute Third Plateau’s business development strategy in close partnership with other members of the Leadership Team, including:

• Building and growing a strong philanthropic client base for the firm;
• Identifying, cultivating, and securing new philanthropic clients;
• Engaging in community and professional networks to expand recognition of the Third Plateau brand;
• Building strong relationships with referral partners;
• Leading meetings and writing compelling proposals for potential philanthropic clients with a diversity of interests and needs; and,
• Serving as a public ambassador for the firm.

Firm Leadership

• Actively participates as a member of the Leadership Team to guide the firm's strategic plan.
• Provides leadership to firm-wide projects such as those to develop firm products and build tools and systems;
• Takes on other roles to support key needs of Third Plateau, as necessary.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• 10+ years of professional experience in philanthropy, social impact, or a related field, with a proven track record of leading complex initiatives and managing high-level client relationships.
• Deep expertise in strategic philanthropy and community-based program development, with the ability to design and implement impactful, results-driven strategies tailored to diverse client needs.
• Exceptional client relationship management skills, including the ability to engage with high-net-worth individuals, families, and foundations in culturally competent and contextually relevant ways.
• Strong business development experience, with a demonstrated ability to grow client portfolios, develop proposals, and engage in strategic networking to elevate organizational presence.
• Collaborative and persuasive communications skills, with an ability to influence clients, stakeholders, and team members toward shared goals while being sensitive to differing opinions. Must be comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong understanding of community ecosystems, including the ability to rapidly learn new cultural and geographic contexts and build deep, effective relationships within different communities.
• Proven leadership in managing and mentoring teams, with experience in directly supervising directors and client-facing teams, fostering a collaborative, high-impact culture.
• Cultural and political competence related to the Jewish community, with the ability to engage thoughtfully and effectively with clients in this space.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to represent the organization publicly, build compelling narratives, and inspire others with the mission.

BENEFTS + PERKS

• • Remote-First Approach
  • Flexible & Generous Time Off
  • 100% employer-paid options for medical, dental, and vision coverage for you, with employer contributions toward dependent coverage
  • Employer-paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance
  • Employer contribution of up to $825 to your Health Savings Account
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA, DCFSA and Commuter)
  • Initial home office stipend of $550, with $250 provided annually thereafter
  • $110 cell phone and home internet stipend
  • 13 weeks paid parental and medical leave
  • $500 annually to invest in your mental, emotional, and physical well-being
  • Access to curated learning opportunities and team-based growth experiences to support the professional development of our team

$160,000 - $265,000 a year

A compensation committee will meet to discuss potential starting salary within the band by weighing the candidate's expected contribution in terms of previous experience and expertise against current Third Plateau employees. We commit to sharing the reasoning used to determine starting salary with you. The expectation is not for new team members to be hired with a starting salary at the top of the band, but to have a salary that adequately compensates experience and expertise while countering pay inequality and upholding internal parity.

We recognize the salary band for this role is quite large, but that is because we have seen a wide range of experience levels be successful in the Vice President role.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you're new to this field, returning to work after a gap in employment, looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career, we would be glad to have you on our radar.

At Third Plateau, we believe in the power of diverse teams. In our recruiting efforts, we always seek to reach a broad and diverse pool of applicants to ensure our final candidates are not a homogeneous group in terms of demographics or experience. You can read more about our commitment to Equity & Belonging (DEI) here. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds. Third Plateau is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to their race, color, age, religious creed, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics.

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