Chief Development & External Affairs Officer

JSSA, a health and social wellness agency that has served the National Capital Region for more than 130 years, is seeking an experienced, passionate, mission-oriented, fundraising professional for the Chief Development and External Affairs Officer position to help us catalyze our continued growth and impact. Supervising a team of eight professionals, the CDEAO will lead resource development for the annual campaign, endowment and planned giving, manage an integrated marketing/communications function, oversee the grants team to secure public as well as private funding, and ensure smooth day-to-day operations of the department.

The CDEAO partners with the CEO to strategize, lead, and direct a comprehensive resource development, marketing, and communications strategy that continues to expand JSSA’s visibility and financial support. This is a great opportunity to build upon the strong development and communications foundation in place, taking it to a new level of community engagement and increased philanthropic support.

As an integral member of the executive team, the CDEAO will help inform the vision and strategy for the agency’s future. The CDEAO will build, lead, and manage a team of eight professionals and foster organization-wide communication and collaboration to achieve these goals.

Key position highlights below, full job posting located here: https://www.jssa.org/cdeao/

Vision and Strategic Planning

• Provide vital input on strategic and operational planning and agency positioning, with the objective of identifying sustainable funding opportunities and expanding JSSA’s base of supporters.
• Demonstrate a proven ability to implement a relational versus transactional approach to philanthropy.

Department Scope

• Lead and expand the comprehensive development program, including annual giving, major and planned gifts, corporate sponsorship, special appeals, institutional grants, endowment, and special events.
• Participate directly in soliciting support by identifying and closing significant gifts.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and oversee the execution of JSSA’s brand awareness through its many channels: website, social media, earned and paid media, community reports, donor communications, and its leadership and staff ambassadors.
• Manage the grants function, balancing public and private options for support and engaging internal stakeholders to evaluate and prioritize those opportunities.
• Devise and manage the annual department budget.

Knowledge and Experience:

• 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience in a complex fundraising environment. Knowledge of the regional philanthropic community, both geographically and culturally.
• Demonstrated ability to steward a fundraising program, including handling strategic and day-to-day functions.
• Experience developing, implementing, and expanding annual, major, and planned giving programs.
• Track record of personally identifying and securing 5- and 6-figure gifts.
• Experience working successfully with a Board of Directors and lay leadership volunteers.
• Executive/Senior management experience with a record of leading a high-performing team and effectively collaborating with peers.
• Knowledge of relational databases and how to maintain and effectively leverage record-keeping systems.
• Ability to oversee marketing/communications and grant writing functions required, direct experience in these areas is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE/ACFRE preferred; master’s degree or graduate certificate in fundraising and development, non-profit leadership and management, philanthropy, public administration or related field preferred.

Personal Characteristics and Work Style:

• Clear evidence of a management style that builds internal alliances and that emphasizes ethical guidelines, collegiality, and effective teamwork.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with varied audiences, including senior leaders, Board members, government agency personnel, volunteer leaders, staff, donors, and prospects; must have excellent oral and written communication and listening skills.
• Comfort level working within a dynamic, growing, multi-faceted organization.
• Ability to provide analytic, strategic and operational guidance and a willingness to work in the trenches to get the job done.
• A passion for personally cultivating donors and volunteers and serving as an external ambassador of an organization.