Director, External Affairs and Communications

Position Overview

The National Grants Management Association is actively recruiting for a Director of External Affairs and Communications to join our team. This role reports directly to the Executive Director and assumes responsibility for overseeing a staff of two, directing the Association’s marketing and communications efforts, selling and managing the contracts for the Corporate Alliance Partnership Program (CAPP), coordinating NGMA chapters marketing and compliance, and building relationships with industry partners expand awareness of NGMA programs.

The ideal candidate would have a background in nonprofit/association management and experience in at least two of the following: public relations, sponsorship sales/contracts and chapter/committee management.

The main responsibilities include:

General (15%)

• Implement NGMA’s Strategic Framework regarding external affairs and marketing.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to establish departmental goals, budgets, and performance metrics.
• Serve as a member of the Association’s senior leadership team and manage additional related responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director.

Corporate Partnership Program/Sponsorships (30%)

• Administer NGMA’s Corporate Alliance Partnership Program (sponsorships), including on-boarding and off-boarding of members.
• Create new and innovative ways to engage CAPP partners to drive revenue and position NGMA as the premier partner organization in the grants community.
• Develop strong relationships with partner points of contact and oversee partnership agreement activation and renewals.
• Oversee partnership agreement activation and renewals, track payments, and follow-up on outstanding invoices.
• Coordinate the NGMA CAPP Expo at the Annual Grants Training.
• Evaluate CAPP program success and develop plans for improvement.

Chapter Management (20%)

• Work to ensure success and strategy of NGMA chapters.
• Train, onboard, and support chapter leaders.
• Develop and maintain chapter compliance and educational materials.
• Oversee chapter marketing administration.

Marketing (20%)

• Oversee NGMA staff devoted to marketing and communications, including oversight of the NGMA website, e-newsletter, email and printed communications, and social media.
• Ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing marketing efforts (e.g., SPAM, private customer information).
• Build, protect and promote NGMA’s mission, brand and history and ensure compliance to the Style Guide.
• Develop relationships with industry publications/writers and coordinate NGMA public relations efforts.

Industry Affairs (15%)

• Perform outreach to faculty in higher education to develop relationships and distribute materials promoting the grants management profession.
• Conduct outreach to federal hiring managers about NGMA programs and the CGMS credential.
• Work with the Executive Director to develop engagement programs for stakeholders and industry partner organizations.
• Represent NGMA at industry tradeshows throughout the U.S. (2-4 per year).

Team Culture

All NGMA team members shall commit to work according to the Staff Values and Definitions, including:

• Trust – Understanding everyone is competent and will get their job done. Assume positive intent.
• Learning and Growth – Everyone takes on the responsibility to learn and grow. We hold ourselves accountable for our own growth and learning.
• Vision – The ability to think about or plan the future with imagination and wisdom.
• Collaboration and Teamwork – Working together for a common goal. Helping others as needed to get the best result. Better together.
• Resourcefulness – Ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties and to solve problems.
• Respect – Treat others as you want to be treated.

Requirements

You may be the ideal candidate if you thrive in fast-paced, entrepreneurial organizations that are quickly growing, where your impact is significant, and where you will work with a passionate team to carry out the work and move the mission forward! Your background should include:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Preferred: Six years of experience working in association or nonprofit management.
• Experience in sponsor management.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills with the ability to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated proficiency in writing, creating content and public relations.
• Ability to collaborate effectively both internally across departments and externally to achieve organizational goals in a professional and timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively organize, prioritize and manage multiple tasks to ensure timely and accurate results.
• Ability to travel out of state and overnight as needed (anticipated 2-4 times per year).
• Have a team-player attitude and commitment.
• Professionalism: Good judgment, ability to interact with all levels of staff, volunteers, and vendors, appropriate demeanor, confidence.
• Advanced computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office 365 and CRM systems.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.