Vice President, Consulting

Position Reports to: Chief of Client Services

Location: Fully US-based remote, with a preference for candidates within commuting distance to an NFF office (Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia).

Department: Consulting

Suite: Client Services

For over 40 years, Nonprofit Finance Fund has provided nonprofits and their leaders with capital, consulting, and thought leadership. As a community development finance institution (CDFI), we work with nonprofits, partners, and systems to build racial equity and community wealth and well-being. Our vision is a world of equitable prosperity, where communities of color and other systematically excluded communities have the capital, community assets, knowledge, and agency to thrive. You can learn more about our work to achieve that vision by reading our Strategic Plan for 2024-2026, Our Values, and Theory of Change.

None of this work would be possible without the incredible people who work here. Our team consists of a diverse group of passionate professionals who care deeply about NFF’s mission. You can read more about what it’s like to work here – and read a few examples of “a day in the life” for NFF staff” – on the careers page of our website.

Thank you for your interest in NFF. We hope you’ll join us.

About the Opportunity:

We are seeking a Vice President, Consulting who will provide leadership and guidance for NFF’s consulting practice and manage a department of 20 team members who deliver our client work. The Vice President of Consulting is responsible for the strategy and performance of NFF’s complex consulting business.

NFF’s Consulting team is a large department within NFF’s Client Services suite. The team represents and helps build NFF’s brand and thought leadership through mission and values-aligned consulting services in the nonprofit sector. Core to their approach is supporting leaders of organizations who may be at an inflection point as they navigate change and systemic inequities. This team is one of the revenue-generating teams within the organization.

NFF’s consulting services support leaders individually and in a cohort model, serving approximately 200 clients annually, in a variety of sectors. The work is funded predominantly by NFF’s philanthropic partners, who deeply care about this mission, as well as by direct-pay from clients. NFF consulting services support leaders to navigate growth and change-- like facility acquisition, leadership transition, and financial downturns-- as well as ongoing structural issues around government contracting, social sector funding, and financial management. The NFF team engages through a deep belief that it can only succeed by recognizing and complementing each organization’s unique strengths, aspirations, and values.

This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary leader to continue to cultivate NFF’s consulting practice to ensure our approach is tailored to the needs of communities and partners across the nation. Click here to learn more about our approach to consulting.

The position can be based remotely, with a preference for candidates within commuting distance to an NFF office (Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia). There is potential for up to 10 – 15% travel, which will consist of client and partner meetings, local/national conferences, and occasional inter-office travel.

The Vice President, Consulting will report to the Chief of Client Services who is based in New York.

What you’ll do:

Department Leadership and Strategy

• Support NFF’s overall mission, vision, and business operations objectives by setting a vision and strategy for a large team that works directly with NFF’s clients and external stakeholders.
• Support NFF’s brand by delivering exceptional client services through the development of comprehensive implementation plans and team-level goals.
• Set and manage annual department goals and budget that engage the team and align with organizational goals.
• Work collaboratively to ensure that NFF meets its annual impact and financial goals
• Refine and adjust the financial model for NFF’s consulting practice by collaborating with NFF’s development, community engagement, and other business development leaders.
• Design, develop, and oversee the implementation of consulting practices and initiatives that meet client needs and align with NFF’s strategic goals.
• Gather insights, feedback, and learnings from clients to inform team practices and approaches, as well as insights for NFF as a thought leader in the CDFI and nonprofit sectors.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of consulting procedures, systems, and processes, collaborating with NFF’s operational and technology teams to design and implement improvements.
• Support organizational strategy and decision-making as a member of NFF’s Leadership Team; collaborate directly with the organization’s Vice Presidents and the Executive Team to champion internal and external initiatives, cultivate and manage talent, and create suitable conditions for people to work together to achieve a common goal.

Leadership and Management of the Business

• Lead by example, fostering a culture of collaboration & goal attainment.
• Guide and manage the overall provision of consulting services and programs.
• Provide leadership and guidance to consulting functional areas by overseeing people management, business development, program delivery, financial analysis, and initiative management.
• Keep abreast of market trends to meet the current and future needs of the department.
• Represent NFF in public forums, communicating NFF’s mission, strategy, and services that support nonprofit leaders as they manage through structural and funding inequities.
• Lead select client work that requires the seniority or specific experience of the Vice President in support of the client and/or staff.
• Interface with NFF's Board of Directors and Program Committee regarding consulting strategy and activity.
• Oversee and ensure all CDFI compliance standards are met, and risks and liabilities are mitigated.
• Inform and implement policies and practices to manage the business.
• Work with the Chief of Client Services to establish work plans that correspond to NFF’s strategy and objectives, supporting the goals and needs of the consulting department.
• Partner with the Vice President of Development to devise and support a strategically aligned annual fundraising plan in response to client, network, community, and funder priorities.

Lead and Develop Consulting Team

• Manage and develop a team of 20 based on trust and collaboration
• Provide direct support, leadership, and management of the department’s Senior Directors as they take increased ownership of consulting portfolios
• Ensure a department culture of learning, where staff are supported in their work and trained to meet evolving client needs and develop professionally.
• Lead the consulting department in aligning client work with the organization’s strategy and the department’s business model; build capacity to achieve or exceed their goals
• Provide coaching and guidance on critical issues, as well as implement professional development for the department focusing on growing skills and providing learning opportunities that support evolving client needs.

Who you are:

• You are an experienced leader with at least 10-15 years of experience leading a consulting practice and/or a client services business in an executive leadership role. Experience in philanthropy, government, or financial services is also valuable.
• You are an expert with knowledge in nonprofit finance, and excel-based financial model building, and you understand the nuances of nonprofit finance.
• You are people-centered, demonstrating success in setting vision, leading, and managing a team with diverse backgrounds and experiences to meet ambitious goals. You have a track record of supporting team members' learning, development, career growth, and building team culture aligned with organizational core values.
• You are a strategic and visionary leader, able to apply strategy and innovation in designing and implementing processes, systems, and policies that support the organization's vision and growth, including in emerging practice areas. You effectively identify, solve, and lead others in addressing challenges.
• You are highly relational and collaborative, understanding the power of relationship-building and collaboration both within the team and across the organization. You move work forward by building strong relationships while centering the needs of clients and communities, as well as staff.
• You are flexible and resourceful, delivering results and pivoting quickly when the organization’s needs change.
• You are empathetic and able to lead people through change. You lead through influence, bringing your team and collaborators together around a shared vision and strategy. You have experience with change management, setting strategy, and cascading goals in a highly matrixed organization.
• You are aligned with NFF’s mission, core values, and commitment to equity. You foster an inclusive culture where people can show up authentically and thrive. You center your work around DEIB and racial equity, and you have experience leading others in applying DEIB principles to their work.
• You embody NFF’s mission, core values and commitment to equity.

At NFF, we are invested in discussing the depth and breadth of each candidate’s background and experience during the interview process and using that information to determine the best offer while considering internal pay equity. The salary range for this position is $170,000 –$187,000. If provided an offer, NFF will determine salary compensation based on relevant skills and years of experience. NFF also takes into consideration internal equity in setting salary bands for each role. NFF provides an attractive benefits package that currently includes up to 18 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, unlimited vacation time off, health insurance with a NFF funded health reimbursement account. We offer both employer match and non-match contributions toward your retirement plan. In addition, NFF provides flexibility to work remotely or from our offices in major cities. We provide a “work from home” fund, and flexible spending accounts that cover medical, commuter, and childcare costs.