Senior Vice President for External Affairs
SUMMARY
The Senior Vice President (SVP) for External Affairs leads a team to direct the Foundation's overall strategic communication, convening, evaluation and external affairs efforts. The position is responsible for ensuring that the Foundation's work achieves optimal results through communication that advances the Foundation's goals and positioning the Foundation as a credible content authority and an exemplary philanthropic organization. The position oversees the communication, convening and evaluation work of the Foundation and assists the president in managing the Foundation's external relationships. The Senior Vice President for External Affairs contributes to the overall management of the Foundation through participation on the Executive Team and performs other duties as assigned by the President and CEO. This position requires relocation to the Indianapolis area.
SCOPE AND IMPACT OF JOB
Dollar responsibilities (budget and/or revenue): The SVP for External Affairs manages the Foundation's budget for communication, evaluation and convenings.
Supervisory responsibilities (direct and indirect): The communication, convening and evaluation staffs report to the SVP for External Affairs.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Related work experience: The Senior Vice President for External Affairs should have significant experience (10 years) in strategic communications and external relations, with national nonprofit, congressional, trade association, corporate or private foundation experience preferred. The strategic communication and external relations experience must include a broad exposure to crafting and implementing coordinated communication strategies nationally or in multiple states, achieving impact, advancing an agenda to bring about social change, a fundamental understanding of the inner workings and legal, financial and ethical obligations of private foundations, and knowledge of the power and potential of communication, evaluation, and convening.
Formal education or equivalent: The Senior Vice President for External Affairs should possess a graduate degree in related content area. Extensive experience and demonstrated knowledge and communication skill may compensate for lack of a graduate degree in exceptional cases.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES
- Prior experience coordinating and implementing strategic communication efforts designed to influence multiple stakeholders across several states or nationally.
- Knowledge of the distinctive characteristics and obligations of private foundations.
- Knowledge of the connections necessary between and among all areas of the Foundation's work to be able to formulate strategic communication efforts to leverage the Foundation's work.
- Strong public communication skills including public speaking and speechwriting. Demonstrated skills in web communication, layout/design, and production. Ability to communicate information and ideas appropriately to a variety of audiences.
- Working knowledge of issues of student access/success in postsecondary education.
- Skill in interfacing with a board of directors, officers and employees.
- Ability to lead evaluation strategy and activities that measure the Foundation's effectiveness and outcomes and apply gained knowledge to inform future work and advance the field.
- Skill in assembling the human resources necessary to carry out a mission and create a productive work environment.
- Solid understanding of the grant-making process and the underlying systems and procedures required to support grant making.
- Exceptional skill in managing the communication requirements and opportunities of the organization and monitoring the effectiveness of the various tools, including publications, advertising campaigns, message development, speeches and Web communication tools.
- Ability to represent the Foundation in appropriate professional settings.
- Ability to uphold the highest standards of quality and professional integrity on behalf of the Foundation.
- Demonstrated skill in managing people, projects and budgets.
- Knowledge of how to implement the Foundation's communications strategy, ensuring that clear communication is woven appropriately into all external activities.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
ESSENTIAL
- Leads the communication staff in planning, budgeting, and executing the Foundation's strategic internal and external communications for its varied publics in support of the Foundation's mission and goals. The communications work is carried out through the Foundation's outreach in its Website, other electronic communications, media relations, publications and public speaking opportunities. Works with the CEO and policy staff in developing a strategic communication and public will building approach to policy advancement and change. Additional communication activities include the preparation of key presentations, the use of strategic communication grants and contracts, and communication consultation with staff members, grant recipients and key stakeholders.
- Oversees the convening staff and works with other staff members in planning, budgeting and executing strategic convenings designed to bring together a wide variety of stakeholders and perspectives, particularly those outside of higher education, on issues of concern to the Foundation and develop from those convenings specific strategies and action steps to build on the discussions and ideas that surfaced. Oversees the implementation of the convening strategy designed to bring about systemic change, with some of the convenings designed to build an agenda or precipitate action that emerges from the Foundation's ongoing work and with other convenings designed to explore promising "blue sky" approaches that might address new issues and themes in college access and success.
- Oversees the evaluation staff in planning, budgeting and executing a strategic program of evaluative activities to assess the Foundation's overall effectiveness and to measure the outcome of program activities; ensuring that the Foundation applies the knowledge gained to inform its future work and share the lessons learned to advance the field. Evaluation work is carried out primarily through consultation with staff and grant recipients and the commissioning of outside evaluators and evaluation managers through grants and contracts. Evaluation staff also bears responsibility for synthesizing and communicating the results of this work effectively.
- Participates in the Executive Team and provides strategic direction for the Foundation, ensures fiduciary oversight and operational excellence across the Foundation, and provides critical internal and external leadership.
- Assists the Office of the President in determining how the Foundation should position itself among its various stakeholders and collaborates on the plan for achieving the desired results.
- Assists in the preparation of Board materials.
NON-ESSENTIAL
- Personally contribute to the positioning of Lumina Foundation and to the advancement of the field by representing the Foundation in higher education and philanthropic circles.
- Contribute to the Foundation's essential grant-making work as necessary and appropriate to help the Foundation achieve its mission.
- Develop additional skills and attributes needed to improve leadership.
- Travel as needed, including overnight stays.
Critical features of this job are described under the headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.
Highly qualified applicants should e-mail a letter of interest and curriculum vitae as attachments, outlining experience relevant to advancing the mission of Lumina Foundation for Education. The Foundation also invites nominations of qualified applicants. Letters of interest and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled, and should be sent to the e-mail address listed below.
Shelley Lloyd
Director, Human Resources
lfecareers@luminafoundation.org
Review of candidates will begin immediately. Compensation for this position is highly competitive.
Equal Opportunity Employer
