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Chief External Relations Officer

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

DESCRIPTION 

Job Title: Chief External Relations Officer  

 Reports to: President & CEO, Alyse Nelson 

 Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid, 2 in-office days/week required) 

 

Organization Description  

Vital Voices Global Partnership is a leading international non-profit organization. We invest in women leaders who are tackling the world’s greatest challenges – from gender-based violence to the climate crisis, economic inequities, and more. We are “venture catalysts,” identifying leaders with a daring vision for change and partnering with them to make that vision a reality. What sets Vital Voices apart is that we make long-term, holistic investments in leaders with bold ideas for change — providing them connections, capacity, a network of their peers, financial support, and visibility for their work. We have provided early support for leaders who went on to become Nobel Peace Laureates, US Youth Poet Laureates, Prime Ministers, award winning innovators and breakthrough social entrepreneurs. Over the past 27 years, we have directly invested in more than 47,000 change-makers across 188 countries, who in turn have improved the lives of millions of people in their communities and countries.  

 

Vital Voices’ staff is headquartered in Washington, DC. In the coming years, we have a bold vision to dramatically scale our impact. In early 2022, we opened the first ever Global Headquarters for Women’s Leadership, a 30,000+ sq. ft. historic building just blocks from the White House on 16th Street. It is a hub of activity, events, and collaborations — bringing together women leaders and their allies to tackle the world’s greatest challenges. 

 

Mission 

Vital Voices invests in women leaders taking on the world’s greatest challenges and accelerates collective action towards an equitable and sustainable world.  

 

Organizational Goals 2030 
 

  1. Scale our proven investment model from 47,000 to 50,000 women leaders - who together will positively impact the lives of one billion people. 
  2. Make a measurable impact on 1-2 of the greatest challenges as defined by the Vital Voices Global Network - proving the power of collective action. 
  3. Cultivate a critical mass of people around the world who believe that women’s leadership has a positive impact. 

 

Position Summary: 
 

Vital Voices seeks an accomplished, strategic, and inspiring Chief External Relations Officer (CERO) to lead the organization’s global communications, events, and development strategy. Reporting directly to the CEO, the CERO will oversee a team responsible for brand positioning, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement - ensuring the organization’s voice, visibility, and revenue growth align with its ambitions mission and expanding global footprint.  

 

This is a pivotal role for an executive with proven experience in integrated communications, philanthropy, and high-profile events who thrives in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.  
 

This leader must bring a deep understanding of global dynamics, current affairs and cultural nuances, with the ability to navigate and respond to world events that impact women and communities worldwide. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in leading cross-cultural teams, building relationships across borders, and crafting messaging that resonates across varied cultural contexts. 
 

The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in fundraising and external affairs, with a proven track record of designing and implementing integrated campaigns that mobilize resources, elevate visibility, and advance mission impact. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a fast-growing, global nonprofit committed to empowering women leaders. 

Priorities during the first 6-Months: 

In the first six months, the Chief External Relations Officer will be expected to: 

1. Establish Strong, Trusted Relationships with the CEO, Senior Leadership, and Board 

  • Build credibility with key stakeholders, including Board members, major donors, and partners. 
  • Partner closely with the CEO, SLT and Board Development Committee to align fundraising strategy with organizational priorities and expand the organization’s network of campions, funders, and global advocates. 

2. Develop a Cohesive External Relations Strategy 

  • Lead the development of an integrated advancement plan that aligns fundraising, communications, events, and partnerships with Vital Voices’ 2030 goals.
  • Conduct an assessment of existing development and communications strategies, identifying immediate opportunities for alignment, growth, and impact. 

3. Strengthen Internal Collaboration & Team Leadership 

  • Align and inspire the development, communications, and events teams around shared goals, clear priorities, and cross-functional collaboration. 
  • Ensure strong team dynamics, clarify roles and responsibilities, and begin to embed a culture of accountability, creativity, and results. 

4. Drive Early Wins in Fundraising & Visibility 

  • Identify and pursue early fundraising and partnership opportunities to demonstrate traction and leadership capacity.
  • Partner with communications leadership to connect external visibility efforts to fundraising and donor engagement strategies. 

5. Position Vital Voices for Long-Term Growth 

  • Set the foundation for sustained revenue growth, strengthened brand presence, and meaningful partnerships that expand the organization’s global reach and influence. 

 

 

Key Responsibilities: 

Fundraising & Development (Advancement): 
 

  • Drive a comprehensive fundraising strategy to grow diversified revenue across individual, corporate, and foundations. 
  • This role will lead and coach a team of 8 staff in the overall engagement of corporate, foundation and individual donors to ensure the cultivation, acquisition, renewal, and stewardship of donations.  
  • Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with a portfolio of high-net-worth donors, foundations, and brand partners aligned with the Vital Voices mission. 
  • Work with the Development team to set and achieve annual revenue goals and multi-year growth plans. 
  • Partner with the CEO and Board to strengthen and leverage philanthropic relationships and fundraising capacity. 
  • Align development strategy with communications to ensure consistent messaging and compelling storytelling that inspires investment. 

Strategic Communications & Digital Marketing: 

  • Oversee a global communications strategy that elevates the Vital Voices brand and strengthens media visibility.  
  • Serve as a spokesperson and brand steward, ensuring consistent messaging across digital, social, and earned media.  
  • Lead crisis and reputational communications, supporting executive visibility and institutional credibility. 
  • Advance storytelling that highlights the impact of women leaders in the Vital Voices network.  
  • Expand Vital Voices’ digital presence through robust use of social media, web platforms, and newsletters. 

External Affairs, Partnerships & Events: 

  • Lead efforts to build and sustain high-impact partnerships with corporations, media outlets, advocacy groups, and mission-aligned institutions. 
  • Act as a key spokesperson and media contact, strengthening Vital Voices’ presence in national and international media. 
  • Oversee strategic planning and execution of major organizational events and convenings that raise visibility and deepen engagement. 
  • Partner with program and advocacy teams to amplify field work through strategic external engagement. 

Executive Leadership & Strategy: 

  • Serve as a key advisor to the CEO and senior leadership on communications, advancement, crisis response, and positioning strategies. 
  • Lead and manage a high-performing External Relations team, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven culture. The ideal candidate will be a proven team leader with a track record of developing talent, aligning team efforts with strategic goals, and driving results through effective people management. 
  • Set clear, measurable objectives and regularly report progress toward strategic advancement goals. 
  • Represent Vital Voices externally at events, forums, and in the media, serving as a compelling ambassador of the organization. 

 

Required Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, international relations, public affairs, or a related field; advanced degree preferred. 
  • 15+ years of senior-level experience in fundraising, board relations, communications, and external affairs, preferably in a growth focused nonprofit or mission-driven organization. 
  • Proven success in designing and implementing multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns and cultivating high-level donor relationships. 
  • Exceptional communication, storytelling, and writing skills, with experience tailoring messages to diverse global audiences. 
  • Strategic thinker with strong analytic and project management skills; able to balance visionary leadership with hands-on execution. 
  • Demonstrated experience leading and mentoring cross-functional teams through organizational growth and change. 
  • Deep understanding of digital marketing tools and analytics to optimize outreach and engagement. 
  • Commitment to the mission of Vital Voices and experience working in global women’s leadership, human rights, or similar fields. 

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Nonprofit leadership experience with a focus on fundraising and integrated communications strategy. 
  • Familiarity with women’s empowerment, civil society, or humanitarian sectors. 
  • International experience and additional language skills are a plus. 

 

Work Environment & Travel: 

 This is a full-time, exempt position based in Washington, DC, with a hybrid schedule (minimum two in-office days per week). Occasional domestic and international travel (up to 20%) may be required. 

 

Benefits:  

At Vital Voices, we value our employees and their well-being. That's why we offer a competitive and comprehensive compensation package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k match, short and long-term disability, life insurance, FSA, EAP, and more. But that's not all. We believe in giving our employees the flexibility and support they need to thrive in their work and life. That's why we provide generous PTO including wellness flex Fridays, parental leave, and volunteer leave as well as a professional development stipend to support continuous improvement. Join us and be part of a global team that empowers women leaders to transform the world.   

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Vital Voices provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Vital Voices complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.   

 

Vital Voices expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Vital Voices’ employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.   

 

Staff may experience secondary trauma due to exposure to descriptive and/or graphic gender-based violence content in their work. Vital Voices does not provide work visa sponsorship or relocation assistance for this position.   
  
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.  

  

How to Apply:  
Click the following link:  https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/vitalvoicesglobalpartnership/jobs/4990749007 
Applications that do not include the following will not be considered for review:  

  • Resume   
  • Salary Expectations

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.  

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