Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications

Summary

Secure World Foundation, a private operating foundation that supports the long-term sustainable use of space, is seeking a full-time Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications to join our team. Working from our Broomfield, Colorado office, the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications will be responsible for developing, managing and executing the Foundation’s strategies for strategic partnership development and external communications.

Reporting to the Executive Director and working with the Operations Director, the Director of Program Planning and program managers, the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications will develop, manage and execute the Foundation’s strategies for strategic partnership development and external communications.  In carrying out these roles, the incumbent will both support and be supported by other SWF staff, as appropriate.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications are: (i) to coordinate and manage all SWF external partnerships, pursuing external funding and leveraging opportunities, and (ii) to coordinate and manage the Foundation’s external communications. These responsibilities are described in more detail below:

Coordinate and manage SWF external partnerships:

  • Sustain existing partnerships and mobilize new and nontraditional strategic partners to collaborate with in support of SWF’s current and planned programs.
  • Work with SWF staff to develop MOUs and other types of partnership agreements.
  • Identify and pursue opportunities for external funding and/or leveraging external resources to support SWF projects and programs, and assist SWF program managers in the preparation of related proposals and applications.
  • Work with SWF staff to manage, maintain, and track current partnerships. This includes reviewing all partnerships for strategic value, process compliance, and mission alignment.

Coordinate and manage SWF external communications

  • Develop and implement, in collaboration with SWF staff,  an SWF corporate communications policy and strategy.
  • Develop and implement methods, together with the rest of the SWF staff, to track the impact/reach of SWF external communications.
  • Handle media and press enquiries and interactions, passing on to other SWF staff, as may be appropriate.
  • Lead the data collection, compilation, design, and publication of the SWF Annual Report and other SWF publications.
  • Support the Executive Director in the compilation of documentation pertaining to partnerships and communications for the SWF Board and SWF Advisory Committee.

The incumbent will be required to:

  • Monitor activities carried out under partnership agreements, communicate concerns, results and impacts to the relevant program staff  and to SWF senior management.
  • Travel 30% to 40% of the year, or as needed (local, regional, national and/or international) to meet with existing and prospective SWF partners and stakeholders and to meet with SWF staff in our Washington, DC office.
  • Participate in and represent SWF in national and international events and conferences.
  • Maintain knowledge of the substantive areas of SWF’s projects and activities.
  • Maintain knowledge of and relationships with external entities that operate within the scope of SWF’s mission and vision. 
  • Ensure that all relationships with other entities developed and/or maintained on behalf of SWF have up-to-date contact information available to the Foundation’s team.
  • Perform other duties as may be required by the Executive Director.

Though not primarily responsible for any of the SWF program areas, the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications may also be required to support the planning and/or implementation of projects led by other SWF staff from time to time.

Experience, Qualifications and Skills 

  • 5+ years of experience working with an organization in a business development or fundraising capacity, preferably in a field within the scope of SWF’s activities. The applicant should also have experience in strategic communication to create and distribute messaging across different platforms that may be different in style and purpose, but is coherent, in alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives and reinforces the organizational message and brand. Non-profit experience is a plus.
  • The minimum academic qualification for this position is a degree in a field related to the activities of SWF. For candidates with fewer years of work experience, an advanced degree would be a plus.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills to support partner engagements and the internal development of communications materials, agreements, presentations, proposals and other documents, as needed.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate authentically, passionately, and knowledgeably with external project participants, frontline staff, organizational executives, policy makers, and other external stakeholders, and to facilitate conversations.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and experience working as a member of a diverse, geographically scattered team.
  • Professional experience of living and working in more than one culture is a plus.
  • Ability to perform professionally in English is an essential requirement and skill in at least one additional language is highly desirable.
  • Proficiency in general computer skills and experience with electronic collaboration tools.

Competencies

  • Ability to develop clear goals consistent with organizational policies and strategies 
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and to respond to opportunities quickly and efficiently
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
  • Ability to work in complex and ambiguous situations
  • Ability to think creatively and function pragmatically
  • Ability to foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning
  • Ability to monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary
  • Ability to listen to others, correctly interpret messages and respond appropriately
  • Ability to tailor language, tone, style and format to match the audience 
  • Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals
  • Ability to take ownership of all assigned responsibilities and to honor commitments to deliver outputs for which one has responsibility to agreed time, cost and quality standards.

This is a full-time position. SWF is offering  a salary in the range $75,000 - $85,000, plus benefits, depending on qualifications and experience.  Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Benefits include: health/dental/vision/disability coverage, 401(k) plan with employer match, and paid holiday, vacation and sick time.

Qualified candidates, please send your resume and a cover letter highlighting your business development and communications experience to jobs@swfound.org. Title the subject line of your email: Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications Application. No phone calls, please.  

The application process will remain open until 07:00 a.m. MST (UTC -7) on MONDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2019. Interviews will be conducted in January with an anticipated start date in February 2020.

Last updated on November 8, 2019