Senior Director, Communications

The National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) invites nominations and applications for a Senior Director of Communications. In partnership with visionary philanthropic families, NCFP activates and equips a diverse community of philanthropic families to embrace a bold vision and realize their greatest potential. Over the last two and a half years, NCFP has refreshed its strategic direction to support families to be more intentional, effective, and values-based in their philanthropy. NCFP is in the second year of implementing a new internal staffing structure and shifting operations to support implementation of its strategic plan. As part of this shift, the new Senior Director, Communications will create and oversee communication strategies that further NCFP’s mission. Reporting directly to NCFP’s President & CEO, the Senior Director is responsible for working with leadership, the communications and marketing team and across internal teams to build and implement a communications strategy and related initiatives, ensuring that they are impactful and measurable. They will manage a small team and will help create a culture of trust and accountability, transparent communication, and continuous improvement.

NCFP seeks an adaptable leader who will partner with NCFP’s President & CEO, executive level leadership, and across the organization to build out the next stage of communications and related infrastructure to effectively share and elevate NCFP’s mission and align with the evolving family philanthropy ecosystem. The successful candidate will be a strong listener, communicator, and storyteller who can articulate and amplify the potential and impact that family philanthropists can have to bring about meaningful change.

The National Center for Family Philanthropy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of NCFP to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. NCFP prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.

The salary range for this position is $130,000 – 150,000 plus benefits, which include flexible PTO; 11 holidays; 1-week July office closure, 1-week December office closure, new parent leave; 100% employee premium paid for medical/dental/vision insurance and generous dependent premium subsidies; 5% retirement contribution; short and long-term disability and life insurance; and professional development.

ABOUT NCFP

NCFP is a network of philanthropic families committed to a world that is vibrant, equitable, and resilient. We share proven practices, work through common challenges, and learn together to strengthen our ability to effect meaningful change. As we navigate individual journeys of reflection and transformation, we see the results of intentional, impactful giving.

We promote open inquiry and ongoing reflection to advance the practice of family philanthropy, and we value the partnerships and mutual respect that make it possible for families to discover their purpose and possibilities.

NCFP offers a range of programs and services to foster learning for philanthropic families. We understand family philanthropy has many points of inflection—moments to embrace proven practices and advance momentum or to stall out due to uncertainty and lack of clarity. All of our programs are rooted in a Family Giving Lifecycle that provides easy onramps for families to connect with us—to begin planning, learning, and accessing custom support and resources.

Our decades of experience working with philanthropic families uniquely position us as a reliable partner who meets families where they are and provides the support and services they need to move forward with long-term planning and day-to-day decision making with confidence.

NCFP has adopted a new strategic plan that calls for both an expansion in the number of families served as well as a deepening of their engagement toward more effective practices. The program model is shifting to prioritize relationship cultivation and management creating more tailored content. Community members will be more deeply engaged, resulting in stronger outcomes for family giving and increased support for NCFP’s business model. The Senior Director, Communications will be joining a dynamic team focused on strengthening the internal organization to best serve and support external partners and the broader philanthropy sector.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE NEW SENIOR DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS

The Senior Director, Communications will join an extraordinary team of individuals and a thriving community of family philanthropists committed to advancing the capacity of mission-driven organizations to drive positive change in our communities. The Senior Director will work across the organization, ensuring communications strategy and initiatives are clear, approachable, centered in equity, and representative of NCFP’s work, mission, and evolving brand and voice in the sector. They will apply a strong equity lens to all the work across their portfolio. Responsibilities for the role will include:

Implement a Strong Communications Strategy, – Internally and Externally – that Elevates Organizational Impact

The Senior Director, Communications will be a hands-on strategic leader that will strengthen NCFP’s internal communication, organizational brand, and heighten the visibility of NCFP’s work. They will develop relationships to engage both new and established stakeholders as NCFP works to shift the landscape of family philanthropy.

• Co-create and implement internal and external organizational communication strategies that reflect NCFP’s vision and mission, and that elevate and integrate the organization’s programs, issues, and narratives into the public discourse to galvanize engagement and promote education across the family philanthropy sector.
• A strong orientation to adaptive communication approaches that are responsive to NCFP’s ever-evolving membership landscape and that are prepared to safeguard NCFP’s brand during crisis or challenging moments.
• Cultivate relationships with media outlets and platforms, family foundations, and philanthropy serving organizations that will bring visibility to NCFP’s work and engage interested parties around NCFP’s programming and mission.
• Stay on the cutting edge of trends, emerging gaps, and opportunities to leverage programmatic impact and member engagement.

Strong People Leader Committed to Collaborative Leadership

The Senior Director, Communications will support the development of, and provide day-to-day leadership to, a high impact team of professionals. They will be responsible for articulating and building a healthy, results-oriented team culture across NCFP’s communications and marketing work and instill a collaborative spirit that will become the hallmark of their work across the organization. The Senior Director, Communications will be focused on delivering results, reframing challenges as opportunities for team and organizational growth. They will model NCFP’s values and will translate a compelling vision into action. They will support and build the leadership capacity of their direct reports and ensure that they have the tools they need to be successful. They will also manage up appropriately and bring peers and executive leaders into the communications process at relevant stages.

• Ensure direct reports managing staff have the skills, tools, support, input, and feedback they need to effectively lead high impact teams.
• In partnership with the President and other senior leaders, regularly review the organization’s external positioning to assess, and when necessary, address NCFP’S standing amongst its peers and the broader philanthropy space.
• Support recruiting, hiring, assessing, and supervising communications and marketing professionals as the team might grow.
• Supervise staff and lead teams during gaps in team leadership positions, as needed.

Grow and Protect NCFP’s Organizational Brand

The Senior Director, Communications must have a strong desire and interest to work and develop communication and marketing strategies that catalyze NCFP’s goals, brand, values, and strategic plan. The ideal candidate will be deeply committed to NCFP’s vision for the family philanthropy sector. Additionally, the Senior Director, Communications will:

• Be prepared to represent NCFP at conferences, high-level strategy meetings, retreats, philanthropic gatherings, etc.
• Identify, cultivate, and steward strategic relationships with external partners in public relations, the media, funders, or other spheres to further position NCFP as a leading resource for the family philanthropy sector.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will be first and foremost committed to NCFP’s mission and the visionary evolution of the organization. They will be eager to step in and help NCFP leverage the power of its communications strategy. They will be a strong communicator, organizational developer, and a successful people-developer grounded in an asset-based approach.

While no one person will embody all the qualities below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• Experience with and passion for family giving and/or family philanthropy is essential.
• An entrepreneurial, hands-on, strategic leader who sets reasonable goals and expectations balanced with empathy and humility when building and maintaining relationships.
• Successful experience leading a multidisciplinary team and working effectively with persons from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds; willingness to set aside a personal agenda in favor of organizational and/or community goals and objectives.
• Highly developed emotional intelligence and active listening skills, and the ability to use interpersonal and relational skills in ways that facilitate strong collaboration with both internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated success in communications at a nonprofit organization with experience in communications strategy and communications management. Experience within a foundation or philanthropy serving organization is a plus.
• Excellent writing, editing, analytical, and oral communication skills including the ability to collect, review, synthesize, and present information and findings.
• Strong relationship building and communication skills with the ability to have authentic dialogue around sensitive issues including strategic priorities.
• Ability to multitask and meet deadlines within designated timeframes as well as demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities; strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail with the ability to work both independently, take initiative and contribute ideas for enhancing performance.
• Exemplary public communication skills and experience participating in national and regional convenings as a panelist or keynote speaker.
• An optimistic outlook and the humor, integrity, kindness, and patience necessary to work within a transformative environment.

Additionally, candidates need to bring a strong commitment to excellence and an ability to work in an evolving environment.

TO APPLY

For more about the National Center for Family Philanthropy, please visit: www.ncfp.org

This search is being led by Katherine Jacobs, Deanna Glick, and Sarah Hecklau of the talent strategy firm, NPAG. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s website.

If you would like to submit a nomination for this role, please email Sarah at: [email protected]