Posted on September 14, 2012

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Chief External Affairs Officer

Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center: Chief External Affairs Officer

The Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (CCAC) unites public, private, and community partners to ensure the safety, health and well-being of abused children. The CCAC creates a child abuse response system that is focused on the child and family. Programs use a strengths-based, comprehensive family support approach designed to support and counsel children and families during the investigative process, and start them on a path of healing.

Before opening its doors in August 2001, abused children in Chicago often had to tell their stories again and again – repeatedly reliving the horror of their abuse. After disclosing what happened to their teacher, a child might have to repeat the details to the principal, school counselor, nurse, police officer, police sergeant, doctor, lawyer, and more. In fact, research shows children would have to retell what happened to them an average of 10-15 times to child welfare and law enforcement professionals located all over the City. This might take months or even years, and some children never received help at all.

Joining Together for the Children

In 1998, a task force of professionals from across all disciplines was developed to create the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center. These agencies included the Chicago Police Department, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Since its doors opened in August 2001, CCAC’s on-site network of family advocates, mental health counselors, intake coordinators, forensic interviewers, and support services staff have worked together to serve thousands of Chicago’s abused children allowing them to live fuller, happier lives.

A Model Program That Works

When the CCAC opened, Mayor Richard M. Daley and other dignitaries were present for a ribbon cutting ceremony that officially changed the system for sexually abused children. Now, children are interviewed once by a trained professional in a child-friendly environment instead of repeated interviews in hospital emergency rooms, police stations, and in front of friends at school. Care and support for the child and family begin within days or even hours instead of weeks or months. Police now average one arrest per day. According to surveys completed by parents who come to the CCAC, 95% are satisfied with the services they receive. The CCAC has hosted many national and international child welfare professionals interested in learning from its model and programs.

Facility

The Center, located at 1240 S. Damen Ave. in Chicago, was designed by renowned Chicago architect Stanley Tigerman and boasts a multi-colored, child-friendly building designed to make children feel safe and comfortable. It houses over 130 professionals from the CCAC and its partner agencies.

The Opportunity: Chief External Affairs Officer

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief External Affairs Officer oversees two primary areas of the agency: development/philanthropy and marketing/communications. The Chief External Affairs Officer will ensure the effective delivery of CCAC’s vision, mission, and brand through its fundraising programs as well as all external communications and messaging. The role is responsible for the planning, managing, and implementing of an integrative philanthropic strategy – driving all contributed income for Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center in support of its current and long-term strategic objectives. The Chief External Affairs Officer will develop and implement strategies to strengthen current relationships and develop new connections with individual donors, corporations, foundations and others that will increase contributed income and revenue for CCAC. This position currently supervises a team of four, and potentially may supervise up to a team of six professionals in the future.

The strongest applicants will possess a demonstrated track record in providing innovative leadership in resource development, and in promoting and administering proven fundraising strategies. The successful candidate will have demonstrated skills in the full spectrum of Development activities with a special emphasis on individual giving/major gifts. (S)he will be self-motivated, results-oriented, creative, resourceful, highly energetic and intelligent, with exceptional interpersonal, communication and organizational skills. (S)he will represent The Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center with the utmost integrity and professionalism.

The Qualified Candidate

The Chief External Affairs Officer must have the ability to build strong relationships with CCAC’s Board of Directors, employees, partners, and the philanthropic community. This person will serve as a member of the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center leadership team, and report directly to the Executive Director. The successful candidate must be able to efficiently assess the initial Philanthropy efforts and build a strategic program utilizing best practices and proven experience.

Specific Requirements Include:

• Passion for the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center’s mission
• Bachelor’s Degree; Advanced degree or CFRE certification preferred
• A minimum of 7-10 years of comprehensive Development experience in similar roles of increasing responsibility and leadership in the non profit sector, with a minimum of three years concentrating on major gift work.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and with sensitivity, passion and finesse.
• Proven ability to build strong external relationships with a variety of volunteers, public leadership, funders, partner organizations and other stakeholders.
• Track record in budget management, stewardship, and developing both innovative and proven strategies to build a multi-faceted philanthropic program.
• Proven success in building strong and productive work teams with a focus on mentoring and nurturing staff development, and setting a tone and vision for a Development department. Prior supervisory experience, preferably as head of a Development department is required.
• Strong organizational, analytic, and strategic-thinking skills, with demonstrated ability to create, implement and monitor complex plans, and translate those plans into goals and concrete methods and strategies.
• Career track record that shows stability with an organization and capacity to develop and nurture relationships culminating in overall success.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite of computer programs, especially Excel, and strong preference for candidates with Raiser’s Edge working knowledge.

This position offers a competitive salary with benefits. All inquiries will be held in strict confidence.

The Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria.

Application Instructions

To Apply

The search is being managed by Heather A. Eddy, CFRE, President and COO of Alford Group Executive Search. To apply, candidates should submit their cover letter and resume and complete the online application at http://ag-es.kintera.org/applicant. No applications will be accepted via email. Questions may be addressed to Laura Weinman at lweinman@alford.com.

Alford Group Executive Search (www.ag-es.com) is a retained search firm dedicated to providing recruitment services of exceptional quality and strengthening the not-for-profit community through professional staffing solutions.