Posted on January 3, 2013

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Senior Vice President, Marketing and Philanthropy

The Alliance for Children and Families is a national organization dedicated to achieving a vision of a healthy society and strong communities for all children, adults, and families. The Alliance works for transformational change by representing and supporting hundreds of nonprofit human serving organizations located in North America to translate knowledge into best practices that improve their communities. Working with and through its member network, the Alliance strives to achieve high impact by reducing the number of people living in poverty; increasing the number of people with opportunities to live healthy lives; and increasing the number of people with access to educational and employment success.

The Alliance serves nearly 350 member organizations, representing a significant force in the nonprofit human services sector, inclusive of:

• Human Service Organizations: private, nonprofit human service organizations that provide services to children, families, and communities, or that focus on economic empowerment. This includes both religiously affiliated and secular organizations; and
• State Associations: state or regional councils and associations that primarily represent private, nonprofit human service organizations serving children, families, and communities, or that offer programs focused on economic empowerment.

The Opportunity: Senior Vice President of Marketing and Philanthropy

The Senior Vice President of Marketing and Philanthropy is a new position reporting directly to the CEO and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). The role has been specifically created to integrate the marketing and philanthropic functions, with an end goal of not only raising the Alliance’s national profile and influence, but also generating more diverse and sustainable fundraising streams. Success in raising the profile of the network, and individual members, will result in broader awareness of the impact of the sector as a whole and growth of philanthropic support. This position will also focus on infusing creativity, new energy and systems of accountability into the Alliance’s staff culture.

The successful leader will design and steward a dynamic and cohesive marketing and development strategy for the interconnected group of Families International non-profit entities, by conceiving ideas, developing strategies, and translating both in to action. This position is responsible for creating, implementing, and providing oversight for all aspects of the Alliance’s marketing and communications program, including an internal and external communications plan, public and media relations, print publications, electronic communications strategies (internal and external), and web-based marketing and social media; and philanthropic giving programs. The aforementioned will be accomplished by engaging the current team working in marketing, communications and development; building, aligning and evolving the team; and ensuring that the creativity and leadership potential is in place to grow the presence and impact of the Alliance, and the member network, to the next level .

The goal is to broaden visibility and increase philanthropic/financial support of the entire nonprofit entities in Families International: the Alliance, Ways to Work, and United Neighborhood Centers of America (UNCA). In addition, this role will help to ensure alignment and synergy with the marketing and branding of FEI, a for-profit subsidiary that will leverage the connection resulting in mutually beneficial outcomes. Both the nonprofits and FEI, all with the clear realization that the Alliance is the focal point, will advance their positions through target audience identification, message development, branding strategy and consistency, and fundraising and donor stewardship. The Senior Vice President is expected to serve as a spokesperson for the Alliance, a key relationship builder, always looking for ways to build new partnerships and connections to raise the profile and positioning of the Alliance as a national leader and expert.

The Qualified Candidate

The Alliance for Children and Families seeks an innovative, entrepreneurial and seasoned executive with at least 10 years of progressive experience in leadership and management, coupled with progressive experience in diverse development programs and advertising/marketing leadership positions. S/he will be an energetic, creative, and natural leader who is passionate and committed to the full mission and vision of the Alliance. Involvement in the not for profit leadership community; and familiarity with other national organizations with a focus on human and social services will be helpful. Ideally s/he will have some exposure to fundraising and development programs and successfully closing personal solicitations; and has a demonstrated record of maintaining relationships.

Specific Requirements Include:

• Demonstrated passion for, inspiration of, and commitment to the vision and purpose of Alliance for Children and Families, coupled with an executive level skill set.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a complex environment, managing multiple projects and conflicting priorities.
• Strong analytic and strategic-thinking skills, with demonstrated ability to create, implement and monitor complex plans, and translate those plans into goals and concrete strategies.
• A collaborative and engaging communication style that exhibits the principles and values of the Alliance for Children and Families, as well as fosters team relationships and effectively communicates information.
• Career track record that shows stability with an organization and a demonstrated ability to nurture staff; develop, and build relationships with diverse individuals internally, and externally with a variety of volunteers, organizations, public leadership, partner organizations and other stakeholders.
• Proven success in building strong and productive staff work teams with a focus on mentoring and nurturing staff development.
• A high level of comfort with interaction with media professionals and personal presence to serve as the face of the Alliance when needed.
• Track record in financial management, stewardship, and developing strategies to successfully increase revenue, including, but not limited to meeting/exceeding fundraising goals.
• Effective interpersonal, written and oral communications skills.
• Advanced understanding of communications systems and programs and the professional knowledge to achieve objectives.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply accepted editing principles and guidelines, print, online, and other marketing practices, and print and design industries/procedures.
• Flexibility and creativity.
• Excellent computer skills, including comfort with Microsoft Office products (e.g., Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point);
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in leadership and management, with documented ability to manage staff and lead teams.

• A Bachelor’s degree with relevant advanced training or degree desired; Master’s Degree preferred.

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

This position is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the offices of The Alliance.

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 Whitney Wade at wwade@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.