External Engagement Director

Job Description

The External Engagement Director is responsible for expanding the
strategic engagement between Catholic Charities and a variety of critical constituencies - Catholic clergy, parishioners, volunteers, donors/benefactors, corporations, foundations, funders, people of goodwill, and the public at large, for the purpose of increasing available human and material resources. The Director solicits corporate sponsorships and supports fundraising events; coordinates with agency development efforts; shapes the public voice of Catholic Charities through external communications, branding, media relations, and marketing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Supervises assigned staff to ensure parish, community, and civic engagement across all areas of the Diocese.
2. Develops and revises plans to strategically engage primary constituencies with the goal of increasing human and material resources available to the agency. Liaisons with diocesan development staff and independent contractors to achieve this goal.
3. Coordinates agency development efforts to increase contributed revenue to the organization from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Solicits corporate sponsorships.
4. Supervises agency fundraising development staff.
5. Provides vision, direction, and implementation for internal and external communications, branding, reputation, marketing, and public positioning efforts for the organization. Works with relevant diocesan personnel, agency staff, and external consultants as needed.
6. Leads public relations efforts for the organization and employs a wide variety of communications vehicles (e.g., publications, social media, traditional media, website, and technology tools).
7. Protects and grows the Catholic Charities brand and reputation. Establishes, maintains, and monitors organizational style and branding to ensure consistency of messaging. Develops guidelines and provides training for staff as required to embrace the branding and public voice of Catholic Charities.
8. Tracks and reports on the reach and impact of marketing and communications initiatives.
9. Works with regional directors to connect the work of volunteer coordinators with agency-wide efforts of external engagement.
10. Supervises staff offering external public policy advocacy.
11. Participates in the Agency's Quality Improvement system and supports agency compliance with relevant accreditation standards.
12. Serves as liaison between Catholic Charities and Committees of the Board of Directors.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Participates in staff meetings, staff training, and development activities.
2. Performs other duties as required.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

1. Bachelor's Degree and at least three years of relevant job experience required, including development, corporate sponsorship solicitation, fundraising event organization, public relations, and/or media experience. Seven years of relevant experience may be substituted in lieu of an undergraduate degree.
2. Skills required to: work with discretion and communicate effectively with all critical constituencies (e.g., Catholic clergy, parishioners, staff, volunteers, and corporate sponsors); respond to inquiries and conduct and coordinate corporate relationships in compliance with contractual and agency requirements; prepare and maintain files and records; and communicate with fluency, orally, and in writing, in the English language.
3. Authentic affinity for the mission and ministry of Catholic Charities in service to those most in need and advocacy on their behalf.
4. Ability to work closely with Catholic clergy, parishioners, and Diocesan groups.
5. An entrepreneurial, results-driven style with the ability to lead, manage, and be accountable.
6. Strong interpersonal and presentation skills as well as the ability to function in a high-demand arena.
7. Comfort and/or familiarity working in a social service environment.
8. Commitment to the use of data and quantifiable metrics in analysis, goal-setting, planning, and reporting.
9. High proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and current social media outlets.
10. Possess and maintain throughout employment in this position the ability to travel throughout the 46-county service area of Catholic Charities and occasionally out-of-state.

About the Employer

We are a Christian ministry dedicated to charity, service, and justice, providing help to those in need, offering hope to those in despair, and inspiring others to follow. We fulfill our mission by strengthening families, building communities, and reducing poverty. We serve everyone regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, or economic/social background. Catholic Charities provides services to over 19,000 people annually in 46 counties across western North Carolina. Services include food pantry, counseling, immigration, refugee services, youth services, and social concerns and advocacy.