Boston, MA – Virtual

Vice President for Strategy and Program, CFLeads

The Organization
CFLeads vision: Community foundations are vital partners in building communities where all residents are prosperous, healthy and secure.

CFLeads mission: CFLeads helps community foundations build strong communities by advancing effective practices, sharing knowledge, and galvanizing action on critical issues of our time.

Signature initiatives and offerings:

• Executive Leadership Institute - a unique learning opportunity for small groups of community foundation CEOs and Vice Presidents to advance their organizational practice. Described as “magical,” “a game changer,” and “the best professional development experience in my 30+ year career” by participants.

• Community Leadership Network - a powerful peer learning experience for community foundation teams including senior staff and board members. Shown to have a significant effect on foundation practice and described as “THE best learning experience possible” and a “great learning model” by participants.

• Issue network – a community of practice for community teams around an issue of common concern. Data-driven and focused on bright spots, past networks have “set the bar high” and provided “precious learning time” for participants.

• Framework for Community Leadership – developed in 2008 by the CFLeads National Task Force on Community Leadership and updated in 2013 by the CFLeads Cultivating Community Engagement Panel to include practices related to resident engagement, the Framework serves as the foundational document for the field on community leadership.

Position Overview

The Vice President for Strategy and Program works closely with the CEO to advance CFLeads’ strategic objectives to: 1) build community leadership capacity at community foundations, 2) share knowledge about what works, 3) galvanize action on the critical issues of our time, 4) advance our mission through operational excellence.

The Vice President for Strategy and Program has primary responsibility for conceptualizing new CFLeads programs; clearly articulating those programs to funders, partners and potential participants; and planning and delivering the programs. The Vice President for Strategy and Program will also be responsible for developing and implementing a rigorous internal program assessment system that leads to ongoing, iterative improvements in CFLeads learning opportunities. The Vice President for Strategy and Program also has responsibility for building field knowledge about practices that increase community foundation impact and relevance.

Vice President for Strategy and Program Impact Responsibilities

Program Conceptualization, Development and Delivery – 40%
Works closely with the CEO, other staff, content partners, consultants, and community foundation staff to conceptualize, articulate, design and deliver high-quality, high-impact learning opportunities and field-building activities for community foundations. Duties include synthesizing research on key systemic challenges facing communities, identifying public policies that are appropriate for community foundation action, outlining possible roles for community foundations and designing and leading peer learning opportunities that help improve community outcomes.

Fundraising – 20%
Works in partnership with the CEO to prepare proposals for funders, articulating program goals, objectives, strategies and activities and developing program budgets. The Vice President for Strategy and Program also works with CFLeads colleagues to quickly and concisely respond to funder requests and make proposal and budget modifications as needed. In addition, the Vice President for Strategy and Program prepares reports to funders, providing clear and succinct descriptions of program activities and accurate assessments of program impact.

Building Field Knowledge – 15%
Analyzes CFLeads programs for relevant field-wide lessons and prepares written summaries for field use. Designs, moderates and participates in conference sessions, webinars, forums, etc. to share lessons, innovations, best practices and challenges. Works with communications consultants as needed to convert lessons into stories to be disseminated through a variety of communications vehicles (print, video, social media).

Program Review and Improvement – 10%
Performs rigorous internal assessments of the impact of CFLeads programs and integrates the learning from these assessments and external evaluations into programs to improve outcomes.

Research Management – 10%
Manages the work of research consultants to ensure content relevance, digestible presentation, and timely completion of work.

Other duties as needed – 5%
Supports the CEO and other staff in business development, general organizational management and other duties as necessary.

Desired Skills and Attributes

• Superior analytical skills
• Superior writing skills
• Impact orientation
• Exceptional quality standards and execution
• Strong customer service ethic and commitment to peer learning
• Outstanding project management skills
• Strong meeting management and facilitation skills
• Commitment to diversity and inclusiveness and the advancement of equity
• Comfortable and effective in a broad array of professional settings with diverse constituencies
• Creative, problem-solving orientation
• Flexibility
• Successful in fast, highly entrepreneurial environment with multiple changing demands
• Comfortable with ambiguity
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively
• Ability and willingness to travel (Valid Driver’s License required)
• Sense of humor

Desired Knowledge and Experience

• Knowledge of the mission, organization, general activities and leadership practices of community foundations
• Knowledge of the major systems and policies affecting vulnerable populations
• Knowledge about effective adult learning practices, including peer learning
• Knowledge of organizational development and effective leadership development practices
• Experience developing and writing grant proposals and grant reports for national funders
• Budget management experience and facility with Excel spreadsheets
• Facilitation experience
• Fluency in Spanish desirable

Computer Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel (preferred).

Education

• Four-year college degree or equivalent required
• Advanced degree in related field desired

Related Experience

15+ years of experience preferred

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move between 20 to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Employee will be required travel via air, train or car approximately once per month.

How To Apply

Submit cover letter and resume to Deborah Ellwood, President and CEO, at info@cfleads.org. Deadline is June 2 but applications will be accepted until position is filled.

 

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