Senior Vice President, Strategic Engagement - The German Marshall Fund of the United States

Job Summary

The Senior Vice President, Strategic Engagement identifies, develops and implements organization-wide engagement strategies to reach new and diverse audiences, heighten GMF’s visibility, as well as engage and cultivate GMF donors and audiences in innovative ways. GMF seeks to increase its engagement outreach to include national, state and local media, leadership alumni, policy makers and other influencers, and individual and institutional funders on both sides of the Atlantic. GMF seeks to develop strategic partnerships with new donors and global partners which advance and align with GMF’s mission.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop GMF’s overarching donor engagement strategy which aligns with GMF’s strategic goals and priorities; identify new donors and partners, with an emphasis on high-net worth individuals and corporate partnerships. Advocate and champion strategic external and internal intersections between content making, events, leadership programs, government relations and fundraising
• Lead and oversee five creative teams consistent with GMF’s Statement of Values; develop standards to acquire, coach, evaluate and hold accountable high quality, content-making and content-delivery talent
• As a member of the executive team, advise GMF President on external engagement strategies; provide quarterly reporting to GMF’s Board of Directors and maintain regular communication with Board Budget and Fundraising Committee and board members engaged in outreach, fundraising and donor prospecting activities on behalf of GMF
• Develop collaborative working relationships with other members of the executive team to ensure alignment of donor priorities/interests and marketing campaigns with all GMF external engagement outlets: program activity, publications, events, communications, leadership programs, and government relations
• Shape GMF’s engagement needs into the near- and long-term; understand future trends in media, related fields and the world, and their impact on GMF’s strategic goals and priorities
• Design and execute strategies that reflect GMF’s brand and amplify content offerings on both existing and emerging platforms, with an aim of attracting new audiences and deepening engagement with existing audiences; address needs of diverse audiences, including but not limited to ethnic, age and education level; analyze and make data-driven decisions to inform strategy and approach
• Ensure consistent GMF standards across all US and European events, publications and activities by educating internal stakeholders on design principles and tools, and ensuring alignment with brand guidelines
• Develop strategy and guide rapid response efforts that incorporate and operationalize input from subject matter experts
• Oversee creation of innovative messaging, materials, and delivery to amplify GMF’s outreach including expansion of donor audiences
• Identify opportunities to build new relationships and strengthen existing partnerships (speakers for events, etc.)
• Maximize media opportunities and develop relationships with partners, media members, influencers, and community leaders
• Provide oversight for compliance on applicable government regulations
• Support president’s communications including speeches and opinion pieces

• Monitor and incorporate where suitable trends in content-making, publishing and other electronic information and emerging communication technologies

Knowledge & Skills Needed:

• A minimum of 15 years of senior level experience in external relations, ideally in an international setting
• Demonstrable creativity, innovation, dynamism, and curiosity as well as passion for GMF’s mission
• Proven success in building and fostering an organization-wide culture of engagement, including with the Board of Trustees
• Excellent presentation skills (to teams, staff, Board of Trustees, public/community, funders, events, policy makers, etc.); highly skilled in external as well as internal communications and communicating across multiple audiences and channels
• Experience developing and guiding the implementation of long- and short-term organization-wide campaigns, ensuring strategic alignment among all teams
• Proven success in leading engagement efforts in a change management environment
• Experience developing communications and brand strategy, as well as overseeing media relations
• Success working in a highly collaborative, cross-functional setting, with the ability to manage input from a variety of stakeholders
• Experience managing in a matrixed international organization and leading through change
• Experience coaching and mentoring staff across communications streams
• Robust experience with social media, media & audience data analysis, CRM systems, and application to decision making
• Knowledge of trends in content-making, storytelling, publishing and other electronic information and emerging communication technologies
• Knowledge of regulatory governance and rights management regulations in the electronic media industry

• Flexible problem-solving skills with an ability to work on long-term projects as well as respond to unanticipated opportunities
• Experienced bipartisan political and diplomatic skills to effectively advocate both within the organization and in the transatlantic community

Education: Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline

Salary: Starting at $275,000

We highly encourage individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Historically, underrepresented groups include (but are not limited to) Black, Latinx/o/a/e, Indigenous, Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander, biracial, multiracial, female-identifying, the disability community, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized identities.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At GMF we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role, but your experience does not align perfectly, we encourage you to apply. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles at GMF.