EVP, Chief External Affairs Officer
11 hours ago
New York
Job Description THE COMPANY The Low Income Investment Fund is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that mobilizes capital and partners to achieve opportunity, equity and wellbeing for people and communities. LIIF innovates financial solutions to create more equitable outcomes for all by building and preserving affordable homes, quality educational opportunities from early childhood through higher education, health clinics, healthy food retail and community facilities. In this way, LIIF provides a bridge between private capital markets and communities. LIIF’s headquarters is in San Francisco and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Washington D.C. REPORTING RELATINOSHIPS: This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and oversees a team of ten; directly reporting to the Executive Vice President, Chief External Affairs Officer (EVP CEAO) are the Senior Vice President - Chief Development Officer, Vice President - Policy and Communications, and, on an interim basis, the Senior Director of Communications and the National Policy Manager. The EVP, CEAO is a member of the executive management team, along with the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, the Chief People Officer, the General Counsel, and the company’s President, who oversees lending and programs. The EVP, CEAO will participate in LIIF Board meetings, with direct interaction with board members. JOB SUMMARY: The Executive Vice President, Chief External Affairs Officer (EVP, CEAO) plays a critical role in shaping and implementing LIIF’s comprehensive external affairs strategy to advance its mission of mobilizing capital and partnerships that create equitable access to opportunity for all. This role leads efforts in communications, policy advocacy, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement to enhance organizational visibility, promote sustainability, and drive racial equity. Working closely with the CEO, the EVP, CEAO develops and oversees strategic initiatives to strengthen LIIF’s brand, engage key stakeholders, and align external messaging with organizational goals. Responsibilities include leading the development of impactful communications campaigns, cultivating philanthropic and public-sector partnerships, advocating for policy changes to support LIIF’s focus areas, and driving fundraising efforts to sustain and expand the organization’s programs. The EVP, CEAO ensures a unified voice across all external interactions while inspiring and engaging constituents to amplify LIIF’s impact within the community development ecosystem. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Development • Build andmaintainrelationships with philanthropic, private sector, public sector/governmentagenciesinvestors, policymakers, media, and other external partners to increase awareness and support for LIIF's innovative capital strategies and programs., • Position LIIF to reach government and business decision-makers on issues vital to our mission., • Be able to set up the organization to convey its outcomes, impact, and narrative effectively and persuasively to thought leaders, supporters, and the broader housing and community development ecosystem through a wide variety of communication tools., • Serve as an ambassador for LIIF,representingthe company to a range of external stakeholders including supporters, partners, funders, policy makers, elected officials,and withmedia., • Develop and implement strategic campaigns to encourage the use of the company’s models and learnings by key industry organizations, decision-makersand others, strategically positioning LIIF and its leaders as an influencer and resource within the community development industry., • Identifyopportunities toleverageongoing work to elevate LIIF’s priority on social justice and racial equity into tangible impact in the communities it serves. Maximize the use of key senior leaders’ time in engagement – and relationship-building activities., • Formeffective high-level relationships with key partner organizations, including those that reinforce LIIF’s commitment to equity., • Represent the company at conferences and other public meetings. Strategic Planning Process • Work closely with the CEO to drive, coordinate, and manage LIIF’s multi-year strategic process, coordinating with the organization’s leaders and managing board level presentations., • Monitor continuously the external environment and industry, tracking trends and issues that may affect the company’s strategy and operations., • Monitor and assess the organization’s progress against goals on an annual basis, andto provideboard-level reporting., • Inform annual workplans for LIIF divisions that underpin the strategic plan. Oversee Fundraising Strategy • Develop strategies to diversify and sustain philanthropic support, as well as attract mission-aligned partners for LIIF's real estate lending tools and innovative early care and education programs., • Lead the refinement of LIIF’s digital and social media presence andto engageour partners and key stakeholders., • OptimizeLIIF’s fund-raising program, which encompasses general unrestricted operating grants, program/capital-related grants, and competitive federal, state, and local grant RFPs., • Alongside the CEO, and working with other senior managers, will engage in fundraising activities, generating significant, renewable funding, working in concert with other LIIF leadership in capital / fundraising efforts., • Oversee the preparation of LIIF’s annual fundraising plan for national and regional funding needs with established revenue goals, strategies, and timelines for reaching fundraising goals., • Serve as a key steward and liaison for major donors and funders. Lead Thought Leadership • Position LIIF as thought leader and SME in critical businessactivities andutilizeto expand LIIF’s influence and to attract philanthropic support., • Oversee marketing, communications and thought leadership to strengthen LIIF's reputation as a leader in mobilizing capital for racial equity, jobcreationand community impact. Policy • Establish the vision,goalsand strategy for LIIF’s government, and advocacy efforts, including rationalizing the work to be done by the LIIF policy team, coalitions and membership organizations, and lobbying support. This will be in service of LIIF’s “influencing agenda” which focuses on leveraging LIIF’s lending and programmatic work to inform and support the broader work of national and DC-based advocacy organizations., • Lead advocacy efforts for legislation, funding, and regulatory policy changes that support LIIF's focus areas of affordable housing, early care and education, and community facilities.The CEAOmust be skilled in coalition building andworkingin partnership with community and national partners to tackle legislative and policy needs on the state,localand federal levels., • Ensure that the policy program will align the company’s policy priorities with LIIF’s strategic plan., • Analyze program, policy, and advocacy issues and communicate findings and recommendations to a variety of audiences., • Represent LIIF on legislative and advocacy efforts to external audiences, including CapitolHilloffice visits. Communications, Marketing and Public Relations • Develop and oversee implementation of LIIF’s external branding, public relations, and related external communication strategy, in alignment with LIIF strategic goals and priorities, • Drive a strong communications program,utilizinginternal and external resources, to lift up LIIF’s initiatives, buildLIIF’s brand., • Set a vision for communications that extends beyond traditional one-way media relations, encompassing the key roles that thought leadership and stakeholder development play in supporting mission and organizational initiatives. Navigate the workings of news media (print, broadcast, and online)in national and local markets., • Lead the Communications team in defining and building a strategy that ensures consistent institutional messaging and strong branding aligned with LIIF’s core values. The strategy willleveragemultiple tools, including LIIF’s annual reports, social media presence, program and lending initiatives, and website, • Actively seek opportunities for LIIF to share insights through media, conferences, and other public forums, and serve as primary point-person for all opportunities and requests., • Provide messagingstrategyand support for LIIF senior managers, for public events and other engagements., • Handle critical internalcommunications’responsibilities. QUALIFICATIONS: • Advanceddegreein Public Policy, Law or Business is preferred.Bachelor’sdegreemay be considered., • Minimum of 15 years of experience of executive level external affairs, public policy, or related fields within the community development or financial services sector withtrack recordof success, • Proventrack recordin developing and implementing successful advocacy and stakeholder engagement strategies., • Strong understanding of CDFIs, affordable housing, early care and education, and community development issues., • Excellent communication and relationship-building skills., • Exceptional fundraising, impactinvestingand government grant experiencea must., • Leadership experience in public relations strategy development and implementation, • A track-record of success with major gift fundraising andexpertisewith all aspects of development, including institutional giving, plannedgiving, annual giving and event management; strong knowledge of how marketing, communications and public relations can further fundraising efforts and success using these tools to improve andoptimizebusiness development outcomes ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with the ability to translate LIIF's mission and impact into compelling narratives that resonate with diverse stakeholders. They will play a crucial role in helping LIIF achieve its goal of investing $5 billion to advance racial equity and create communities of opportunity, equity, and well-being for all. LIIF offers a hybrid work environment with flexibility to balance in-office and remote work. However, all employees are expected to work on-site at least two (2) days per week. The EVP, CEAO will be expected to travel frequently. All Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In accordance with LIIF's policies, we provide reasonable accommodations, absent undue hardship, to qualified individuals who cannot get vaccinated against COVID-19 because of sincerely held religious or medical reasons. If you believe you need an accommodation from the vaccination mandate required by this policy, please notify our Human Resources Department. HOW TO APPLY: Please apply with Resume and Cover Letter via our recruitment portal: Recruitment (adp.com). Notice to Third Party Recruitment Agencies: Please note that Low Income Investment Fund does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of an executed Recruitment Services Agreement, there will be no obligation to any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without an agreement Low Income Investment Fund shall explicitly reserve the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, shall be deemed the property of Low Income Investment Fund. We do not accept unsolicited phone calls. Only candidates being considered for a position will be contacted. LIIF, an EOE (Equal Opportunity Employer), believes that diversity ensures excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or national origin. Candidates of diverse background and with diverse experience are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.