Chief External Relations Officer

Company: Housing Forward
Location: Dallas
Posted on: February 1, 2025

Job Description:

TITLE: Chief External Relations OfficerREPORTS TO: President & CEOSUPERVISES: Communications and Marketing Manager & Senior Director of Communications and DevelopmentORGANIZATION SUMMARY:Housing Forward, formally known as Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA), is a backbone organization that leads the development of an effective homeless rehousing system. In partnership with the All Neighbors Coalition of 140+ public, private, and nonprofit institutions, we make the experience of homelessness in Dallas and Collin Counties rare, brief, and non-recurring. Housing Forward's team members uphold the Organizational values of Teamwork, Equity, Servant Leadership, and Flexibility.Housing Forward believes that effective solutions to homelessness are created with communities historically impacted by the systems we are attempting to transform. We strongly encourage applications from people who are representative of the culturally and ethnically diverse communities we work with. This includes people who have lived experience of homelessness.POSITION SUMMARYHousing Forward is seeking the agency's first Chief External Relations Officer (CERO) to join our efforts to end homelessness via strategic leadership over communications, marketing, and public and government relations. To advance agency and communitywide goals, the CERO is responsible for tactical engagement with a variety of key public, private, and nonprofit partners and will oversee staff in managing fundraising strategies. Together with his/her team, the CERO will work to:

• Establish Housing Forward as a leading voice on ending homelessness on behalf of the All Neighbors Coalition;
• Secure public support, alignment, and funding for strategies that solve homelessness and advance racial equity.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIESStrategic Communications and Marketing

• Develop and lead the strategic communications plan, integrating media relations, strategic messaging, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Develop and maintain strategic messaging and standard talking points for target audiences on recurrent and emerging topics; promote alignment and collective voice among internal and external partners to advance common goals.
• Integrate equity principles into communications strategies, ensuring messaging is culturally sensitive, representative, and inclusive. Align strategies to advance communitywide racial equity goals and priorities.
• Grow brand familiarity (for Housing Forward and the All Neighbors Coalition) through a cohesive content strategy and consistent positioning across all communications channels.
• Grow organization's media presence; cultivate media relationships, build interest and coverage, and imagine and pitch compelling stories. Lead media relations, including responding to media requests, crafting media content, and facilitating interviews.
• Oversee effective marketing strategies, including development and dissemination of strategic content for the website, social media, and newsletters; oversee creation of marketing and fundraising materials, collateral, and events.
• Evaluate efficacy of communications; monitor and report out on strategic plan progress via key metrics and regular, systematic updates.
• Direct crisis communication response on issues with reputational impact.
• Provide strategic direction to staff, responsible for coaching and professional development of direct reports.
• Manage and oversee vendors providing communications and public relations services.Public and Government Relations
  • Devise and support implementation of stakeholder engagement strategies in partnership with Housing Forward Leadership.
  • Foster, maintain, and deepen relationships with a diverse stakeholder base including high-impact community leaders, member organizations, businesses, thought leaders, donors, government, and other strategic allies.
  • Primary liaison to public officials; build and manage relationships with government officials and provide education and real time problem-solving support on issues related to homelessness.
  • Maintain current, in-depth knowledge of the political climate and policies impacting efforts to reduce homelessness; educate the agency and its stakeholders regarding changes, risks, and policy recommendations.
  • Provide strategic leadership over efforts to improve public policy and secure support and funding for solutions to homelessness.Fundraising Oversight
    • Oversee staff who are developing and implementing the annual fundraising plan to advance Housing Forward and All Neighbors Coalition goals; collaborate with Chief Finance Officer to set short- and long-term fundraising goals to ensure financial sustainability.
    • Prepare the President & CEO for external and high-level donor and prospect discussions; oversee development of presentations and briefings.
    • Oversee staff writing grant applications, case statements, major gift and sponsorship proposals, and other documents to support ongoing fundraising activities.
    • Other duties as assigned.KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:Ideal candidates will have demonstrated capabilities in the following areas:
      • Strategic Communications: Ability to develop and execute a strategic communication plan including demonstrated competency in marketing, communications, brand management, and developing key messages for target audiences. Demonstrated ability in effectively managing media relations.
      • Written & Verbal Communication: Ability to create exceptional written content and deliver verbal presentations in multiple settings, and present complex information in a clear, compelling and concise manner.
      • External Relationship Development and Management: Ability to navigate complex political, private, and non-profit sectors and build and nurture collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders - donors, Boards, public officials, member organization, and other community leaders and partners.
      • Government Relations: Awareness of local political landscape and ability to problem solve with policy makers and inform policy solutions to homelessness.
      • Project Management: Ability to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and evaluate the work of a team to achieve specific goals within defined timelines.
      • Agility and Adaptability: Adaptable to change and responsive to incorporating new insights into plans and strategies. Comfortable making decisions and the ability to thrive in an ambiguous environment or with imperfect information.
      • Strategic Organizational Leadership: Proven ability to provide long term strategic direction, lead strategic plans, and direct team execution against measurable goals and objectives. Ability to recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing and diverse teams.
      • Commitment to Equity: Ability to align strategic communications to advance All Neighbors Coalition racial equity goals. Motivation and ability to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.EXPERIENCE
        • 10 to 15 years of experience in external relations or related field
        • Government and media relations experience preferred.REQUIREMENTS
          • Must have reliable transportation, valid state issued driver's license and car insurance. Please note that travel is required on a limited basis.
          • Must be flexible to work at different sites as scheduled.
          • Limited requirements, must be able to maintain files and lift objects that weigh up to 25 lbs.WORK SCHEDULE:
            • Housing Forward considers normal hours of operation Monday - Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm. Some night and weekend meetings might be required to meet the need of partner agencies or to represent Housing Forward at community meetings.
            • Employees are able to work both remotely and in the office. Current Housing Forward guidelines state that employees must work at least 3 days per week in the office, but this is subject to change.COMPENSATION:
              • Housing Forward has a flexible PTO policy for all full-time employees. The office is officially closed on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, & Christmas Day. Housing Forward has MLK Jr., Juneteenth, and Election Day as Days of Service.
              • This position is eligible for employer-provided benefits including:
                • Employer matched 401k retirement
                • Medical/Dental/Vision insurance options available with employer assistance
                • Employee Assistance Program
                • Employer paid short- and long-term disability insurance.
                • Basic life insurance
                • Housing Forward will provide a laptop. We will additionally provide the applicant with a phone and/or hot spot if needed.STATEMENT ON DIVERSITYEmployees of Housing Forward are expected to treat all persons with dignity and respect without regard to race, creed, color, sex, religion, disability, mental illness and/or addictions (diagnosed or not), age, national origin, familial status, source of income, criminal background, sexual orientation, transgender, gender identity or gender expression.For additional questions about the position, please contact Sarah Kahn ()
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Keywords: Housing Forward, North Richland Hills , Chief External Relations Officer, Executive , Dallas, Texas