Teach For America – Detroit seeks a Managing Director, External Affairs (MD, EA) who will build and lead an external affairs team responsible for branding and fundraising efforts efforts as the organization moves toward significant growth and expanded impact. The Managing Director will collaborate with the Executive Director, national and regional leadership, and TFA’s national board members to build a foundation for our current and future work. The Managing Director is responsible for developing a diverse and sustainable investor base across Southeast Michigan and the country, leading a $15-$20 million dollar campaign in support of our work in Detroit schools. This role represents an opportunity to engage with high capacity local and national philanthropists on behalf of Detroit’s children and teachers.
The Managing Director must be adept at managing a high-functioning team and all of the systems and processes that enable success. To excel, the Managing Director, External Affairs must be strategic and able to operationalize complex plans; forward looking and eager to reflect and grow; committed to maintaining a big-picture view while monitoring details; and laser-focused on moving a team toward ambitious outcomes. It is also essential that the Managing Director, External Affairs be able to lead a team to convey Teach For America - Detroit’ history, outcomes, impact, and narrative effectively and persuasively to thought leaders, supporters, and the broader public through a wide variety of communication tools.
The Managing Director will lead a growing team of direct reports in pursuit of the organization’s goals, and will report to the Executive Director.
Development and Fundraising Strategy and Execution (75%)
Develop a diverse and committed group of local and national investors who will build a foundation for our current and future work, by leading the following:
- Craft, execute and evaluate strategy to achieve the region’s annual funding goals, with a long-term view towards enduring regional sustainability and impact
- Oversee all aspects of cultivation and stewardship for a portfolio of current, lapsed, and new individual, corporate, and foundation donors and prospects
- Significantly grow and diversify the base of corporate, foundation and individual donors
- Working closely with the program team and alumni board, develop and execute a plan to triple engagement and investment from our over 800 TFA alumni living in Michigan
- Create and maintain up-to-date development tools, i.e. pitch decks, materials, speech talking points, formal presentations, etc. for use in regular meetings and larger scale events
- Create and assist with the execution of a board recruitment strategy
- Collaborate with the full regional team to maintain a fresh narrative of regional impact, which includes obtaining and maintaining timely data on regional initiatives
- Oversee and execute strategic fundraising events to cultivate, solicit and steward major donors
- Regularly assess and report on team wide progress to goals, identify what is driving and impeding progress, and develop solutions to address gaps and adjust course as necessary
- Manage relationships with support functions within the national organization (i.e. database support, prospect research and strategy, reporting, etc.)
- Oversee the foundation relations strategy including but not limited to ensuring adherence to all grant and funding requirements, producing timely proposals and delivering quality reports communicating our impact
Regional Brand and Public Narrative (20%)
Serve as a thought partner to the Executive Director on public affairs and brand strengthening efforts including:
- Convey Teach For America - Detroit’s history, impact, and corp member and alumni stories effectively through a wide variety of communication tools
- Develop and lead a media strategy that raises the organization’s profile and strengthens its brand among critical stakeholders
- Manage team members responsible for network-wide event planning, including annual corps and alumni events, and monthly network-wide events intended to build long-term investment into the TFA movement from corps members and alumni
Ongoing Regional Responsibilities (5%)
Serve as an “all hands on deck” team member willing to support the region in various ways as needs and opportunities arise, by taking on the following:
- Manage direct report(s) towards achieving their goals, with an emphasis on strong coaching, development, and cultural leadership
- Participate in and support various regional and national efforts, including events and special projects
- Participate in and contribute to team culture, corps member and alumni experience
- Complete general administrative responsibilities accurately and on time
- At least 5 years as a leader on a team in a similar or related field (i.e. fundraising, political campaigns, sales, etc), with a preference for concrete experience managing major development or communications efforts
- At least 3 years experience managing high-stakes relationships
- At least 3 years experience managing others
- A track-record of achieving ambitious, measurable outcomes
Work Demands
- Ability to travel independently, by car, to multiple locations for work each day
- Occasional weekend or evening work (3-4 times per month) is required
- Occasional overnight travel (4-6 times per year) is required
- Ability to lift and transport up to 30 pounds for work purposes
Skills
- Deep affinity for front-line fundraising and supporting fundraising efforts across giving streams
- Visionary Leadership & Strategic Thinking
- Ability to set a strong vision and to compel others to follow
- Ability to analyze and synthesize data from a range of sources to make high-impact, strategic decisions
- Connection and commitment to Teach For America’s mission and the larger education efforts happening throughout the region
- Results Orientation
- Uncommon level of integrity and personal responsibility with exceptional perseverance, goal orientation and a proven track record of success
- Ability to manage toward the many numerical goals we have while keeping front-and-center the spirit by which they are designed
- Ability to approach challenges with a positive attitude, lots of energy, a sense of possibility and an innovative spirit
- Building Relationships and Influencing Others
- Genuine care for others, especially the variety of stakeholders and constituents with whom we work
- Exceptional relationship builder across diverse constituencies with keen understanding of the beliefs, contexts and motivations of others.
- Proven ability to develop and leverage relationships and align diverse stakeholders toward achieving concrete goals.
- Team Management
- Ability to build and manage a team toward ambitious goals
- Ability to build authentic relationships, motivate, and also offer direct, critical feedback when necessary.
- Belief in the power of diversity, equity and inclusion
- Demonstrates an orientation to placing individual’s identity at the center of work, and a commitment to individual and collective growth in identity development and cultural consciousness.
- Organization and Communication
- Strong verbal and written communicator: can speak compellingly about our organization, mission, and goals, and has a compelling presence
- Knowledge of Salesforce (preferred), Excel and PowerPoint required
- Excellent organizational and systems-management skills
- Comfort with financial budgets and spreadsheets