EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

New Profit, a nonprofit venture philanthropy fund that exists to help leading social entrepreneurs and their innovative nonprofit organizations bring about widespread and transformative impact on critical social problems, seeks a strategic, entrepreneurial, and intellectually curious Chief Communications Officer (CCO) to set, guide, and implement an organization-wide communications strategy for the firm.

With the support of individual philanthropists and its signature partner, Monitor Group, New Profit provides multi-year grants and strategic support to a portfolio of innovative social entrepreneur-led nonprofit organizations with the potential to create significant, long-term impact on the lives of low-income Americans by tackling persistent social problems in education, workforce development, public health, and other areas. New Profit has committed more than $65 million in financial and strategic resources to 32 organizations, including such groundbreaking organizations as Teach For America, Year Up, and Health Leads.

Focused on continuing to bring transformational ideas and organizations to scale, New Profit also pursues a set of strategies and initiatives designed to help build an environment in which all innovative organizations may achieve significantly greater impact on the problems they aspire to solve. Working beyond the bounds of individual organizations, New Profit convenes social innovators from across sectors at its annual Gathering of Leaders while the nonpartisan America Forward initiative connects social sector innovators and their partners with policymakers, legislators, and thought leaders to advance an infrastructure for innovators and government to act together to scale the impact of proven and promising solutions and more effectively allocate public and private resources for social problem solving.

Reporting to a Managing Partner, the CCO will serve as a thought partner to executive leadership on communications-related challenges, develop a longer-term vision for the communications function, drive and integrate an organization-wide brand strategy across all relevant functions, and develop and implement an annual communications plan to serve the organization’s goals. As an important team player, he or she will be capable of listening and responding to a wide range of requests to support departments across the firm and to integrate these learnings into the organization’s overall strategy.

An exceptional writer and creative thinker, the Chief Communications Officer will be knowledgeable about print collateral and design, website development and maintenance, social media, emerging communications technologies, conferences and other speaking opportunities, and media relations. He or she will be both a strategic thinker and an action-oriented team player who can execute on a variety of day-to-day responsibilities. A collegial, collaborative and accessible working style, well suited to a dynamic and often changing non-profit atmosphere is a prerequisite, as is the creativity, energy, and political savvy needed to introduce and champion new ideas.

New Profit Inc. has retained Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group to assist in this recruitment. Vice President Tracy Welsh and Managing Associate Tahsin Alam are leading the search.

Responsibilities of the Chief Communications Officer

The Chief Communications Officer will develop, drive, and support a wide range of ongoing communications activities including but not limited to external representation of New Profit, brand integration, media, crisis preparation and management, collateral production, writing and editing, vendor management and social media.

Tasked with expanding and building out the communications function at New Profit, the CCO will partner and collaborate with a broad range of departments and functions at the organization, including Development, Investor Relations, Portfolio Management, America Forward, Convenings, Talent, and the Executive Office.

The CCO can expect to engage the following immediate opportunities and challenges in the role:

• With New Profit senior leadership, the CCO will develop and implement an annual strategic plan that sets out clear and concise communications goals for the organization.

• Leverage leaders across the organization to synthesize ideas and develop cohesive plans, and play an integral role in helping shape content and strategy.

• Work with senior leadership as well as relevant consultants to drive and integrate a brand strategy to tell New Profit’s story and clearly articulate its mission and scope.

• Develop and execute on a proactive media and crisis preparation and prevention strategy; build relationships with key stakeholders in the sector, including journalists and bloggers.

• Collaborate with various New Profit team members and external vendors to develop a range of print, online, and multimedia materials including New Profit’s annual report, pieces for major events, materials for the Investor Relations and Development departments, and online and print collateral for the Action Tank.

• Write, edit, and/or proofread content for print materials and online; update and maintain content on New Profit websites; help maintain New Profit’s social media presence and contribute to efforts to expand onto other social media platforms; help facilitate and ensure integration between online communications and traditional print collateral.

• Stay current in communications best practices, supporting evaluation and implementation of new technology, features, and platforms.

• Analyze and measure the performance of New Profit’s communications activities, including websites and social media.

• Oversee daily media monitoring efforts and keep New Profit staff up-to-date on press coverage related to its portfolio organizations, staff, and other constituents.

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

The Chief Communications Officer can be expected to have the following personal characteristics and professional experience:

• Demonstrated success in crafting a substantive and cohesive set of messages for an organization, which has been successfully communicated to key audiences and resulted in a measurable difference (e.g., elevated profile, broader visibility, increased funding, or donor support) to the organization.

• Demonstrated experience building and managing professional relationships to support a broad number of team members in the conceptualization, development, and implementation of communications strategy and plans. Topical press and policy relationships are preferred.

• Ability to actively and thoughtfully listen to and incorporate ideas to influence strategy and shape content.

• Exceptional original writing skills, including the ability to synthesize and improve existing written material, keen editorial judgment, and the ability to write for different audiences and delivery channels (print, websites, social media, etc.) to effectively communicate New Profit’s mission, impact, and value proposition to a wide range of stakeholders.

• Cultural sensitivity, sound judgment, and strong interest in working in a demanding and intellectually challenging environment, with the organizational ability to handle multiple tasks around ambitious deadlines.

• Ability and willingness to play a range of roles from adviser to strategist to hands-on implementer.

• Creative thinking with the ability to identify innovative ways to communicate and engage audiences through a variety of avenues.

• Demonstrated passion for and commitment to New Profit’s mission and vision exemplified through professional background or a history of community involvement.

• Exhibit a lively, curious, and creative intellect; a style that includes flexibility and inventiveness - understanding that goals and mission are moving targets and require flexible, realistic strategies.

• Broad understanding of, and willingness to stay abreast of, new media technologies, applications, and processes.

• A bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in communications, policy, or a relevant field; advanced study is preferred.

TO APPLY

Applications, including a cover letter, describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Microsoft Word format), and where you learned of the position should be sent to: NP-CCO@nonprofitprofessionals.com. 

In order to expedite internal sorting and reviewing processes, please type your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.

New Profit offers competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience and skills.
New Profit is an equal opportunity employer.

(08/28/2012)