Vice President of Communications and Development

Partners In Health
Boston, Massachusetts

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Partners In Health (“PIH”), headquartered in Boston, MA, is an internationally recognized, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. Through its community-based service model, PIH works globally to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need and to serve as an antidote to despair. PIH has major programs in Haiti, Peru, Russia, Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi and Boston, working tirelessly to lessen the joint burden of disease and poverty.

Reporting to Ophelia Dahl, President and Executive Director, the Vice President of Communications and Development will promote and strengthen the collective resources and respected brand of Partners In Health and play a significant role in developing an integrated communications and fundraising strategy to help further position PIH as a leading international healthcare organization.

Specifically, in this newly created role, the incoming Vice President of Communications and Development will champion a comprehensive, strategic and integrated approach to marketing, communications and fundraising that will identify and attract new donors, in an effort to increase contributions from individuals from $30M to $50M annually, and continue to broaden PIH’s network and supporters worldwide.

Through service, training, advocacy and research, much of PIH’s work is aimed at raising global awareness around the issues related to quality, accessible health care for the poor around the world. Therefore, in keeping with PIH’s mission, this individual must bring a strategic and integrated view of communications and fundraising, understanding that sustainable financial support is achieved through a holistic approach to marketing and development – one that explores all channels for the strategic engagement of PIH’s various supporters.

This individual will be joining PIH at a very significant time in its history, as it has recently played a vital role in providing critical medical aid to those in desperate need due to the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010. In addition to the immediate medical aid they were able to provide in their clinics, PIH quickly established a widely successful Stand With Haiti campaign to raise funds and recruit qualified medical personnel to serve relief efforts. These efforts have heightened the profile of PIH and resulted in a dramatic increase in new donors. This individual, in partnership with the executive leadership team, will play a critical role in establishing a comprehensive marketing, communications and fundraising strategy to continue to heighten PIH’s profile, develop retention strategies for these new donors and broaden PIH’s impact around the world. S/he will be expected to directly solicit and provide critical training to staff across the organization, as well as board members, to solicit the highest potential prospects in the country.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of ten years of relevant experience managing a comprehensive, integrated marketing and development program within the nonprofit or social enterprise sector and should have strong personal skills as an advocate and a public speaker. S/he must be a seasoned and strategic thinker who can effectively integrate and align communications and development to strengthen PIH’s outreach and impact, harnessing their expanding base of grassroots supporters worldwide and leveraging their internal resources in the most effective and efficient manner. A demonstrated track record of conceiving and implementing new fundraising initiatives and significantly growing fundraising revenues is critical. S/he must bring a flexible, collaborative, hands-on leadership style, with the political savvy needed to introduce and champion new ideas and change, along with an enthusiasm for building bridges between staff, board, donors and other key stakeholders. An undergraduate degree is required, and an advanced degree is preferred. S/he must be able to travel frequently, both domestically and internationally, and demonstrate a personal commitment to PIH’s mission and goals. 

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Mission & History

Founded in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer, an international public health leader and acclaimed anthropologist, Partners In Health is a natural evolution of work at the Clinique Bon Sauveur in Cange, Haiti, to deliver health care to the residents of this village. This Clinic was just the first of an arc of successful projects in central Haiti designed to address the health care needs of the residents of the poorest area in Haiti.

Since 1987, PIH has expanded its operations to a total of 12 countries and has launched a number of significant initiatives. Using a community-based care model, PIH is a pioneer in the fight against treatable and curable infectious disease in developing countries.

The work of Partners In Health has three goals: to care for patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities and to share lessons learned around the world. Through long-term partnerships with collaborating organizations, PIH is at the forefront of delivering high-quality medical care in resource-poor settings while simultaneously working to alleviate the crushing economic and social burdens of poverty that exacerbate disease. PIH believes that health is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Through their service, training, advocacy and research, PIH aims to raise the standard of care for the poor everywhere.

Partners In Health has long been at the forefront of addressing effectively a range of allegedly “untreatable” health problems in poor countries, including HIV/AIDS and drug-resistant tuberculosis, specifically by working with the public sector to improve access to treatment and by integrating treatment programs within strengthened comprehensive primary health care services. A hallmark of the PIH model of care is the use of trained and compensated community health workers to monitor patients on treatment, engage in active case-finding and conduct health outreach and education in their communities. In addition, PIH defines health broadly to include access to sufficient nutritious food, clean water, adequate housing and educational opportunity and has an array of programs in each of these areas. Treating each patient as if they were a member of their own family, PIH’s impact is greatest because of its willingness to form long-term partnerships with rural, underserved communities, build local capacity, leverage resources and advocate internationally for access to medicine as a basic right. Elements of PIH’s community-based approach have been disseminated to and adapted by other countries and programs throughout the world.

Learn more about PIH at www.pih.org.

Opportunities and Challenges facing the Vice President of Communications and Development

Reporting to the President and Executive Director and working closely with PIH’s executive leadership team and board of directors, the Vice President of Communications and Development will develop a comprehensive plan for fundraising and strategic marketing that drives communication and development in a focused and sustainable manner and aligns with the overarching priorities and evolving needs of PIH.

Skillful and strategic integration of communications and development teams in order to achieve a successfully integrated marketing, communications and fundraising effort.

As an active member of the executive leadership team, s/he will lead, mentor and guide a cross-functional staff of approximately 45– across communications and individual development - as a high-functioning and integrated team. The Vice President of Communications and Development will work collaboratively with the Vice President of Institutional Partnerships, also a member of the executive leadership team, who oversees teams responsible for corporate, foundation and public sector fundraising. S/he will be expected to design, integrate and execute effective communications and development strategic and operational plans, while ensuring a strong sustainable base of financial support.

S/he will be expected to provide consistent, strategic leadership to the communications and individual development departments to ensure they are structured and staffed in a way that will support current and long term fundraising and communication needs. The teams are staffed with bright, motivated and committed communications and fundraising professionals who are eager to benefit from additional mentoring and guidance.

In partnership with the Executive Director and executive leadership team, the incoming Vice President of Communications and Development will work closely with the Development Committee of the board of directors and with the board itself to establish and implement a board-approved communications and development strategy that will meet annual revenue goals of PIH from individual donors. Specifically, s/he will develop marketing and fund-raising campaigns and will be expected to oversee the implementation and execution of the strategic fundraising plan. S/he will closely interface with the Development Committee and other advisors to set and achieve annual fundraising targets and will be expected to project and track raised revenue cash flow. S/he will be expected to report to the board and select constituents on key development and communications metrics and provide timely reports on resource development and communications.

Initiate and lead an increase in collaboration across PIH to ensure more effective and streamlined global fundraising and communication efforts.

While spearheading the integration of global marketing, communications and development, the Vice President of Communications and Development will work closely with other directors and staff, especially across Programs and Advocacy and also across the PIH partners at the Division of Global Health Equity (DGHE) at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School (DGHSM), to guide the development, integration and implementation of a broad range of communications, public relations and fundraising activities to support the strategic direction and positioning of the organization. As the “resident expert” with reference to marketing, communications and fundraising, s/he will offer organization-wide support and guidance in communications and development.

Faced with the significant challenge of implementing marketing and development programs in a complex, distributed organization, s/he will provide the necessary counsel, training and support to internal and collaborating organization stakeholders in a manner that encourages cooperative partnerships and creates opportunities for shared benefit. S/he will develop communication vehicles that articulate a clear vision and model of the role of a fundraiser engaging the local, national and international senior managers, staff and volunteers.

While ensuring that information, messaging and outreach are being coordinated and delivered as effectively as possible, the Vice President of Communications and Development will be expected to identify and develop innovative approaches and initiatives to promote and enhance the PIH profile, with a focus on converting awareness to revenue and advancing key advocacy positions of PIH.

PIH leads a global movement that relies on the passion and tireless commitment of its founders, staff, volunteers and academic partners. The Vice President of Communications and Development will lead a team that communicates PIH’s distinctive ability to effect change along a continuum from grassroots impact on health outcomes to global policy changes that improve health outcomes for the poor. As part of the communications and fundraising strategy, s/he will be expected to identify and pursue creative ways to expand PIH’s presence and message. Through the creative use of digital and social networking mediums, the Vice President of Communications and Development will be expected to aggressively develop and increase global awareness and its network and supporters worldwide.

Develop donor retention and tracking strategy to address the rapid influx of donors who supported PIH and the Stand With Haiti campaign.

Since the earthquake hit Haiti January 12, 2010, Partners In Health’s donor base has grown exponentially, largely due to its widely successful Stand With Haiti campaign. As most of these donors made first time donations in support of Haiti, PIH is tasked with the challenge of developing a successful retention and outreach strategy in an effort to develop them into supporters and advocates of PIH, through general support and future donations. The incoming Vice President of Communications and Development will be expected to swiftly develop a retention, communication and outreach strategy and evaluate, identify and implement the necessary systems, training and management needed to maintain and cultivate these new supporters.

Aggressively cultivate and maintain a robust donor base.

In an effort to increase the number of major donors, the incoming Vice President of Communications and Development will oversee a comprehensive analysis of the organization’s overall major gifts prospect pool and will initiate any necessary changes or enhancements to ensure the appropriate prospective research, donor tracking and/or donor recognition systems are in place, both domestically and internationally.

In addition to ensuring that the best systems are in place, s/he will actively and skillfully support the cultivation of a major donor pipeline, providing a strategic framework, advice and support to PIH’s executive leadership and program leaders in an effort to increase and coordinate fundraising initiatives. The Vice President of Communications and Development will also need to leverage PIH’s Executive Director, board members and other key supporters in order to identify and cultivate high capacity prospects who can become involved and significant supporters of PIH. S/he will be expected to cultivate and manage her/his own portfolio of major gift prospects.

Serve as a spokesperson and ambassador for PIH while strategically managing external speeches and presentations.

In conjunction with the President and Executive Director, s/he will be expected to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level/high-influence external audiences – including business groups, boards, and/or popular press and media, to favorably position PIH and extend its impact. S/he will be expected to prepare and deliver speeches and presentations to organizations, business groups and boards and to serve as an influential representative of PIH.

Working across the organization, the Vice President of Communications and Development will be responsible for determining what media and speaking opportunities to pursue. In coordination with the appropriate PIH colleagues, s/he will facilitate the preparation of talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting material as needed. In addition to overseeing the management of existing speaking requests, the Vice President of Communications and Development will proactively identify and pursue alternate venues and opportunities that would provide new and stronger platforms for advocacy and support.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

While no candidate is expected to have all of the professional and personal characteristics sought in this position, the ideal Vice President of Communications and Development will have many of the following personal and professional qualifications:

• A minimum of ten years of professional experience, preferably in the nonprofit or social enterprise sector, with a strong and verifiable track record of raising funds.

• A demonstrated track-record of successfully partnering with multiple, geographically-dispersed internal clients with diverse needs and priorities to increase and expand philanthropic support and create a cohesive and coordinated marketing and communications effort.

• A successful track-record creating, strengthening or positioning an organization's image/identity and developing a global communications and fundraising strategy.

• Proven ability to become a trusted, highly valued advisor to the board, executive director, senior leadership and staff.

• Success leading an innovative marketing/communications program for an organization with demonstrable understanding of on-line technologies, including the web and social networking.

• Excellent people and project management skills with an ability to work effectively in diverse groups across strategic marketing, communications (planning, media relations, collateral materials, web content, e-communications), social media strategies and individual giving. Experience dealing with national media and crisis management, desired.

• Experience successfully managing a moderately sized staff (+30 employees) through significant change and expansion preferred; and/or management of a complex, global multi-site organization.

• An innovative thinker with professional experience translating strategic thinking into action plans and output.

• Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical initiatives, possessing the political know-how to influence change in a collaborative, respectful manner.

• A sophisticated and holistic approach to marketing, communications and resource generation that has kept pace with the constantly evolving digital age engagement and stewardship techniques and exhibits an appreciation for how these new tools dovetail with traditional marketing and development methods.

• Demonstrated success in managing and forging relationships with multiple donor sources; ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail; ability to work both independently without close oversight and as a proactive team player, thriving in an entrepreneurial setting.

• Experience working across cultures; demonstrated interest in global economic development and passion for PIH’s mission is essential.

• Willingness to travel and enthusiasm for visiting locations with limited infrastructure.

TO APPLY

More information about this position and Partners In Health may be found at http://www.pih.org.

Due to the pace of this search, candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), salary history and where you learned of the position should be sent to: PIH-VPCD@NonprofitProfessionals.com. In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.
 

Partners In Health is an equal opportunity employer.