Chief Strategy Officer

Job opening: Chief Strategy Officer (New Orleans facility) 

Position Summary
The Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) assists with developing, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives in marketing, communications, philanthropy, volunteer management and advocacy. Specific areas include direct responsibility for marketing and external strategies and collaboration with philanthropy to grow stakeholders to meet Second Harvest’s strategic initiatives. CSO will sit on the executive leadership team and will actively engage in the SHFB’s strategic planning process, with the goal to achieve the strategic goals of Second Harvest, advance the organization’s position with relevant constituents, and drive broader awareness and donor support for the organization.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Strategic Leadership
• Serve as marketing and brand counselor to SHFB leadership. Be responsible for strategic and crisis communications, issues management and organizational context for decisions.
• Working with the Director of Marketing and Communications and Chief Philanthropy Officer to plan and implement a comprehensive marketing and fundraising plan to double development revenue by 2032.
• To assure that all stakeholders have a consistently good experience with SHFB, oversee the integration of data and communications so marketing, philanthropy, advocacy, impact, and volunteer interactions are coordinated and optimized.
• Working across departments, plan and carefully manage the philanthropy, marketing and communications, advocacy, and volunteers’ budgets, so that resources are allocated accurately, efficiently, and effectively to assure adequate support for SHFB’s mission.
• Oversee budgeting, planning and performance vs. budget; devise mid-period corrections as needed.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Oversee development of all SHFB print communications including the annual report, marketing collateral, and direct mail; manage relationships with associated vendors.

External Engagement
• Create marketing/public relations strategies that will allow SHFB leadership to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted external audiences, including the media, public officials, community leaders and other key influencers.
• Create new strategies to enhance the organization’s relationships with business, faith, and civic leaders.
• With the Chief Philanthropy Officer, design strategies to inspire, engage and retain a group of elite donors and volunteer leaders interested in fighting hunger in South Louisiana.
• Help philanthropy design strategies to make campaign and disaster response contributors also become annual operating fund supporters.
• Oversee database analyses that deliver actionable insights to target supporters (such as donors and volunteers) through various channels—social media, email, print, events, advocacy, and similar.
• Explore bringing key stakeholder engagement to digital interactions, improving the volunteer and online donor experience through ease of interaction, timely communications, and related actions (events, volunteers needed, advocacy), while making it easier for those in need to find food and access services.
• Analyze market segments and apply strategies to optimally target populations for marketing messages, donor prospects, advocacy, and volunteer solicitation and support.
• Research, analyze, build plans, implement, and evaluate a variety of strategies, while ensuring the highest level of customer service in ongoing donor solicitation and recognition programs.
• Provide leadership to optimize the volunteer experience and maximize volunteer’s opportunities to be involved with SHFB.
• Identify opportunities and design a plan to influence legislation and public policy at the local, state, and federal levels on behalf of SHFB.
• Serve as a senior spokesperson for SHFB with the media and the general public.
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Brand Awareness & Visibility
• Develop and implement strategy that advances SHFB’s brand identity, broadens awareness of its programs and priorities, and increases the visibility of its programs across key stakeholder audiences and geographical locations.
• Build out strategies to increase the profile of Second Harvest in areas outside of New Orleans, creating localized presences in the Northshore, Houma Thibodaux, Lafayette, and Lake Charles.
• Translate the notable and favorable brand awareness of SHFB so that donors, volunteers, and advocates for the organization are motivated to take actions to support the organization.
• Oversee marketing, campaigns, and cause-related programs – from concept to wrap-up.
• With Chief Philanthropy Officer and Director of Development create of initiatives building corporate, foundation and organization support, including innovative approaches and tailored cases to enhance SHFB’s relationship with the foundation community.
• Utilize social media and digital communications (including the website) to build awareness, garner support, and advocate for the organization’s vision and mission.
• Plan and implement a comprehensive marketing plan including paid and earned media campaigns to create local awareness through Second Harvest’s service area.

Talent and Team Development
• Work with the leadership team and staff to identify organizational challenges and external communications opportunities and solutions and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
• Build and manage a distinct internal communications process to reinforce the organization culture and values while consistently delivering information and messaging that encourage staff and volunteer communications.
• Work with the philanthropy department and impact team to ensure it has the marketing support and communications plan to achieve strategic goals.
• Analyze people needs and drive accountability to effectively attract, develop, and retain talent.
• Drive performance management and results-orientation through effective objective-setting, coaching, monitoring action plans and evaluation of results.

Education and Experience Requirements:
• Undergraduate degree; advanced degree or CFRE a plus.
• 10 plus years of progressively- responsible experience in senior level communications and marketing for a nonprofit or for-profit organization.
• Experience in senior-level fund development support, cultivating, engaging, and stewarding donors.
• Work background where strategic thinking, critical problem-solving, expert planning and analytical capabilities were essential, and demonstrated.
• Favorable experience leading and managing a staff of at least 10 people in multiple locations.

How to apply:
1. Email resume and cover letter to Robyn Ezzell at Rezzell@fgp.com
2. Type “Chief Strategy Officer” as the only content in the subject line of your email.

Second Harvest Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer