VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES Baltimore, Maryland http://www.lirs.org The Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services in the search for a Vice President for External Affairs. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) seeks a dynamic Vice President for External Affairs to lead a department consisting of LIRS s Development, Communication, Outreach, and Advocacy units and to take primary responsibility for the development and implementation of a comprehensive and innovative mission advancement strategy, appropriate to these dynamic times. The Vice President for External Affairs is a leadership team member participating in the development and implementation of organization-wide plans and initiatives. The Vice President for External Affairs will build effectively on the efforts of the recent past to strengthen LIRS s relationships with those who support its work: donors, local and national advocates, Lutheran church bodies, churches and congregations, peer organizations, and others. The successful candidate will promote LIRS s visibility, impact, growth, and diversity in financial resources; and design and implement a comprehensive plan for developing key external alliances. This role requires significant travel within the United States, much of it clustered around particular times of the year. The Vice President for External Affairs will be a highly polished individual who has the skills and confidence to manage a strong professional staff, and the ability to engage effectively externally with a wide variety of stakeholders, as a public and private advocate, a speaker, and a relationship builder. The successful candidate will be an experienced, creative, goal, and teamoriented leader with a commitment to the LIRS mission. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service was founded in 1939 by Lutheran churches in the United States to serve uprooted people during World War II. LIRS has since grown into an internationally recognized leader known for innovative services for refugees, asylum-seekers, unaccompanied migrant children and families, migrants in detention, and other vulnerable populations. LIRS works with refugees, children, and migrants to ensure they are protected and welcomed into local communities throughout the United States. Its faith and the nation s values compel it to respond compassionately to the worst refugee crisis in history, with over 22.5 million refugees worldwide. Through its services, unaccompanied children, refugees, and migrants obtain access to protection, integration, justice, and stability.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS The Vice President for External Affairs will report to the President and Chief Executive Officer. PRINCIPAL OPPORTUNITIES This is a time of unprecedented challenge but also unlimited opportunity for a skilled leader with the ability and desire to leverage the opportunities that exist for organizations that are supporting and advocating for a comprehensive and sensitive response to refugees and immigrants within the United States. LIRS is an ideal match for donors who wish to have broad impact across the country while working with a talented and committed set of partners. The strength of LIRS national affiliate network as well as the current national debate around refugee resettlement present an opportunity for high visibility for the new Vice President coupled with significant career advancement potential. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services 80 th anniversary also presents a unique opportunity for the new Vice President for External Affairs to craft and create their own vision and roadmap for national engagement of affiliates, partners, and volunteers in a year-long comprehensive and collaborative effort to fundraise, enhance visibility, and impact state, local, and federal government policies. The Vice President for External Affairs will benefit from a new leadership structure and the opportunity to develop new strategic directions for the development and communications functions, utilizing creativity and entrepreneurship. Vast opportunities exist for new lines of revenue through continued development of new national corporate and business partnerships focused on employment, literacy, and citizen engagement. The successful candidate will guide LIRS towards higher levels of return on media, communications, profile raising, and fundraising. An inspiring and skilled Vice President for External Affairs will join a team of talented directors devoted to building upon the world-class fundraising and communications framework developed over recent years and have the enriching opportunity to further LIRS s mission to stand with and advocate for migrants and refugees, transforming communities through ministries of service and justice at this critical time in our nation s history. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES The Vice President for External Affairs will provide organizational leadership as a member of the LIRS leadership team; develop, plan, and collaborate with fellow senior leadership on strategic initiatives plans related to organizational life and health; provide strategic oversight and senior level management of the Development, Outreach, Communications, and Advocacy units; delegate and plan work flow with the leaders of these teams in order to meet the strategic priorities; account for the realization of goals across all units of the Department, including in particular revenue goals; advise, partner, and support the President and CEO and Director for Development on fundraising initiatives and engage other members of the senior management team, board members, staff and volunteers;
utilize the time and resources of the President and CEO to the best fundraising advantage; partner closely with the Vice President for Programs and the Chief Financial Officer on the development of federal government proposals and other funding proposals; support the Director for Communications with the development and implementation of an integrated strategic communications plan to increase LIRS s impact by, for example, strengthening LIRS s brand identity, broadening awareness of its programs and priorities across key stakeholder audiences, and utilizing marketing/public relations strategies; work closely with the Director for Outreach to improve public awareness, trust, and accurate understanding of LIRS s goals and accomplishments through increased collaboration and communication with LIRS s network partners, churches, and migrant and refugee leaders; support the Director for Advocacy s efforts to effectively influence federal and other actors in support of LIRS s policy agenda; and build on the strong collaboration that has taken hold amongst the Development, Advocacy, Outreach, and Communications units to mutually reinforce each other s primary objectives. KEY COLLEAGUES Pat Nichols Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Pat Nichols, President, Transition Leadership International, has served 20+ years as Interim CEO for nonprofits in strategic transition turnarounds, restructurings, mergers, startups, etc. He led a major transition for an international subsidiary (safekids.org) of the $1 billion Children s National Health System. Pat managed the start-up of PCORI (pcori.org) a $450 million research institution created by Congress. Pat has led, too, organizations in youth services, equal rights, environment, etc. He also advises nonprofits facing similar transitions. He currently serves as Interim President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. Javier Cuebas Director for Advocacy Javier Cuebas is the lead LIRS strategist on advocacy, ensuring that the organization achieves its key overall advocacy goals. He establishes the advocacy priorities through a consultative process and deep listening so that they reflect cross-departmental, cross-unit, and network-wide advocacy needs. The Director informs, inspires, and engages colleagues and networks. The Director works to influence policy-makers in the Executive and legislative branches of the federal government to promote integration, protection, and justice for migrants and refugees. The Director maintains strong coalition partnerships and effectively leverages coalition action. Folabi Olagbaju Director for Outreach Folabi Olagbaju leads and creates LIRS s national grassroots outreach strategy and efforts. He develops the strategic and dynamic program for engaging Lutherans, migrants, and refugees in advocacy campaign work to build a broad-based movement for change that will positively affect the lives of migrants and refugees and the communities in which they live in. The Director for
Outreach creates long-term grassroots capacity and constituency work that advances refugee and immigration-friendly policies in the U.S. Danielle Bernard Director for Communications Danielle Bernard provides vision and leadership to advance brand visibility; strengthen thought leadership; influence public opinion; and inspire engagement. She ensures all communications are compelling to target audiences and meet the highest standards of quality and consistency. She directs efforts to increase LIRS visibility, presence, and engagement among multiple constituent communities including church bodies, local congregations, partners, other organizations and ministries, as well as, individuals through the development and implementation of LIRS corporate communications, branding, marketing, and constituent engagement programs. She leads and motivates a team comprised of public relations, marketing, multi-media, and creative services professionals, and serves as a strategic partner within the organization to ensure the implementation of strategies and tactics that affectively attract constituents to engage with the LIRS mission. J. Michael Coburn Director for Development J. Michael Coburn fosters a culture of philanthropy within the organization, assuring that the organization s systems and procedures support fundraising, grants, and overall development work. He leads a high-functioning, broad-range team in institutionalizing process and achieving outcomes to support the work of LIRS. He supports LIRS and the ongoing mission of transforming communities into those of welcome for migrants and refugees. He is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing a comprehensive and innovative development strategy; identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors and funders; and growing grant opportunities for the organization, both through private and government funding bodies CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS AND QUALITIES The successful candidate for the position of Vice President for External Affairs should have a successful track record of garnering private resources; knowledge and experience with cause-related fundraising; philanthropic grant-making; major donors; board fundraising; and federal government, private sector, venture, and other funding sources; experience in planning outreach strategies, advertising campaigns, and successful public relations efforts; appreciation and respect for Lutheran beliefs and values, church member motivations, and sensitivities; excellent cultural competency and a track record of helping organizations effectively leverage diversity; demonstrated faith commitment (highly preferred) and a Lutheran background (very helpful but not required); excellent communication skills, both written and oral to include public speaking and presenting to all levels of constituents; the ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships;
a willingness to listen carefully; federal advocacy, policy and/or Capitol Hill experience (desirable); interest, enthusiasm, and an affinity for fundraising and building relationships; proven experience as a strong senior level manager, responsible for operational planning and execution; a strong track record as a leader and manager of people, programs, and budgets; a high-degree of initiative; flexibility, teamwork, attention to detail, and a positive can-do attitude; strong organizational and time management skills; a high level of comfort with technology, relevant software, and working with data; and experience working with refugees and migrants and an understanding of issues related to international migration and domestic integration (preferred). An undergraduate degree is required for this position as is at least ten years of fundraising and/or communications experience with increased responsibility. At least five of those years should be in a senior leadership position with demonstrated success in development or communications. SALARY & BENEFITS Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services offers a competitive salary and benefits package. LOCATION Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services is located in Baltimore, Maryland. A partial remote work arrangement may be considered but this position requires a commitment to spend a significant portion of one s time at the Baltimore headquarters. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all federal, state, and local employment laws. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Before submitting your materials, please read them over for accuracy. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the successful candidate has been selected. To nominate a candidate, please contact Don Hasseltine: donhasseltine@aspenleadershipgroup.com. All inquiries will be held in confidence.