Chief External Relations Officer

Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity’s Chief External Relations Officer (CERO)is responsible for overseeing the development and execution of external relations strategies to maintain a strong public image of the organization. Ensures that the efforts related to marketing, advertising, communications, fundraising, gift-in-kind donations, government affairs, event management, public involvement, and community relations raise awareness of the value of Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity’s mission.

The CERO is an essential member of the executive leadership team, working closely with the CEO and Board to guide strategic decisions related to organizational positioning, external partnerships, and public affairs to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization.

• Leads Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity’s external communications, partnerships, policy advocacy, and fundraising efforts to enhance organizational visibility, public perception, influence, strategic impact, strengthens public trust and addresses community concerns.
• Collaborates with the executive leadership team to support overall business strategies and objectives.
• Aligns external engagement with strategic objectives by expanding impact, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and navigating external environments effectively.
• Oversees efforts to guide and execute a marketing plan for all branding strategies to promote and enhance Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity’s message to key audiences while ensuring consistent messaging.
• Actively pursues opportunities to increase Habitat’s brand awareness and impact and manage public engagement-driven projects.
• Collaborates with internal departments to align external relation efforts, Habitat for Humanity International(HFHI), and organizational goals. Responsible for public relations, marketing materials, and local media relations.
• In conjunction with the CEO, establishes annual development strategies to support general operations and oversees the planning and execution of special fundraising initiatives, such as campaigns to raise dollars for capital, programmatic and endowment programs.
• Creates an annual strategy to promote and increase the organization’s support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other sources.
• Optimizes the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Leads and manages all aspects of the fundraising program, including major gifts, planned giving, annual fund, capital campaigns, special events, and grant writing.
• Develops and implements a donor-centered fundraising approach that builds strong relationships with donors, emphasizes the organization’s mission and impact, and encourages donor engagement and investment.
• Assures organizational compliance with generally accepted fundraising principles, financial reporting requirements, and ethical codes of professional conduct
• Directs activities related to the identification of potential donors, developing relationships and acquiring valuable donations and/or professional services from current and future gift-in-kind donors on behalf of Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity.
• Provides detailed fundraising progress reports to the CEO and Board.
• Builds and maintains relationships on behalf of the organization, connecting others to the mission of Greater Cleveland Habitat and educating the public to enhance fundraising efforts.
• Oversees community relations activities related to the planning, organizing, managing of all aspects of special events, developing, and maintaining community partnerships and sponsoring and supporting community events.
• Develops comprehensive government affairs strategies, advocacy, action plans, as well as partner engagement. Identifies and capitalizes on opportunities for partnerships and collaborations with government entities. Provides guidance over strategic advocacy efforts and the cultivation of positive relationships with elected officials, public entities, and quasi-public stakeholders.
• Represents the organization at public meetings, industry conferences, and stake holder events.
• Collects, analyzes, evaluates data to…