Director of External Affairs--THE PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE

Title: Director of External Affairs
Reports to: Senior Vice President for Public Policy
ABOUT THE PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE
The Philanthropy Roundtable is a national association of individual donors, corporate giving
officers, and foundation trustees and staff. The Roundtable attracts philanthropists who
benefit from being part of an organization dedicated to helping them achieve their charitable
objectives. The Roundtable’s mission is to foster excellence in philanthropy, protect
philanthropic freedom, help donors achieve their philanthropic intent, and assist donors in
advancing liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility in America and abroad.
The Roundtable’s Public Policy Department oversees The Alliance for Charitable Reform
(ACR). ACR, a project of the Roundtable, pursues its mission to promote the rights of
donors and private foundations to choose how and where to spend their charitable assets
and to defend against any initiative that seeks to use the legislative or political process to
weaken that right to choose. It was formed in 2005 to address potentially damaging
legislative proposals on Capitol Hill, and has since played a leading role in protecting
grantmaking foundations and other philanthropic organizations from unnecessary and
sometimes harmful federal and state legislation.
Job Summary: The Director of External Affairs serves at the direction of and as deputy for
the Senior Vice President of Public Policy. Responsibilities include managing the public
policy department’s broad external communications.
Job Duties: Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Management of the department’s external affairs
• In coordination with v.p. for communications:
o Identification of appropriate media for the public policy messages
o Management and development of content for public policy areas on
Roundtable website, ACR website and other social media
o Development of strategy, production of written materials and dissemination
of press releases and responses, personal communications, speeches, white
papers, blogs and other social media participation, talking points, and other
external communications
• Participation in developing mission-related public policy programming
• Development and implementation of opportunities to promote public policy
publications and initiatives
• Research
• Coordination with other Roundtable personnel
Skill Factors:
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Experience: At least five years of communication experience, preferably with some Capitol
Hill or state legislative experience.
Computer: Strong computer skills; proficient in MS Office, Outlook
Special Skills/Requirements:
• Understand and support The Philanthropy Roundtable’s mission and vision
• Proven strategic capacity in promoting a message and brand to diverse audiences
• Superior written communication skills and strong oral communications abilities,
including capacity to communicate complex ideas to a variety of audiences
• Experience managing outside contractors
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of the Public Policy team, with the v.p.
for communications, the broader Roundtable team and with external consultants and
colleagues
• Capacity to bring the creativity, energy, discipline and commitment needed to
promote The Philanthropy Roundtable’s message and brand
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of a project, identify an plan, understand
available resources and execute
• Ability to quickly respond to issues and opportunities
• Thorough understanding of communications and marketing strategy including the
role of traditional and new media
• Attention to details and strict adherence to deadlines and deliverables
• Personable, passionate, productive, and focused on protecting philanthropic freedom
Additional Information
Interested individuals should submit their cover letters and resumes to
main@philanthropyroundtable.org by June 6, 2011. The Roundtable offers an excellent
benefits package and a competitive salary commensurate with experience.