Job Overview
Living Goods is seeking a Chief of External Affairs to lead our global external relations, driving fundraising, advocacy, and communications to transform community health. This is a critical executive leadership role to help us advance our mission and ensure the long-term sustainability of our work.
About Living Goods: Transforming Community Health
Living Goods (LG) is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the health of vulnerable communities. Consequently, we support networks of trusted community health workers (CHWs) to improve health outcomes for women and children. By partnering with governments, we work to advance system change. We focus on treating CHWs as essential health workers, whom we digitize, equip, supervise, and compensate so they can make the greatest impact. In addition, we harness community-level data to transform health systems, focusing on treating some of the deadliest but most easily treatable childhood diseases, supporting women with pregnancy and family planning, and ensuring every child is fully vaccinated. By the end of 2020, Living Goods supported more than 11,000 CHWs in Kenya and Uganda, who delivered care to more than 8.5 million people.
Living Goods’ strategic plan now focuses on the next frontier of impact: enabling government partners to improve health outcomes nationally. Building on our unique experience supporting more than 12,000 CHWs to deliver quality healthcare to over 9 million people, our plan ensures high-quality, digitally-enabled community healthcare can be professionalized and scaled more sustainably, in more countries. Thus, we save and improve more lives.
Living Goods is an equal-opportunity employer and considers every qualified applicant for employment without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
The Role of Chief of External Affairs
The Chief of External Affairs plays a critical leadership role in advancing Living Goods’ mission. In this capacity, this position drives revenue growth, shapes the organization’s public voice, and strengthens its visibility and influence across key audiences. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Chief of External Affairs is a key member of the Global Executive Team, contributing to the overall strategy and ensuring it is both fundable and “findable.”
As a leader, you will oversee a global team of approximately 20 staff across Africa and the United States, including three senior functional heads. The Chief of External Affairs is responsible for guiding these high-performing teams to deliver on ambitious growth, influence, and visibility goals.
Remote Chief of External Affairs
Key Responsibilities for the Chief of External Affairs
As the Chief of External Affairs, you will be responsible for a wide range of duties across business development, advocacy, communications, and strategic planning.
Strategic Planning
- Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO to evolve Living Goods’ vision, mission, and theory of change. Ultimately, this ensures the organization remains both fundable and discoverable.
- Provide executive leadership across fundraising, advocacy, and communications. You will ensure these functions are integrated and strategically aligned.
- Lead the development of robust strategies for each function to support Living Goods’ mission and position in the global health ecosystem.
- Engage Board members and key external stakeholders on strategic priorities related to resource mobilization, visibility, and influence.
- Oversee budgeting and resource planning across business development, advocacy, and communications.
Business Development
- Lead resource mobilization to achieve ambitious revenue goals, with a focus on raising significant funding from diverse sources.
- Cultivate and manage relationships with a portfolio of high-value donors, including philanthropic foundations, bilateral and multilateral donors, and corporations.
- Develop and implement fundraising strategies to achieve substantial revenue growth and long-term sustainability.
Advocacy & Communications
- Oversee the design and implementation of global, regional, and national advocacy strategies that support policy change and resource mobilization.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with high-priority stakeholders.
- Ensure proactive tracking and analysis of political, policy, and funding developments that may influence the organization’s strategy.
- Represent Living Goods in high-level forums, conferences, and strategic advocacy engagements.
- Build and mentor high-performing, mission-aligned teams across fundraising, advocacy, and communications, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
Location & Travel
To clarify, this is a remote, full-time position. The candidate can be based anywhere on the USA East Coast; however, there is a preference for Washington D.C. or New York City. Other locations may be considered for exceptional candidates, especially within a large fundraising market. Consequently, due to the time zone differences between our USA-based team, our Country Offices, and other global staff, we expect USA-based staff to be available for early morning meetings starting at 7 a.m. EST. The role requires willingness to travel up to 15-20% of the time, including three trips per year to Africa (typically Burkina Faso, Kenya, or Uganda).
Essential Qualifications & Attributes for the Chief of External Affairs
First and foremost, a minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience is required in fundraising, partnership development, communications, and advocacy within the non-profit sector. This must include at least 5 years in senior external leadership or fundraising roles.
- Fundraising Expertise: In terms of fundraising expertise, you should have a proven track record of fundraising success, raising significant annual amounts. This includes soliciting and closing 6- and 7-figure gifts from diverse donors.
- Strategic Thinker: You must have a proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans that drive organizational growth. You must be able to think big-picture while also being a detail-oriented implementer.
- Leadership Skills: Similarly, a strong track record of hiring, developing, and managing high-performing, remote, and cross-cultural teams is essential to achieve ambitious results.
- Relationship Management: Additionally, you must possess exceptional and proven relationship-building and fundraising abilities. You should have experience cultivating donors and developing strategies for continued engagement.
- Communication Skills: You must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to serve as a compelling advocate for Living Goods’ work.
- Passion & Mission Alignment: Finally, a strong alignment with Living Goods’ mission and values is essential.
Compensation for the Chief of External Affairs
The salary range for the Chief of External Affairs is USD 148,000 – USD 200,000. Furthermore, the final offer will be based on the candidate’s experience. Information on our competitive benefits package, including health insurance and bonus opportunity, can be shared upon request.
Additional Information
Our current job openings are displayed on our website. Living Goods does not offer any positions without an interview and never asks candidates for money. If we offer you a role, we will request consent for a background check as part of our hiring process.
Apply here: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1753915393473
FAQs
Q: What is the salary range for this position? A: The salary range for the Chief of External Affairs role is USD 148,000 – USD 200,000. As mentioned, the final offer will be based on the candidate’s experience.
Q: Is this a fully remote position? A: To be clear, the role is remote, with a preference for candidates based on the USA East Coast, specifically in Washington D.C. or New York City.
Q: What are the travel requirements for this role? A: The role requires willingness to travel up to 15-20% of the time, including three trips per year to Africa.
Q: What is the expected work schedule due to time zone differences? A: USA-based staff should expect to be available for early morning meetings, starting at 7 a.m. EST.