Vice President of External Affairs

The Vice President of External Affairs is a member of Openlands' Senior Leadership Team, responsible for integrating and leading the organization\'s development and communications strategies. This role ensures that fundraising, messaging, and public engagement consistently advance Openlands\'s mission: conserving vital landscapes, connecting people with nature, and rooting land at the heart of our region\'s identity and resilience.

Essential Job Functions

Leadership and Strategy

• Serve on the Senior Leadership Team, shaping Openlands\' strategic direction, priorities, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Act as strategic advisor to the CEO and executive team on all external affairs matters.
• Develop and execute an integrated external affairs strategy that aligns development, communications, and brand.
• Build, manage, and mentor high-performing Development and Communications teams.
• Partner with the Vice Presidents of Policy and Land Conservation and Land Management to ensure fundraising and communications reflect accurate, compelling impact data.
• Collaborate with Finance leadership at the beginning of each fiscal year to ensure fiscal alignment.

Communications and Branding

• Direct strategic communications, public relations, media engagement, and digital presence.
• Ensure consistent, compelling brand messaging across all channels; serve as steward of brand voice and visual identity.
• Lead crisis communications response.
• Partner with fellow VPs to translate program outcomes into compelling public stories and visuals.
• Partner with the Board of Directors and Communications Committee to advance strategic communications and brand objectives.

Development and Fundraising

• Lead the organization\'s fundraising strategy — major gifts, annual giving, grants, corporate sponsorships, and planned giving — in partnership with the President and CEO.
• Directly manage the Director of Development, coordinating closely with the CEO given the role\'s dotted-line reporting.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors and institutional funders.
• Partner with the Board of Directors and Development Committee to advance fundraising goals.
• Build the systems, processes, and staff capacity needed to support donor growth and retention.

Data, Evaluation and Impact

• Partner with the Vice Presidents of Policy and Land Conservation and Land Management to build shared systems for collecting, evaluating, and reporting data across land-based programs.
• Define success metrics and track progress toward organization-wide goals alongside fellow VPs.
• Use data and evaluation results to shape fundraising and communications narratives.
• Ensure public materials accurately reflect shared outcomes and organizational success measures.

Partnerships and Public Engagement

• Build relationships with government agencies, community partners, peer organizations, and media.
• Develop strategies to raise visibility and public awareness of Openlands\' mission and programs.
• Represent Openlands at key events, conferences, and donor meetings.

Education, Skills And Abilities

• Bachelor\'s degree in nonprofit management, communications, public relations, environmental studies, or a related field preferred; Master\'s degree a plus.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, communications, or external affairs; nonprofit and/or environmental sector experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success leading integrated development and communications teams, with a track record of effective impact storytelling.
• Demonstrated ability to build donor and media relationships that advance mission and funding.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong strategic thinking, planning, and organizational development skills.
• Commitment to conservation as a tool for equity, climate resilience, biodiversity, and public good.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with Salesforce a plus.
• Willingness to travel regionally for meetings, site visits, and public events.