Chief Executive, External Affairs

Job Title: Chief Executive, External Affairs

Position: Full-time, exempt

Supervisor: Board of Directors

Location: Remote, US-based

Organizational Mission

Earth Force engages young people as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities now and in the future.

Our Vision

We see a future where young people from all walks of life improve environmental decision making by participating in the development of environmental policies and practices.

What We Do

We provide school districts and nonprofit organizations with the system design, curriculum, professional development, and ongoing support to implement Environmental Applied Civics. Environmental Applied Civics engages young people in authentic learning whereby they investigate environmental problems in their communities and advocate to community decision makers to address them.

Position Overview

The Chief Executive, External Affairs joins a Chief Executive, Programs already in place as a full partner, together holding executive responsibility for Earth Force's direction, performance, and mission fulfillment. This position reports directly to the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive, External Affairs takes primary ownership of revenue strategy, development, and external representation, while sharing joint accountability with the Chief Executive, Programs for organizational strategy, culture, and the health of the organization.

Commitment to Earth Force's mission and vision is paramount. Above every other qualification, the successful candidate must bring a genuine, demonstrated belief in the power of civic skills and youth voice to shape environmental decision-making, and a real investment in Earth Force's role in building that future.

Earth Force runs on a high-trust culture. That trust shows up first as psychological safety: staff are expected to push back on all aspects of our programming, including with fellow senior leaders, and to bring forward new approaches within the boundaries of a strategy the team has built together. It also shows up as partnership: people are given latitude to shape how their piece of the work gets built, working closely with colleagues rather than executing a fixed playbook handed down from above. The Chief Executive, External Affairs carries that same spirit to the senior leadership table, sharing leadership with the Chief Executive, Programs rather than directing from above, while also being able to step outside the organization and represent Earth Force with a clear, unified voice.

Essential Duties

This position is responsible for:

Owns primarily:

• Fundraising Strategy and Execution: Lead the development and execution of a multiyear fundraising strategy, including donor and prospect pipeline management, CRM, and repeatable cultivation, stewardship, forecasting, and reporting processes. Personally cultivate and secure grants, major gifts, and other revenue sources, and identify opportunities to diversify beyond the organization’s current funding base, including growing individual and board giving over time. Earth Force’s annual budget currently averages approximately $1.2 million, with grants and contributions comprising roughly 80% of that; this role holds primary responsibility for securing that portion.

• External Relationships and Representation: Build and maintain relationships with funders, board members, district leaders, partners, and other external stakeholders. Represent the organization effectively in meetings, convenings, and other public settings.

• Strategic Communication: Translate the organization's programmatic work, strategy, and impact into a compelling case for support. Ensure that communications and organizational messaging are clear, consistent, and credible.

• Public Relations and Marketing: Serve as Earth Force's primary spokesperson and lead public relations and marketing efforts to build the organization's brand recognition and public visibility, in coordination with the Communications Lead.

• Staff Supervision: Supervise the Operations Director — including oversight of HR/personnel policy, benefits administration, and state and charitable registrations/corporate filings managed by that role — and ensure operational capacity supports program delivery.

• Grant Financial Compliance: Ensure grant budgets are managed in compliance with funder requirements; oversee financial reporting timelines.

• Organizational Financial Oversight: Oversee organizational financial health (budget-to-actuals, cash flow, audit readiness) in partnership with the Operations Director; lead the annual budgeting process.

Shares with Chief Executive, Programs:

• Shared Executive Leadership: Share full accountability with the Chief Executive, Programs for organizational decision-making, culture, and performance, and report jointly to the Board of Directors on the state and direction of the organization. Where the two Chief Executives disagree, they work to resolve it together, with the Board available to weigh in as needed.

• Organizational Strategy and Planning: Work with the Chief Executive, Programs, board, and other staff to shape long-range organizational strategy and connect priorities across programs, fundraising, and organizational capacity.

• Funding-Program Alignment: Align funding strategy with program priorities; advise on program sustainability and scaling.

• Board Development: Support board recruitment, development, engagement, and succession planning.

• Contract and Legal Signing Authority: Share authority, in partnership with the Chief Executive, Programs, to review and execute contracts, leases, and other binding agreements on behalf of the organization.

• Risk Management and Insurance Oversight: Share responsibility, in partnership with the Chief Executive, Programs, for organizational risk management, including review and renewal of business insurance policies (general liability, D&O, property).

Earth Force is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all applicants and employees based on qualifications, merit, and the needs of the organization, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who share our commitment to Earth Force's mission.

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Featured

yes

Expirationdate

2026-12-31 00:00:00

Url

https://impactopportunity.org/job/9548/chief-executive-external-affairs/

Remote

yes

Salaryfrom

90000

Salaryto

110000

Companydescription

Earth Force is a national non profit with over 30 years of experience partnering with school districts, youth-serving organizations, and educators to evolve student learning through Environmental Applied Civics (EAC). Our expertise is in the elements that make authentic civic engagement work: centering youth voice, building strong youth-adult partnerships, and creating resilient communities.

Companywebsite

earthforce.org

Companylocation

PO Box 1228