Chief External Officer

About the Opportunity

Ascend Public Charter Schools is seeking a Chief External Officer (CExO), responsible for building and leading Development, Marketing, Advocacy, and Board Relations. Reporting to the President, this is an opportunity for a seasoned and entrepreneurial fundraising leader to serve as an active member of the Executive team, who can build and execute an advancement strategy to match current and future opportunities for the organization.

Ascend will need to build and launch their first multi-year development strategy and campaign, raising $11M in the next 3 years. The CExO will be charged with the strategic leadership of Ascend’s external functions, creating a comprehensive story for the organization, with a dual focus on amplifying revenue generation and enhancing Ascend’s brand and story. This role also comes at a time when Ascend’s leadership team will create Ascend’s next chapter, charting a clear value proposition and strategic plan to be a school network that enables a life of choice for its 6,000 students. The CExO will also guide the organization and the Board in fostering and cultivating a coalition of champions and supporters for Ascend (both public and private).

Areas of Leadership

Passion for Ascend’s Mission: Brings passion for advancing educational equity for all students. Serves as a brand champion and an ambassador to elevate Ascend’s visibility in the community and sector.

Strategic Fundraising and Partnership: Pioneer and build Ascend's fundraising function from the ground up. Build upon and execute a development strategy, aligning with Ascend’s short and long-term goals. Must have demonstrated a history of ongoing and sustainable relationships with financial champions, grantmakers, high-net-worth individuals, and non-profit and community partners, and be able to leverage those relationships to build a coalition of support for Ascend’s future. Build, steward, and cultivate a strong pipeline of multi-year commitments to raise at least $11M over the next 3 years. Serve as a persuasive and visible spokesperson and be able to effectively articulate the organization’s goals and needs to different audiences with nuances in mind.

Executive Leadership: Serve as a core thought partner to the executive team and organizational leaders, contributing to the refinement and development of Ascend’s organizational vision, in addition to advancing the advancement strategy. Function seamlessly within the executive team and the board, building trust through relationship building and accountability structures that support fundraising. Intentionally develop collaborative relationships across and engage staff in achieving fundraising goals. Create future-facing plans and structure for a successful advancement team. Communicate effectively, managing expectations, and providing clarity on timelines and milestones for financial goals.

Communication Expert and Brand Builder: Elevate Ascend's brand by narrating compelling and differentiated stories that resonate with various stakeholders. Oversee and manage the Marketing and Communications team to articulate Ascend’s brand. Represent Ascend in high-profile circles, directing the Board, and collaborating with executive leadership to build the organization's profile. Leverage existing and new connections to elevate Ascend’s brand and reach.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years experience with five to seven years leading and managing a comprehensive strategic fundraising and marketing function, with a track record of leveraging the function to drive revenue and promote an organization’s mission and goals with the widest set of stakeholders possible
• Ability to thrive in a complex organization with the capacity to make decisions and anticipate future needs in a changing environment; experience leading and managing through change
• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop new solutions and approaches to nuanced situations and a track record of translating ideas into action plans and results
• Strong ability to secure and steward multi-year financial commitments, with experience raising significant funds at scale ($15M )
• Proven ability as a compelling storyteller that can represent an organization in high-profile settings, leveraging networks to expand visibility and influence
• High emotional intelligence (EQ) with a deep understanding of donor and external stakeholder motivations and the ability to cultivate long-term relationships
• Existing network, including, but not limited to philanthropic, corporate, and community leaders, with a track record of securing high-dollar gifts, sponsorships, and partnerships
• Exceptional communicator with expertise in branding and storytelling; able to craft compelling narratives that elevate the organization’s profile and resonate with diverse audiences
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and ethical responsibility in all fundraising and external engagement efforts
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college/university