Chief Development & Communications Officer

The Chief Development and Communications Officer (CDCO) will play a vital role in promoting Maryland Legal Aid’s stories in a compelling and impactful way to reach a range of external audiences, including media, funders, elected officials, and other key stakeholders. The CDCO is charged with increasing and diversifying financial support from public funders (federal/state/local), foundations, and private donors, ensuring MLA has ample resources to reach its strategic vision and advance its mission. As part of the executive leadership team, the CDCO will help set annual goals and benchmarks, create the plans to achieve them, and guide the team in execution. This includes securing and maintaining funding and engaging with external partners, with a particular focus on growing unrestricted funding. The CDCO will help define and align the organization’s messaging and outreach to media and key leaders to elevate issues involving civil legal aid and critical issues facing low-income Marylanders, raising the profile of MLA across the state and nation, growing and diversifying opportunities for partnerships and philanthropic support. The CDCO will lead MLA’s 10 development, grants management, communications, and marketing staff. Once on board, this individual will evaluate operations and systems, set short and long-term goals, and in partnership with the team, have the agency to make necessary adjustments and improvements to the development and communications approach. Importantly, they will support and manage the continued growth and development of a committed staff while ensuring operational efficiencies through continuous improvement of and investment in systems and resources to support growth. Although the position will be based in the Baltimore City office, the Chief Development and Communications Officer will work throughout the state and with all 12 offices, and more than 300 staff located throughout the State. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership Develop and implement integrated strategic communications and development plans that effectively support the organization’s goals and increase its impact. Collaborate with executive leadership to align communications and development initiatives with the organization’s strategic priorities. Development and Grants Lead and expand the fundraising program to secure resources from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government sources. Oversee the grants management process from identification of potential funding sources to proposal submission and report compliance. Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with donors, funders, and key partners. Communication and Marketing Lead the communication team to build relationships with media and key stakeholders and to provide compelling, impactful content and materials marketing, public relations, and digital media channels that highlight and support its advocacy work and goals. Ensure consistent messaging across all platforms that reflects Maryland Legal Aid’s mission, vision, and values. Manage the organization’s brand and reputation, including crisis communication planning and response. Team Leadership and Management Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team that values excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Foster a culture that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive and builds a sense of belonging (DEIB) and promotes cultural humility and responsiveness among staff. Manage departmental budgets, ensuring efficient use of resources. As part of the Executive Team, help lead the implementation of MLA’s innovative strategic plan. Evaluation and Reporting Develop and implement evaluation frameworks to measure the effectiveness of communication strategies and development activities. Provide regular reports to the Executive Director and Board of Directors, offering insights and recommendations for enhancing visibility and fundraising outcomes. Candidate Profile The Chief Development and Communications Officer will be a bold, dynamic, and experienced fundraising leader with a measurable track record of success in institutional, individual, and corporate giving, with experience in the greater-Maryland philanthropic landscape being a plus. Bringing a growth mindset to the role, the successful candidate will bring best in class practices and help lead MLA into its next phase of growth. The ideal candidate understands and appreciates the interconnectedness of marketing, communications, and fundraising. Innovative and Resourceful Fundraiser Experienced fundraiser with a successful track record of assessing, building, and executing against a strategic plan for development. Proven expertise in setting ambitious yet achievable objectives, and rigorously evaluating progress to deliver outstanding results. Innovative and outside-the-box thinker who will find new funding opportunities to diversify revenue streams and secure funding to meet changing community needs and ensure long-term organizational sustainability. Confident and self-motivated thought partner, who will work closely with the Executive Director, as well as the leadership team, Board, and staff in identifying, devising, and implementing a fundraising strategy for MLA. Forward-thinking leader with a clear and actionable vision for strategic resource development. Demonstrates the ability to operationalize and execute strategic initiatives, transforming visionary concepts into practical frameworks and systems. Experience in the identification, cultivation, and stewardship of individual and institutional strategic relationships, effectively representing an organization, its mission, and programs. Experience building a pipeline of fundraising targets for individual donors, private philanthropy, and public agencies, in accordance with a strategic plan. Brings best in class systems, processes, and current knowledge of fundraising practices with a strong understanding of donor management systems. Experience building and engaging a dedicated Board of Directors. Strategic Systems-Thinker with Marketing and Communications Expertise Senior leadership experience in the development and execution of effective, comprehensive, innovative, multicultural marketing and communications strategies. Exceptional written and oral communicator who clearly and persuasively conveys messages to diverse internal and external audiences. Data-informed, impact-driven, and creative thinker, effectively and constructively leading MLA to consider new and innovative approaches to marketing and communications. Strong analytical and planning skills with demonstrated success in analyzing ROI for marketing and communications investments. Success in creating and launching effective media partnerships, communications platforms, and cause marketing partnerships. Demonstrated track record of engaging BIPOC and other historically marginalized and underserved audiences. Energized by the opportunity to build on the strengths of a well-respected organization and the work done to date, elevating the brand to maximize impact. Collaborative, Inclusive, and Emotionally Intelligent Leader A strong track record of supervisory experience, adept at motivating, advising, coaching, and providing constructive feedback to staff at all levels. Celebrates a diverse range of skillsets and possesses the ability to bring out the best of a talented, passionate, and deeply committed team. Has a strong willingness to leverage the existing expertise, uplifting others’ voices and knowledge. Inspiring, empathetic, approachable, and inclusive leader with an infectious optimism and adept ability to lead through periods of change. Energized by the opportunity to unify the development, marketing, and communications functions; able to develop a powerful sense of shared purpose and engagement in the future of MLA’s work and the possibilities ahead. Exceptional at managing, inspiring, and driving a high-performing team, cultivating a culture of excellence and innovation. Utilizes current technology and remote communication tools to effectively supervise and collaborate with staff across multiple locations. Passion for the Mission Embodies a profound commitment to the mission, vision, and values of MLA, driving the organization’s goals with unwavering dedication. Shows a strong commitment to personal and professional growth, with a continuous drive for self-improvement and reflective practice. A champion of culturally humble leadership, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace environment that embodies the values of justice statewide. Thrives in a large, multifaceted organization, leveraging experience and adaptability to navigate and lead in a diverse environment. An individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values — someone who can be trusted without reservation. Compensation & Benefits Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $150,000- $175,000 with a generous benefits package. Contact & How to Apply Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Molly Brennan, Corina Benitz, & Gina Wrolstad are leading the search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials by filling out our talent profile or email the team directly at marylandlegalaid@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential. Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process. Maryland Legal Aid is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world. Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams. Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.

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