The posting
Location: Boston,Massachusetts,United States
Chief External Affairs Officer
About Compass
Compass is an innovative, mission-driven organization that supports families with low incomes to save for their future and access greater economic opportunity. We believe in our clients and in their ability to achieve their goals and dreams. We deliver high-quality financial coaching combined with externally funded savings opportunities and seek to shape the national approach to poverty alleviation through practice and policy change. Compass is also an emerging leader in a national effort to leverage housing assistance as a platform for economic mobility. To achieve our mission, we operate client-centered savings and financial coaching programs, deliver training and technical assistance to other practitioners, and shape policy solutions that dismantle barriers to asset building.
Since 2010, Compass has partnered with more than 7,300 families and helped them increase their earnings by over $50 million and build more than $35 million in savings. Graduates of our asset building programs save on average $10,000, average 70 point credit score increases, and increase their annual income by $26,000. An independent, multi-year evaluation by Abt Associates found that Compass’ Family Self-Sufficiency program produces benefits to families that far outweigh the cost.
We are looking for a senior leader who wants to be part of taking our programs and our impact to the next level.
About the Job
This is a rare opportunity for an experienced advancement leader who combines philanthropic fundraising depth with a genuine marketing and brand-building mindset – someone who can bring rigorous analytics to fundraising strategy, translate marketing investment into visibility and revenue, and build the team capacity Compass needs to sustain a multi-year, multi-channel resource strategy across individual philanthropy, corporate and foundation partnerships, business development/earned revenue, and government funding.
Reporting to the CEO and serving as a key member of Compass’ Executive Team, the Chief External Affairs Officer (CEAO) will lead Compass’ development, business development, marketing, and communications functions, driving the philanthropic, earned-revenue, and brand strategies that fuel the organization’s national growth.
With a $15M+ operating budget, 85+ staff members, and a growing base of institutional, corporate, and government support, Compass is midway through a seven-year strategic plan and scaling innovative approaches to economic mobility for families with low incomes. The External Affairs team is composed of 8 staff based in Greater Boston. The current fiscal year budget allows for the expansion of the development and marketing team, and the CEAO will play a pivotal role in building the team and systems needed to sustain that growth.
Compass’ federal and state policy strategy is led directly by the CEO, with support from a dedicated Director of Policy and an experienced policy team. The CEAO will partner closely with the CEO on policy-related communications and external messaging, ensuring Compass’ policy priorities are well integrated into its brand, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement strategy, without owning day-to-day policy management.
All Compass staff embody our values
● Believe in People: At Compass, we have a fundamental belief in all clients and their ability to achieve their goals and dreams. Our unique approach to coaching fosters a culture of aspiration, dignity, and hope.
● Pursue Excellence: We hold ourselves to the highest professional and ethical standards in every aspect of our work, and we strive to always do better.
● Go Further Together: Our team builds trust, respects each other, and acts with care and empathy. We believe in harnessing our strengths to find joy in what we do and in doing this work as a team, and to bring out the best in each other.
… and our core competencies:
● Ownership: Steps up and follows through to consistently deliver high-quality work.
● Adaptability/Agility: Drives continuous improvement through proactive problem solving for continued innovation.
● Teamwork: Contributes actively and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve shared goals.
Primary Responsibilities:
Development & Fundraising Strategy
● Design and lead a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy across individual giving, corporate and foundation partnerships, government grants, and special events to meet Compass’ annual philanthropic revenue targets.
● Build out and manage a growing development team, adding capacity to support major gifts, corporate partnerships, and grants management.
● Bring a strong analytical lens to fundraising — modeling revenue scenarios, tracking risk and opportunity, and using data to sharpen strategy and prioritize the highest-return relationships.
● Partner with the CEO on major gift cultivation and solicitation, and support Board members in fundraising engagement.
● Own Compass’ relationship with growth-capital and philanthropic investors, coordinating regular check-ins and ensuring funders see clear evidence of program cost efficiencies and earned-revenue growth.
Business Development & Earned Revenue
● Lead and grow Compass’ business development function, building the connective tissue between training/technical-assistance sales, direct-service growth leads, and the development team’s institutional fundraising.
● Develop a clear operating model for how business development, development, and program teams coordinate on pipeline, pricing, and lead qualification.
●Own new corporate revenue opportunities beyond traditional philanthropy, expanding Compass’ earned revenue base.
Marketing & Communications
● Set the vision and strategy for Compass’ brand, marketing, and communications, elevating Compass’ visibility with donors, policymakers, media, and other external audiences.
● Oversee the Marketing & Communications team, ensuring the function operates as a strategic driver of revenue and visibility rather than solely a brand-approval function.
● Partner with the Chief Program Officer on program marketing, clarifying the division of labor between brand/external marketing and client-facing program marketing.
● Guide the evolution of Compass’ organizational and client-facing brands, ensuring clarity and consistency across national audiences.
● Ensure PR strategy, media placements, and engagements with outside communications partners are effectively mobilized.
Strategic & Executive Leadership
● Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and a full member of the Executive Team, contributing to enterprise-wide strategy and decision-making.
● Manage up effectively — proactively surfacing decisions, trade-offs, and recommendations rather than waiting to be directed.
● Partner with the CEO on policy-related communications and messaging, ensuring alignment between Compass’ policy positioning and its broader external affairs strategy.
● Model clear, well-sequenced communication that helps the Executive Team and broader staff understand and act on complex strategic shifts.
Team & Organizational Leadership
● Recruit, coach, and retain a high-performing, development, business development, and marketing team, including managers who need strong mentorship to grow into their roles.
● Right-size and structure the development, business development, and marketing functions as Compass scales, building durable systems.
● Model accountability and follow-through consistent with Compass’ culture of ownership and delivery.
● Serve as an active member of Compass’ Executive Team.
Qualifications and Skills
The CEAO will be a seasoned, hands-on leader with at least 10-15 years of progressive experience spanning development, marketing/communications, and business development, ideally in a growth-oriented nonprofit or mission-driven organization. The CEAO will have the following experience and attributes:
● 10+ years of progressive leadership experience spanning fundraising/development and marketing or communications; prior Chief Development Officer, Chief Advancement Officer, or equivalent experience strongly preferred.
● Demonstrated success building and leading a multi-year philanthropic fundraising strategy, including major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, and government grants.
● Genuine marketing and brand understanding, able to translate marketing investment into fundraising results and organizational visibility.
● Experience building or scaling a business development or earned-revenue function, and defining how it works alongside a philanthropic development team.
● Strong analytical orientation: comfortable modeling revenue scenarios, assessing risk and opportunity, and using data to drive fundraising and marketing strategy.
● Track record of building, mentoring, and elevating teams, including newer or less-experienced managers.
● Experience managing up effectively and independently, with a demonstrated ability to bring recommendations and decisions to senior leadership rather than deferring.
● Comfort partnering on policy and public affairs communications, even without direct policy expertise.
● Experience managing special events and high-visibility external engagements.
● Exposure to affordable housing, asset-building, or economic mobility sectors is a plus.
Education:
● Bachelor’s degree required.
● Advanced degree in a related field (e.g., nonprofit management, communications, business) is a plus.
Personal Attributes:
● Deep commitment to Compass’ mission and values.
● A rare combination of communicator, strategist, systems-builder, and relationship-builder.
● Relational and externally oriented; builds trust quickly with funders, partners, and policymakers.
● Strategic and analytical thinker who brings a risk-and-opportunity lens to decisions.
● Proactive, decisive leader who is comfortable owning outcomes rather than waiting for direction.
● Courageous communicator who manages up clearly and constructively.
● Strong team-builder who equips others to lead, rather than trying to “do all of the things” personally.
● Hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves orientation balanced with enterprise-level thinking.
● This job description is not intended to provide a comprehensive listing of all duties or responsibilities.
Benefits
The salary range for this role is $185K - $195K. We’ll promote your professional growth and development by providing access to a competitive salary and benefits package and additional employee benefits that include but are not limited to:
● Healthcare: medical, dental, vision: Compass covers up to 80% of employee premiums and 80% for dependents. There is no waiting period to enroll in health insurance.
● Paid time off: Employees receive up to 36 Wellness days and 8 holidays per calendar year, plus the final week of the calendar year off and Fridays in August as organizational wide holidays. All employees enjoy a two-hour early closure starting the Friday after Memorial Day through the week of Labor Day.
● Parental Leave: Employees who have been employed for at least three (3) months are eligible to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. *Employees must be with the organization for six (6) months to receive up to twelve (12) weeks of full pay from the organization.
● Retirement plan 401(k) & 3% match
● Life insurance & disability Insurance
● Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
● Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
● Professional development & certification
● Pre-tax commuter benefits
● Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
● Equipment: $200 one-time stipend for work from home expenses
● Internet Reimbursement: Up to $40 per month for personal internet expenses
Additional Information
This position is remote-first, with a strong preference for candidates based in or near Philadelphia, PA or Boston, MA. The CEAO will travel frequently to Compass offices in Philadelphia and Boston, with occasional travel to other markets (e.g., Chicago, Washington, DC, Minneapolis, and New York), and will join all-staff gatherings in person four times per year.
How to Apply
This search is being led by English Hudson Consulting. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter (not more than 2-pages in length) describing your interest in and experience relevant to the position to [email protected]. Please use the subject line: Compass CEAO Search. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Compass Working Capital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applications for all positions, without regard to age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Compass Working Capital is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities receive the accommodations required for them to interview for a position on our team. Should you require accommodations, please contact [email protected].
Compass also provides hiring preference to Section 3 residents. Section 3 Residency is defined as a “low-income resident” of the area where the HUD-assisted project is located.
For the purposes of Section 3, "low-income" is defined as 80% of the Area Median Income. To learn more information about Section 3 income eligibility, please refer to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Website.
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