Director of External Affairs & Government Relations

Description

Position Summary

The Director of External Affairs & Government Relations is a strategic leader responsible for advancing Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless' (MCCH) external engagement strategy through government relations, public policy advocacy, strategic communications, public relations, brand management, institutional grant funding, and corporate partnerships. This position leads efforts to secure foundation, institutional, and corporate philanthropic support; strengthen relationships with elected officials and public-sector partners; elevate MCCH's public profile; and position the organization as a recognized leader in ending homelessness, expanding affordable housing, and advancing supportive services throughout Montgomery County.

Working closely with the CEO, Director of Community Impact & Philanthropy, Executive Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and program leaders, the Director develops strategies that expand foundation and institutional grant funding, strengthen government partnerships, influence public policy, enhance organizational visibility, build strategic corporate partnerships, and increase community awareness and confidence in MCCH's mission and impact.

Institutional Grant Funding (30%)

Goal: Develop and manage a comprehensive institutional fundraising strategy that expands foundation, corporate, and other philanthropic grant support.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement MCCH's institutional grant funding strategy.
• Identify, pursue, and secure foundation, corporate, and other institutional grant opportunities that align with MCCH's strategic priorities.
• Lead the preparation, writing, and submission of competitive grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and funding applications.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with foundation representatives, corporate funders, and other institutional philanthropic partners.
• Coordinate proposal development with finance, compliance, development, operations, and program leadership.
• Oversee grant reporting, compliance requirements, renewals, and stewardship of institutional funders.
• Research  emerging philanthropic trends, foundation priorities, and institutional funding opportunities.
• Develop  strategies to diversify restricted and unrestricted philanthropic revenue to strengthen MCCH's long-term financial sustainability.
• Maintain an annual grants calendar to ensure timely submission of proposals, reports, and renewal applications.

Government Relations & Public Policy (20%)

Goal: Strengthen relationships with government leaders while advancing public policies that prevent and end homelessness.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement MCCH's government relations and public policy strategy.
• Serve as the organization's primary liaison with federal, state, county, and municipal elected officials and government leaders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with elected officials, government agencies,  legislative staff, public-sector partners, and community leaders.
• Monitor  legislative and regulatory developments affecting homelessness, affordable housing, behavioral health, Medicaid, and human services.
• Prepare      legislative testimony, policy briefs, issue papers, position statements, executive briefing materials, advocacy communications, and public policy  updates.
• Coordinate advocacy campaigns, legislative engagement, and community education  initiatives.
• Represent MCCH on public committees, advisory boards, coalitions, and task forces.
• Support the CEO in legislative meetings, advocacy initiatives, public policy discussions, and government engagement.

Strategic Communications, Public Relations & Brand Management (30%)

Goal: Strengthen MCCH's reputation and visibility through strategic communications, public relations, and consistent brand leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement MCCH's comprehensive communications and external affairs strategy.
• Lead the organization's brand management efforts and ensure consistent messaging  across all communications and marketing materials.
• Oversee the organization's website, social media, newsletters, annual reports, digital marketing, publications, and other external communications.
• Provide direct supervision to the Communications and Digital Media Specialist. 
• Develop executive communications, speeches, presentations, talking points, op-eds, media statements, Board communications, and other leadership messaging.
• Serve as the organization's primary communications lead for media relations, press  inquiries, and public messaging.
• Develop  proactive public relations strategies that increase awareness of MCCH's  mission, programs, advocacy efforts, and community impact.
• Lead crisis communications planning in partnership with the CEO.
• Collaborate across departments to identify compelling participant stories, organizational accomplishments, advocacy opportunities, and fundraising      communications.
• Ensure all communications reflect MCCH's mission, values, strategic priorities, and organizational voice.
• Monitor communications metrics and recommend strategies to strengthen community  engagement, public awareness, and brand recognition.

Corporate Partnerships (15%)

Goal: Build strategic corporate partnerships that expand philanthropic investment, volunteer engagement, and community support.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage relationships with corporate partners, business leaders, and  corporate foundations.
• Identify corporate grants, sponsorships, and partnership opportunities that align with MCCH's strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with the Director of Community Impact & Philanthropy to coordinate corporate giving, sponsorship, and stewardship strategies.
• Develop cause marketing, employee engagement, volunteer, sponsorship, and workplace giving initiatives.
• Represent MCCH  at business associations, networking events, corporate meetings, and community forums.
• Expand partnerships that increase philanthropic support, volunteer engagement, public awareness, and advocacy for MCCH's mission.

Leadership & Organizational Collaboration (5%)

Goal: Provide strategic leadership and foster collaboration across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of MCCH's Leadership Team.
• Collaborate closely with development, finance, compliance, operations, and program leadership to advance organizational priorities.
• Supervise communications, institutional giving, external affairs, government relations, and advocacy staff, consultants, interns, or volunteers, as      assigned.
• Develop departmental goals, work plans, budgets, and performance measures.
• Monitor key  performance indicators related to communications, advocacy, institutional grant funding, corporate partnerships, government relations, and external engagement.
• Stay informed on emerging trends in nonprofit communications, philanthropy, advocacy,      government affairs, public policy, and corporate partnerships.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Public Policy, Political Science, English, Nonprofit Management, or a related field required. Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in external affairs, government relations, public policy, strategic communications, institutional grant funding, corporate partnerships, or nonprofit leadership.
• Demonstrated  success securing foundation, corporate, and institutional grant funding and cultivating long-term philanthropic partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience writing competitive grant proposals and managing grant reporting and compliance requirements.
• Experience managing relationships with elected officials, government agencies, legislative staff, foundations, corporate partners, and community stakeholders.
• Experience leading advocacy initiatives and legislative engagement.
• Experience overseeing strategic communications, media relations, public relations, and organizational brand management.
• Strong strategic writing, public speaking, relationship-building, project management, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Supervisory experience preferred.