Vice President, External Affairs, Strategic Communications

The Investment Diversity Exchange (TIDE)

Vice President for External Affairs and Strategic Communications at Tides, a nonprofit and philanthropic organization advancing social justice. Responsible for shaping and advancing the external voice, public positioning, and narrative.

Posted 7/16/2026full-timeRemote • 🌎 Anywhere in the WorldLead💰 $191,200 - $286,400 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates extensive experience in leading integrated communications and marketing strategies, with a focus on crisis communications, brand leadership, and narrative strategy. Proven ability to manage high-performing teams and build relationships across diverse media and organizational landscapes.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Crisis CommunicationsIntegrated Marketing StrategyBrand StrategyExecutive CommunicationNarrative Strategy

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Digital MarketingAudience GrowthCampaign ManagementExecutive SpeechwritingOp-Ed DraftingReputation ManagementContent StrategyMedia RelationsKPI DevelopmentBudget Management

Soft Skills

Excellent JudgmentTeam LeadershipCollaborationCommunicationCoaching

Tools & Technologies

CRM ToolsMarketing Technology StackAnalytics ToolsDigital Properties ManagementSocial Media Platforms

Industry Keywords

NonprofitAdvocacyPublic-Interest501(c)(3)501(c)(4)Political OrganizationsJEDI ValuesCrisis ResponsePublic PositioningReputational Risk

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and execute an integrated communications and external affairs strategy aligned with organizational goals, theory of change, and financial sustainability plan.
Serve as principal counsel to the CEO and Executive Team on public positioning, message discipline, crisis response, and sequencing of public statements.
Advise the Executive Team and Board of Directors on reputational risk and narrative exposure.
Own Tides’ brand architecture, persona, voice, and narrative frame across all external channels and audiences.
Drive Tides’ narrative proactively in the broader social sector landscape.
Monitor and track how mission-related issues are being framed, weaponized, or reshaped across media, political, and cultural spaces.
Exercise disciplined judgment on when to lead public conversation, when to amplify coalition partners, and when strategic restraint better serves the mission.
Oversee content strategy spanning earned media, owned channels, executive thought leadership, annual reports, and Tides publications.
Lead integrated marketing strategy across brand, digital, email, social, advertising, and campaign channels to build awareness, engagement, and action among target audiences.
Set and manage marketing/engagement growth goals and KPIs, including digital reach, audience growth, and supporter acquisition, that build Tides’ brand visibility and public presence, translating results into conversion metrics in partnership with Business Development.
Oversee Tides’ website, digital properties, and marketing technology stack; ensure data-informed decision-making and appropriate investment in analytics, CRM, and automation tools.
Direct brand and creative development, including visual identity, design systems, and campaign creative, working with in-house staff and agency partners.
Partner with Tides Foundation, Tides Center, and Business Development leadership to lead public-facing campaigns, mobilization moments, and integrated marketing calendars.
Partner with the Chief Programs Officer to align communications with fundraising strategy, donor stewardship, and major-gift engagement.
Partner with Tides Foundation, Tides Center, and Business Development to co-develop donor-facing content that demonstrates impact, addresses current-moment concerns, and reinforces the case for sustained and expanded investment.
Support Board communications, including board meeting preparation, board-facing updates, and ambassadorship materials.
Partner with the Executive Team, the People Team, and Internal Communications staff to ensure external positioning and internal messaging are coordinated, particularly ahead of significant announcements, crises, and politically sensitive external statements.
Lead and maintain a shared messaging architecture so talking points, positioning documents, and narrative frames are consistent across staff-facing and public-facing channels.
Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing marketing and external communications team; coach direct reports and cultivate strength within the function.
Manage the marketing and external communications budget, including agency, consultant, platform, production, and paid media spend.
In partnership with the Chief People Officer, co-lead Tides’ internal communications team, integrating internal and external communications strategies and messaging as applicable.
Select, manage, and hold accountable external agency and vendor partners; build a trusted "extended team" model that scales capacity without permanent headcount.
Establish KPIs and reporting cadence across marketing performance, external communications, reputation health, earned media impact, and audience growth.
Lead proactive national media strategy, cultivating relationships with reporters, editors, and opinion leaders across mainstream, movement, and ideologically diverse outlets.
Direct executive visibility strategy, including speaking engagements, op-ed placement, broadcast appearances, and conference presence.
Prepare the CEO and designated spokespeople for high-stakes interviews and public-facing events.
Build and maintain relationships with peer national organizations, state and regional affiliates, philanthropic intermediaries, and sector communications networks.
Represent Tides in sector-wide narrative coordination, shared-research efforts, and joint response on issues where collective voice amplifies impact.
Serve as a public representative of Tides at select conferences, convenings, and sector events.
Partner with the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer to manage the intersection of communications with regulatory, legal, financial, and investigative risk.
Own organizational crisis communications planning, playbook maintenance, and live response.
Coordinate with Executive Team and Senior Leaders during incidents, whether internal or external.
Maintain a pre-approved response architecture for attack vectors so the organization can move with speed when required.

Requirements

What you’ll need

15 years of relevant experience. 10 years of experience must be in a senior-level leadership capacity;
Demonstrated experience as principal marketing and communications counsel to a CEO, Executive Director, or equivalent senior principal;
Proven track record in crisis communications at national scale, including politically or ideologically charged incidents;
Deep national media relationships with demonstrated placement across mainstream, political, and movement press;
Demonstrated marketing and brand leadership, including brand strategy, digital marketing, audience growth, and measurable campaign results;
Experience with mission-driven, advocacy, or politically active organizations (nonprofit, 501(c)(3)/(c)(4), political, or public-interest);
Demonstrated ability to build and execute narrative strategy, not just message discipline;
Experience managing lean teams and extended vendor networks under resource constraints;
Excellent judgment when handling sensitive legal, personnel, and political matters;
Excellent written and verbal communication, including executive speechwriting and op-ed drafting; and
Ability to ground all work in a deep commitment to the Tides mission and JEDI values, applying an equity center lens to strategy, practice, and engagement.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive compensation package
Health insurance
Retirement plans
Paid time off
Flexible work arrangements
Professional development opportunities