Chief Communities Officer

Blue Star Families; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 159,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent nonprofit organization is seeking a Chief Communities Officer to lead community engagement strategies for military families. This hybrid role focuses on scaling community initiatives and partnerships to enhance the support network for military families nationwide. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of senior leadership experience in nonprofit management, community engagement, and excels in strategic thinking and partnership development, ensuring military families feel connected and supported in their communities.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in nonprofit management.
• Proven success in scaling national programs or multi-market initiatives.
• Exceptional communication and executive presence.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a scalable community engagement model.
• Build and scale a national volunteer strategy.
• Lead a team of senior leaders and partner cross-functionally.

Skills

Nonprofit management

Community engagement

Leadership

Partnership development

Strategic planning

Fundraising alignment

Education

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Job Title: Chief Communities Officer

Department: Communities

Location: Hybrid within the DC Metro area

Reports to: President

Direct Reports: Yes

Classification: Exempt

Position Type: Full-time

Anticipated Pay Range at Commencement of Employment: $159,000 - $238,000

Blue Star Families is the largest nonprofit dedicated to making military life better for families. Each year, we support over 1.5 million military‑and‑veteran‑connected family members through a national network of 300,000+ members and local chapters in communities across the country.

Our mission is simple and bold: We make military life awesome for families. We listen, share, partner, and act to deliver evidence‑based, data‑driven solutions that work for real people. We’re a lifestyle organization, a friend and neighbor, and a trusted partner. Our approach is collaborative, human‑centered, and designed with the whole family in mind.

A Blue Star Family is one with an immediate family member — a spouse, parent, or child — actively serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Guard and Reserves. These families face unique challenges, including frequent relocations, deployments, career disruptions, and isolation. We respond with research‑informed programs that create connection, build resilience, and foster a true sense of belonging.

We serve with urgency but build trust over time — because change happens at the speed of trust. Whether we’re driving spouse employment, supporting caregivers, or helping communities welcome military families, we strive for upstream solutions.

Who We’re Looking For

• Bold thinkers. Fast movers. Smart collaborators. People who want to build, lead, and drive measurable change — and who care deeply about making an impact that matters.

What You’ll Do Here

• Solve complex challenges with data, heart, and humility.
• Build cross‑sector partnerships that get things done.
• Help military families feel at home wherever they live.

As a fully remote organization, we rely on scheduled in‑person gatherings to foster alignment, collaboration, and organizational culture. This role requires the ability to travel out of town overnight several times per year for staff offsites, planning retreats, and company‑wide events. Participation is required as a core part of the role.

General Description

Blue Star Families is seeking a dynamic, strategic executive to serve as Chief Communities Officer (CCO). This role will lead the organization’s national community engagement strategy, ensuring military families experience connection, support, and belonging wherever they live and serve.

As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CCO will oversee and scale Blue Star Families’ national community ecosystem—including Chapters, Outposts, Volunteers, and expansion into new markets—driving measurable impact and sustainable growth. Outposts are BSF’s local presence in new markets, expanding reach where full Chapters are not yet established.

This is a high‑impact leadership opportunity for a proven executive who excels at building and scaling community networks, leading high‑performing teams, and cultivating strategic partnerships. It presents a unique opportunity to shape how Blue Star Families shows up in communities nationwide—expanding reach, deepening impact, and ensuring military families feel supported wherever they are.

The CCO must be able to travel overnight several times per year to attend leadership retreats, staff offsites, and organization‑wide events. Participation in these gatherings is an essential function of the role.

• The Chief Communities Officer must reside in the National Capital Region.

Key Job Functions

National Community Strategy

• Define and execute a scalable, national model for community engagement.
• Expand BSF’s presence in new and existing markets through Chapters, Volunteer engagement, and Outposts.
• Partner with the Chief Impact Officer, and Research and Evaluation team, to establish metrics to measure impact, growth, and engagement.

Growth and Expansion Strategy

• Identify and prioritize new markets based on mission impact and sustainability.
• Launch and strengthen community infrastructure for long‑term success.
• Increase BSF’s national reach, visibility, and member engagement.

Chapter Network Leadership

• Ensure strong performance, alignment, and sustainability across Chapters.
• Support local partnerships and funding strategies.

Volunteer Engagement & Leadership

• Build and scale a national volunteer strategy.
• Strengthen recruitment, training, and integration of volunteers.

Executive Leadership & Partnership

• Lead and develop a team of senior leaders.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Development, National Programs, Strategic Alliances, and Research & Evaluation to ensure financial sustainability, strategic alignment, strong partnerships, and data‑informed improvement across Chapters.
• Collaborate with Marketing leadership to align national messaging with local execution and engagement, and support digital coordination to ensure strong chapter representation online.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Experience, Skills & Background

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in nonprofit management, community engagement, or mission‑driven organizations.
• Proven success scaling national programs, networks, or multi‑market initiatives.
• Experience leading leaders and building high‑performing teams.
• Strong track record of partnership development and fundraising alignment.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to ‘think in white space’, execute and drive measurable outcomes.
• Exceptional communication and executive presence.
• Willingness and ability to work nights, weekends, or holidays as required.
• Ability to travel overnight several times per year for required in‑person gatherings.

Desired Experience, Skills & Background

• Familiarity with the military community.
• Familiarity with membership‑driven or volunteer‑powered organizations.

More About Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families empowers military and Veteran families to thrive by connecting them with their civilian neighbors — both people and organizations — to create strong communities of mutual support. We believe we’re all stronger when we take care of one another.

Our groundbreaking research is raising the nation’s awareness of the unique challenges of military family life. With the help of neighbors across the country, Blue Star Families is overcoming the isolation and alienation of frequent moves, deployments, and reduced support from the government. Our innovative programs are solving specific challenges for military families, including fighting economic insecurity with resources that foster spouse career development, creating family strength with rich family programming, and providing critical peer support for caregivers, whose numbers are only increasing.

Blue Star Families is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

EEO Policy

Blue Star Families is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.