Vice President of External Affairs

Openlands; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Openlands is seeking an accomplished Vice President of External Affairs to guide a unified development and communications strategy, advancing conservation in the Chicago region. This senior leader will mentor teams, build donor relationships, and drive brand storytelling across platforms to amplify impact.

The role reports to the CEO, collaborates with policy and land conservation leadership, and travels regionally to foster partnerships and public engagement with Openlands' mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, public relations, environmental studies, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, communications, or external affairs; nonprofit and/or environmental sector experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success leading integrated development and communications teams, with a track record of effective impact storytelling.
• Demonstrated ability to build donor and media relationships that advance mission and funding.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong strategic thinking, planning, and organizational development skills.
• Commitment to conservation as a tool for equity, climate resilience, biodiversity, and public good.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with Salesforce a plus.
• Willingness to travel regionally for meetings, site visits, and public events.

Responsibilities

• Serve on the Senior Leadership Team, shaping Openlands' strategic direction, priorities, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Develop and execute an integrated external affairs strategy that aligns development, communications, and brand.
• Lead the Development and Communications teams and mentor staff.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors and institutional funders.
• Partner with the Board and leadership to advance fundraising goals.
• Build systems and processes to support donor growth and retention.
• Ensure fundraising and communications reflect accurate, compelling impact data.
• Represent Openlands at key events, conferences, and donor meetings.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Communication skills

Donor relations

Media relations

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Public speaking

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management

Master's degree a plus

Tools

Microsoft Office

Salesforce

Job description

The Vice President of External Affairs is a member of Openlands' Senior Leadership Team, responsible for integrating and leading the organization\'s development and communications strategies. This role ensures that fundraising, messaging, and public engagement consistently advance Openlands\'s mission: conserving vital landscapes, connecting people with nature, and rooting land at the heart of our region\'s identity and resilience.

Essential Job Functions

Leadership and Strategy

• Serve on the Senior Leadership Team, shaping Openlands\' strategic direction, priorities, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Act as strategic advisor to the CEO and executive team on all external affairs matters.
• Develop and execute an integrated external affairs strategy that aligns development, communications, and brand.
• Build, manage, and mentor high-performing Development and Communications teams.
• Partner with the Vice Presidents of Policy and Land Conservation and Land Management to ensure fundraising and communications reflect accurate, compelling impact data.
• Collaborate with Finance leadership at the beginning of each fiscal year to ensure fiscal alignment.

Communications and Branding

• Direct strategic communications, public relations, media engagement, and digital presence.
• Ensure consistent, compelling brand messaging across all channels; serve as steward of brand voice and visual identity.
• Lead crisis communications response.
• Partner with fellow VPs to translate program outcomes into compelling public stories and visuals.
• Partner with the Board of Directors and Communications Committee to advance strategic communications and brand objectives.

Development and Fundraising

• Lead the organization\'s fundraising strategy — major gifts, annual giving, grants, corporate sponsorships, and planned giving — in partnership with the President and CEO.
• Directly manage the Director of Development, coordinating closely with the CEO given the role\'s dotted-line reporting.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors and institutional funders.
• Partner with the Board of Directors and Development Committee to advance fundraising goals.
• Build the systems, processes, and staff capacity needed to support donor growth and retention.

Data, Evaluation and Impact

• Partner with the Vice Presidents of Policy and Land Conservation and Land Management to build shared systems for collecting, evaluating, and reporting data across land-based programs.
• Define success metrics and track progress toward organization-wide goals alongside fellow VPs.
• Use data and evaluation results to shape fundraising and communications narratives.
• Ensure public materials accurately reflect shared outcomes and organizational success measures.

Partnerships and Public Engagement

• Build relationships with government agencies, community partners, peer organizations, and media.
• Develop strategies to raise visibility and public awareness of Openlands\' mission and programs.
• Represent Openlands at key events, conferences, and donor meetings.

Education, Skills And Abilities

• Bachelor\'s degree in nonprofit management, communications, public relations, environmental studies, or a related field preferred; Master\'s degree a plus.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, communications, or external affairs; nonprofit and/or environmental sector experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success leading integrated development and communications teams, with a track record of effective impact storytelling.
• Demonstrated ability to build donor and media relationships that advance mission and funding.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong strategic thinking, planning, and organizational development skills.
• Commitment to conservation as a tool for equity, climate resilience, biodiversity, and public good.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with Salesforce a plus.
• Willingness to travel regionally for meetings, site visits, and public events.