Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

Position Summary:
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation seeks a Managing Director of Communications and Engagement (“MDE”) to oversee the integration of communications, community engagement, and government relations, aligning the work of externally facing teams. An inherent spokesperson for the Foundation with a deep belief in its mission, the MDE will be a connector able to forge productive relationships with public officials and leaders in the healthcare industry and local communities throughout New York City and State. The MDE must also be a self-starter who is comfortable with leading initiatives from inception through successful execution, who is hands-on, able to function in a rapidly changing external environment. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer and in close collaboration with senior leadership, the Managing Director of Communications and Engagement is responsible for developing an overarching and comprehensive external affairs strategy that reflects the Catholic ethos of the Foundation, aligns with its mission, and leverages its vision and future ambitions.

In this new role, the successful candidate will have an opportunity to shape an external relations strategy that advances the foundation’s public-facing agenda, promotes constructive relations with community organizations and governments, and serves as a source of information inside the foundation about the advocacy needs of the nonprofit community and related government and public policy. This position requires an accomplished, credible professional with a reputation for having been a driving force in building and enhancing strategic external affairs capabilities within an organization. The right candidate will be adept at articulating linkages between the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s work, built on Catholic principles, with political and community agendas aimed at addressing issues faced by vulnerable New Yorkers. This requires a creative, well-networked professional who brings the credibility, gravitas, skills, and knowledge to represent the Foundation with public and private sector leaders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Oversee planning, development, implementation, and execution of the Foundation’s external functions.

Management

• Supervise, coach, develop an evaluate a seven-member external affairs team, ensuring cohesion and coordination both within the team and across departments.
• Collaboratively set strategic team goals with the Chief Administrative Officer that articulate existing strengths and areas for growth. 

Communications

• Create, write, edit, and produce press releases, publications, videos, collateral, newsletters, social media content, and other printed materials, including annual reports.
• Leverage the Foundation’s digital assets, including website and social media channels, to optimize brand awareness, raise resources, and engage various targeted audiences across multiple social platforms.
• Present, communicate, and collaborate with multiple target audiences, thoughtfully representing the Foundation’s activities and interests.
• Identify and track key performance indicators for external relations functions; assess the organization’s success and market competitiveness based on these metrics.
• Proactively and reactively seek media coverage opportunities in traditional and nontraditional outlets in ways that advance the Foundation’s strategic goals.
• Collaborate across the organization, leveraging Foundation resources, staff, and volunteers to expand the reach of the brand regionally.

Community Engagement/Partnerships

• Raise the profile of Foundation programs with strategic partners. Develop partnerships for influence and impact with key stakeholders in change (including philanthropic sector, private sector, government, civil society, and the media).
• Monitor and analyze legislative activities related to the Foundation’s objectives throughout all the regions of New York State.
• Examine, promote, and participate in informed discussion of public policy issues particularly about the social determinants of health including poverty, food security, education, housing, and immigration.
• Using foresight and an expanded network, develop a board director pipeline by identifying and proposing potential members, and creating effective means to cultivate and nurture potential candidates.
• Act as an ongoing liaison with the community, particularly with respect to identifying community needs and priorities for future efforts of the Foundation.
• Conduct critical assessments of the foundation’s interaction with the community it serves and periodic reviews of the performance of the foundation in meeting its mission, from the community’s perspective.

Government Relations

• Work closely with all staff to build the Foundation’s public policy framework.
• Generate policy and research ideas and publications for external distribution and guide the Foundation’s public policy research and efforts related to its own performance and that of its grantees.
• Oversee the preparation of all policy publications pieces such as op-eds, LinkedIn thought leadership etc.
• Direct the preparation of testimony to be presented before public officials, legislative committees, and regulatory entities, and deliver such testimony as needed.
• Conceptualize and manage development of the Foundation’s annual progress report.

Events

• Collaborate with the MD of Administration in the strategic development and implementation of all signature events for the Foundation including meaningful goals and metrics for each event.
• Specifically contribute to the creation of meaningful and impactful events that garner press and brand awareness for the Foundation, foster strong community relations, and increased social media following.
• Oversee the post-event coordination including but not limited to debrief meetings, recognition to key constituents, financial reporting, and data transfer.
• Inform and update all involved parties throughout the event cycle.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required. Master’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in management and demonstrated leadership in building and/or enhancing strategic external affairs capabilities within an organization, preferably nonprofit.
• Experience driving a company’s brand growth and leading innovative marketing and/or media campaigns. Demonstrated success with multi-platform storytelling.
• Ability to work well with others and interface with managers, service providers, and Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s professional and volunteer leadership.
• High degree of initiative and creativity, as well as the ability to manage multiple tasks, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated with a strong ability to prioritize responsibilities and work on multiple projects with limited direction.
• Intellectually curious problem-solver who uses research and experiences to learn and grow.
• Detail-oriented with strong written and oral communication skills and a creative approach.
• Proven ability to effectively manage a small team within a lean operation.
• The highest standards of personal and professional ethics and integrity.
• Commitment to promoting the mission and values of Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

About the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation was formed in 2018 and is organized as a New York not-for-profit corporation and as a 501(c)(3) private foundation under the Internal Revenue Code. MCHF has a $3.5 billion asset base and distributes approximately $150 million in annual grant awards.

Based on the dignity of the human person and guided by the principles of justice, compassion, and solidarity, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation focuses its efforts to provide for the health and well-being of the most vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of diverse communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services.

MCHF operates in accordance with the ethical principles, tenets, and teachings of the Roman Catholic faith — it exists to help New Yorkers of all faiths or no faith at all.  Through the proper stewardship of its resources, the Foundation’s work is motivated by the example of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, who worked tirelessly toward social justice and dedicated her life in service to the poor.

Core Values

In the concrete engagement of the mission in both individual and organizational performance, staff culture is grounded by the following core values:

• Health
• Preferential Option for the Poor
• Community
• Dignity
• Justice
• Compassion
• Stewardship
• Servant Leadership

The Foundation’s diverse staff shares a commitment to promote these core values which inform the flourishing of the lived culture and mission of the Foundation to build a brighter future for generations of all New Yorkers.

Job Location
A full-time, 40 hrs/week hybrid role, MCHF currently expects employees to be on site in its NYC high-rise office at least three days/week. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Compensation: Salary in the range of $225k to $250k plus benefits.

Conditions and Requirements
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation will provide any reasonable accommodation(s) required to perform the essential duties of this role.

All employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

EEO and Diversity Statements

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. MCHF is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, discipline, terminations, layoff, leaves of absence, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. All employment decisions at MCHF are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, family or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. MCHF will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is committed to diversity and encourages applicants of all ages and backgrounds. Members of underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply.

MCHF is also committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, MCHF will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at hr@cabrinihealth.org.