Vice President of External Affairs

Summary

Join CALSTART as their new Vice President of External Affairs, a strategic leadership role responsible for shaping and amplifying CALSTART’s narrative to resonate with stakeholders and the public. You will drive branding, marketing, communications, member engagement, and philanthropic development, overseeing the Marketing and Communications team and the Membership Services team. This role requires developing and implementing an integrated external affairs strategy, expanding membership, and growing CALSTART’s donor base through compelling storytelling. You will lead, mentor, and develop teams, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. The position requires a Bachelor's degree, 10+ years of experience, and demonstrated success in storytelling-driven strategies. CALSTART offers a competitive salary and generous benefits.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, Public Relations, or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in marketing, communications, external affairs, fundraising or related roles, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership position
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing storytelling-driven branding, membership and fundraising strategies
• Experience in philanthropic development, including donor cultivation, grant writing and impact reporting
• Exceptional interpersonal, storytelling and communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage a wide range of stakeholders
• Proven ability to manage, mentor and develop high-performing teams
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively across departments, balancing long-term vision with short-term execution

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an integrated external affairs strategy that leverages storytelling to elevate CALSTART’s brand, drive membership growth, and expand philanthropic support
• Shape and articulate CALSTART’s narrative, ensuring its work is compelling, accessible, and impactful to diverse audiences, including media, policymakers, funders and industry stakeholders
• Monitor industry trends and policy shifts to proactively position CALSTART as a thought leader and trusted voice in the clean transportation sector
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align marketing, communications, membership and fundraising efforts with organizational goals
• Oversee the development and execution of CALSTART’s branding and messaging strategy, ensuring consistency and clarity across all platforms
• Guide the Marketing and Communications team in creating engaging content, campaigns, and media outreach that amplify CALSTART’s impact
• Develop a strategy for thought leadership, including opinion pieces, speeches, and high-profile event participation
• Lead efforts to expand, diversify and deepen CALSTART’s membership engagement, ensuring that members find value in their affiliation with the organization, focusing on engaging stakeholders across sectors and regions to grow CALSTART’s membership base
• Develop and implement membership programs, services, and storytelling initiatives that deliver value and drive satisfaction while highlighting the impact of CALSTART’s efforts
• Establish metrics to assess membership growth, retention, and engagement, adjusting strategies as needed
• Partner with the CEO, Development and relevant teams to craft compelling narratives that attract funders, philanthropic organizations, and corporate partners
• Oversee the creation of grant proposals, donor communications, and impact reports that effectively tell the story of CALSTART’s successes and future opportunities
• Identify and cultivate relationships with new and existing funders, ensuring alignment between CALSTART’s mission and philanthropic interests
• Develop and execute campaigns that inspire contributions and long-term investment in CALSTART’s work
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Marketing and Communications team and the Membership Services team, fostering a culture of creativity, innovation and excellence
• Work collaboratively across departments to ensure that external messaging is aligned with policy, programmatic and advocacy goals
• Represent CALSTART at conferences, industry events, and public forums to advocate for the organization’s mission and impact

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree
• Strong understanding of the clean transportation industry and sustainability principles

Benefits

• 100% company paid comprehensive health benefits for Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability and Life Insurance
• Retirement plan with generous company contributions
• FSA for Health and Dependent Care
• 3 weeks of vacation time in the first year of employment
• 11 paid company holidays
• Paid sick time
• Paid family leave