Chief of External Affairs

Feb 18

Baltimore Museum of Art
Baltimore, MD

Anticipated Start Date: 08/01/2025

Description

The Chief of External Affairs (CEA) will lead and develop overall contributed and earned income strategies for annual operational and endowment growth. The CEA will be the primary staff liaison for the Marketing and Annual Gifts Board Committees and be engaged with other Board Committees such as Governance/Nominating. The CEA will report to the Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director and serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team in setting direction and strategy for Advancement and Marketing and Communications teams.

In partnership with the Director, the CEA will formulate local, national, and international strategic partnerships, maximize philanthropic and earned revenues, leverage institutional marketing and communications opportunities to attract visitors, and ensure a welcoming and engaging museum experience. The CEA will be deeply engaged in the solicitation of major and transformational donations, including sponsorships and event activities. They will conceptualize and implement a plan to build productive relationships with national, community, and civic partners.

The CEA will also lead and motivate a diverse team of professionals to devise successful capital, endowment, annual fundraising, planned giving, and marketing and communications plans. The CEA will be responsible for growing and managing a top-tier fundraising and external affairs operation. Building relationships with the diverse communities of Baltimore, the CEA will serve as a visible and engaging leader within the museum and throughout the broader community.

They will also develop and deploy a national marketing and brand-building strategy for the museum through civic, cultural, and philanthropic partnerships. The CEA will also advance the BMA’s mission of social justice and artistic excellence in alignment with its operational and revenue-generation plans.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Fundraising

Create, implement, and manage strategic fundraising, marketing, and communications plans designed to increase earned and contributed revenue, attendance, public visibility, and demonstrated mission impact.
Mobilize the Board of Trustees, the Director, and community leaders and partners to drive fundraising activity and personal engagement with top prospects, sponsorships, and special events.
Provide expertise, leadership, and strategic direction in all aspects of development and external affairs to the Board, the Senior Leadership Team, and as required to the full staff of the BMA.
Maintain a personal portfolio of major and principal gift donors, cultivating and soliciting major gifts and developing productive corporate and foundation relationships.
Remain current on and adapt to cultural, economic, political, and social developments that affect revenue goals and external messaging.
Partner with curators and others to develop strategies to cultivate and solicit collectors and donors to acquire art that enhances the BMA’s collection and supports its mission of artistic excellence and social justice.
Embrace other strategic leadership and fundraising responsibilities, as needed.

Brand and Community Engagement

Oversee a comprehensive, integrated, and strategic brand engagement story that welcomes a wide range of audiences, donors, students, partners, employees, and other stakeholders that share the museum’s values and vision regarding inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
Create and implement audience development plans based in quantitative and qualitative research on attending and non-attending audiences, evolving marketing trends, and contemporary outreach strategies.
Collaborate with Curatorial, Education and Exhibitions teams, among others, to develop thoughtful programs that are vital to community participation and the national and international reputation of the museum.
Fully utilize the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to ensure that fundraising, membership, and marketing efforts are aligned and optimized.
Embrace other brand and community engagement responsibilities, as needed.

Team and Operational Leadership

Recruit, lead, guide, and mentor the Advancement and Marketing and Communications teams’ successful achievement of museum experience goals, mission, and values, with an emphasis on identifying, cultivating, and securing renewed, increased, and new sources of attendance and support.
Ensure that the museum’s internal culture, print and digital platforms, and technological systems and procedures support the Advancement and Marketing and Communications teams as the foundation of a vibrant organization embracing boldness and relevance.
Oversee and monitor expense budgets, provide accurate reporting, analysis, and integration of data and ensure the maintenance and integrity of reporting and records in collaboration with the finance office.
Create a supportive, collaborative, productive, inclusive, and healthy work environment based on respect, teamwork and clear communication, expectations, and responsibilities.
Embrace other team and operational leadership responsibilities, as needed.

Requirements

An educational and professional background with eight or more years of progressive leadership experience in an art, cultural, or education institution is preferred.
A proven track record of securing six- and seven-figure gifts and leading integrated earned and contributed revenue programs is required.
Experience in all areas of advancement, including major gifts, planned giving, annual fund, membership, corporate sponsorships, foundation support, capital campaigns, endowments, special events, non-traditional fundraising resources, and marketing and communications is needed.
Demonstrable expertise in managing a substantial department, project, and/or program budget is expected.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking, are necessary, as are strong computer skills and knowledge of advanced donor research and customer relationship management systems.
Experience raising funds throughout a large geographic region, nationally, or internationally is a plus, as are multiple language skills.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

$175,000-195,000

How to Apply for this Job

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