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Chief External Affairs Officer

Aerdf

Oakland, California(remote)

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Brand Messaging, Brand Positioning, Business Strategy, Cadence, Campaigns, Channel Marketing, Channel Strategies, Coaching, Communication Skills, Conferences, Continuous Improvement, Cross-Functional, Digital Media, Ecosystems, Environmental Monitoring, Establish Priorities, Executive Relationships, Follow Through, Fundraising, Leadership, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Organizational Skills, Performance Analysis, Performance Metrics, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Project Tracking, Publications, Research & Development (R&D), Risk Analysis, Startup, Storytelling, Strategic Analysis, Strategic Planning, Sustainability, Team Lead/Manager, Thought Leadership, Trend Analysis
LOCATION
Oakland, California
POSTED
30+ days ago

The Role

The Chief External Affairs Officer (CEAO) will lead the development and execution of AERDF’s external strategy, positioning the organization as a leading force in education innovation, learning science, and equitable R&D.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the CEAO will serve as a key member of the leadership team and a strategic partner to the CEO and Board. The CEAO will oversee communications, marketing, partnerships, and development, ensuring these functions operate in a coordinated and high-impact manner to advance AERDF’s mission and strategic priorities.

Working from a strong understanding of AERDF’s model and the broader external landscape, the CEAO will define and execute a comprehensive external affairs strategy, encompassing narrative, brand, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement, to increase AERDF’s visibility, influence, and long-term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning and External Strategy
  • Partner closely with the Chief Executive Officer and senior leadership team to drive and coordinate AERDF’s multi-year external strategy, aligning external priorities with enterprise goals
  • Support Board-level strategic discussions and presentations related to external affairs, positioning, and growth
  • Monitor the external environment, including philanthropy, research, policy, and adjacent sectors, to identify trends, risks, and opportunities that may impact AERDF’s strategy
  • Assess progress against strategic goals and ensure alignment between external affairs activities and organizational priorities

Fundraising and Development Leadership
  • Drive and scale AERDF’s fundraising efforts, expanding and diversifying philanthropic support, with a focus on major donors and long-term capital partners
  • Partner with the Chief Executive Officer and Board to cultivate and steward key funder relationships
  • Ensure strong coordination between fundraising, communications, and partnerships to support organizational growth

Narrative, Communications, and Brand
  • Shape and articulate a clear, compelling external narrative that translates AERDF’s complex R&D model into an accessible and differentiated value proposition
  • Lead the development of an integrated communications and marketing strategy across channels, including digital, media, convenings, and publications, to ensure consistent messaging and strong brand positioning
  • Build and lead a high-performing communications and storytelling function, elevating AERDF’s voice and positioning as a thought leader
  • Identify and enable opportunities for senior leaders to engage externally through media, conferences, and public forums
  • Oversee internal communications to ensure alignment, clarity of strategy, and consistency of messaging across the organization

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships
  • Build and maintain executive-level relationships across philanthropic, public, and private sectors, as well as with researchers, system leaders, and ecosystem partners
  • Position AERDF to effectively communicate its outcomes, impact, and learning to diverse audiences across the education and innovation landscape
  • Serve as a visible spokesperson and ambassador, representing AERDF in public forums, convenings, and with key stakeholders

Thought Leadership and Field Influence
  • Position AERDF as a leading voice in education innovation and learning science, leveraging its work to expand influence and reach new audiences
  • Identify and lead opportunities for convenings, partnerships, and public engagement that elevate AERDF’s work and shape the broader field
  • Develop and implement strategic campaigns to encourage adoption and use of AERDF’s insights, tools, and innovations by key stakeholders and systems

External Influence and Policy
  • Define the vision and strategy for AERDF’s external influence efforts, ensuring alignment with long-term priorities
  • Build partnerships and coalitions that extend AERDF’s reach and contribute to shaping the broader education and R&D ecosystem

Operational Leadership and Execution
  • Establish a clear operating cadence across external affairs functions, including planning cycles, priority setting, and performance tracking
  • Define KPIs and ensure disciplined execution with measurable outcomes
  • Build and scale high-performing teams across communications, partnerships, and development, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
  • Serve as a visible culture carrier, reinforcing and exemplifying AERDF’s values while operating with a builder’s mindset, bringing a hands-on, start-up mentality prioritizing agility and ownership in a dynamic, evolving environment

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a senior external affairs leader with a demonstrated ability to operate at both the strategic and executional levels within complex, mission-driven organizations. They will bring a track record of developing and executing integrated external strategies, including communications, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement, that drive organizational visibility, influence, and growth. This individual will be a player-coach leader, capable of building and scaling functions while personally leading high-impact initiatives, relationships, and outcomes.

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:

Core Competencies
Setting Strategy and Narrative
  • Ability to translate complex, technical R&D work into a clear, compelling external strategy and narrative
  • Strong strategic instinct with a competitive, field-shaping mindset
  • Experience aligning communications, partnerships, and fundraising into a unified external agenda

Executing for Results
  • Track record of “getting things done” with visible progress and measurable outcomes
  • Ability to build systems, set priorities, and drive disciplined execution across multiple functions
  • Comfort operating in ambiguity while maintaining momentum and accountability

External Affairs Leadership
  • Deep experience across communications/marketing, philanthropy, policy, partnerships
  • Ability to build and scale a high-performing external affairs function
  • Credibility with funders, partners, and external stakeholders at the highest levels

Team and Organizational Leadership
  • Ability to lead, manage, and develop teams while driving clarity, accountability, and performance
  • Willingness to operate both strategically and tactically (player-coach mindset)
  • Strong collaborator across leadership team and functions

Leadership Qualities
Gravitas and Executive Presence
  • Commands credibility with the CEO, Board, and senior external stakeholders
  • Represents AERDF’s strategy with clarity, authority, and confidence

Influence and Relationship Building
  • Exceptional ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders (funders, researchers, policymakers, practitioners)
  • Skilled at convening and aligning cross-sector partners—reflecting AERDF’s role as a connector

Storytelling and Communication Excellence
  • Outstanding communicator with the ability to simplify complex ideas without losing rigor
  • Brings energy and clarity to storytelling—internally and externally

Strategic Judgement with Action Orientation
  • Balances long-term vision with near-term execution
  • Brings a strong point of view while remaining adaptable

Cultural Alignment and Mission Commitment
  • Deep commitment to equity and improving outcomes for historically underserved students
  • Operates with authenticity, urgency, and a results-oriented mindset
  • Builds trust through transparency, follow-through, and impact

Preferred Experience
  • Senior leadership experience across external affairs, communications, development, or partnerships
  • Demonstrated success in major fundraising and philanthropic engagement
  • Experience translating complex or technical work into compelling external narratives
  • Track record of building and scaling teams and functions
  • Experience engaging effectively with Boards and senior stakeholders

Location
This position is fully remote.
 

About the Company

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Aerdf