Director External Relations

Job Title : Director, External Relations

Department: Children's Medical Center Foundation

Reports To: Senior Director, External Relations,

Location: Dallas, Texas (On-Site at Trinity Towers (Dallas and Plano Campuses)

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., with evening and weekend participation required for board meetings, donor engagement activities, and signature fundraising events.

Why Children's Health?

At Children's Health, our mission is simple: Make Life Better for Children.

As one of the nation's leading pediatric health systems, Children's Health delivers exceptional care, research, education, and advocacy for children and families across North Texas and beyond. As we continue advancing transformational initiatives-including the development of the new pediatric campus-philanthropic support remains critical to our future growth and impact.

Behind every transformational patient story is a community of donors, volunteers, advocates, and philanthropic leaders who believe in our mission. The Children's Medical Center Foundation plays a vital role in cultivating those relationships and securing the resources that help Children's Health deliver world-class pediatric care for generations to come.

This is a unique opportunity to partner with and lead one of the most influential community volunteer-led philanthropic organizations supporting pediatric healthcare in North Texas.

The Opportunity

Children's Health is seeking an accomplished, relationship-driven leader to serve as Director, External Relations, to oversee the Women's Auxiliary to Children's Medical Center and key donor engagement initiatives.

For nearly 65 years, the Women's Auxiliary has played a critical role in advancing Children's Health through philanthropy, volunteer leadership, and community engagement. Today, the Auxiliary is a highly successful volunteer organization with more than 1,000 members across North Texas, including Dallas and Plano, and manages cornerstone fundraising events and initiatives that directly support strategic Children's Health priorities, including the new Dallas pediatric campus.

Guided by strategic fundraising plans and ambitious goals, the Dallas chapter has doubled its annual net fundraising revenue over the past four years, growing from approximately $1 million to $2 million annually. The Plano chapter, operating under an updated strategic plan, has already achieved approximately $400,000 in annual fundraising and is working toward a goal of $500,000 annually within the next five years.

Together, the Auxiliary's Dallas and Plano chapters engage approximately 200 volunteer board members and leaders across a governance structure that has supported Children's Health since the Dallas chapter's founding in 1962 and the Plano chapter's establishment in 2008.

This role leads a team of three professionals and serves as the primary liaison between Auxiliary leadership, Foundation leadership, executive stakeholders, donors, volunteers, board members, and community partners.

What makes this role especially unique is the complexity of the Women's Auxiliary structure. The Auxiliary operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization with its own Board of Directors, bylaws, treasury functions, audit requirements, and governance processes while maintaining close alignment with Children's Health. Success in this role requires the ability to navigate both nonprofit governance and a large, complex healthcare organization.

What You'll Do

• Provide strategic leadership and set strategic direction for the Dallas and Plano Women's Auxiliary chapters, advancing fundraising, volunteer engagement, governance, and organizational priorities.
• Lead and develop a team supporting Auxiliary operations, fundraising initiatives, donor engagement activities, and community partnerships.
• Partner with volunteer boards, Foundation leadership, executive stakeholders, donors, board members, and community leaders to strengthen philanthropic support and community impact.
• Oversee fundraising initiatives, donor stewardship, board governance, strategic planning, compliance activities, and organizational effectiveness.
• Collaborate closely with the Foundation Advancement team and relationship managers on prospect identification, relationship strategy, and portfolio development.
• Lead the planning, execution, and growth of high-profile fundraising events and donor experiences that strengthen community engagement and philanthropic support for Children's Health. Signature events include Family Night at Six Flags, Breakfast with Santa Spectacular at NorthPark Center, Legacy of Love in Plano, Santa's Workshop, and other Auxiliary-led fundraising and stewardship initiatives that enhance visibility, deepen donor relationships, and advance strategic fundraising goals.
• Cultivate Auxiliary members as a pipeline for future major donors, Foundation board members, and supporters of the new pediatric campus.
• Ensure strong alignment between Auxiliary initiatives and Children's Health strategic priorities.

What Success Looks Like

The ideal candidate brings:

• Significant fundraising, donor engagement, and relationship management experience.
• Experience partnering with volunteer boards and nonprofit governance structures.
• Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic thinking, sound judgment, and strong business acumen.
• The ability to influence without direct authority and navigate complex organizations.
• Executive presence, adaptability, and outstanding communication skills.
• A collaborative leadership style with a passion for philanthropy and community engagement.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, foundation services, external relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience working with volunteer boards, governance structures, and community leadership organizations.
• Proven success leading fundraising initiatives and donor engagement efforts.
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing professional teams.

Preferred

• Healthcare philanthropy experience.
• Experience within a healthcare system, academic institution, foundation, or large nonprofit organization.
• Experience supporting complex volunteer-driven organizations.
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance, board operations, audits, and compliance requirements.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to lead a legacy organization with a decades-long history of supporting Children's Health while helping shape its future.

You will work directly with Foundation leadership, executive stakeholders, community leaders, donors, and volunteers to advance meaningful philanthropic initiatives that impact children and families throughout North Texas.

The role offers exceptional visibility, strategic influence, and the opportunity to help drive transformational fundraising efforts that support the future of pediatric healthcare.

If you are a collaborative, mission-driven leader who thrives in relationship-focused environments and is passionate about philanthropy, community engagement, and making a lasting impact, we encourage you to apply.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply promptly, as interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

A Place Where You Belong

We put our people first. We welcome, value, and respect the beliefs, identities, and experiences of our patients and colleagues. We are committed to delivering culturally effective care, creating meaningful partnerships in the communities we serve, and equipping and developing our team members to make Children's Health a place where everyone can contribute.

Holistic Benefits - How We'll Care for You

• Employee portion of medical plan premiums covered after three years of service.
• 4%-10% retirement savings plan match based on tenure.
• Paid Parental Leave (up to 12 weeks).
• Caregiver Leave.
• Adoption and surrogacy reimbursement.

Children's Health is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status under federal or state law.