Senior Vice President of External Relations

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region Enterprise

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) began in 1961, founded by a group of parents who wanted equity, access, and opportunity for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). At our core, The Arc believes that people with IDD deserve the same opportunities for self-determination and self-advocacy as any other community member. The Arc’s growth over the last six decades has been in response to community-identified needs. We are providing – and often creating – the services that people tell us they need to live the life they choose for themselves.

Today, The Arc supports more than 3,000 people with IDD and their families throughout Maryland, providing comprehensive programs and services that support the full spectrum of a person’s life, from birth through retirement, and all the joys and opportunities in between. All our programs and services are designed to empower and support people with IDD and provide greater self-determination in how they live, work, and connect with their communities.

The Arc’s Core Values

• We embrace individuality – We see the whole person, celebrate our differences, and offer the people we serve, and our team, opportunities tailored to them.
• We are heart-driven – Every interaction matters to us; we go the extra mile to care for the people we serve and our team.
• We take strategic risks – Fueled by the urgency of our mission, we continually push for better and more innovative approaches.
• We are action-oriented – We are creative, resourceful, and have a “get it done” approach to overcoming challenges.
• We promote equity and respect – We value the different identities and experiences of the people and communities we work with, and we build respectful relationships to meet them where they are.

The Arc partnered with employees from across the organization and within the community to develop the value statements above, that reflect who we are as an organization and how we approach our work.

The Arc welcomes employees of diverse backgrounds, striving to create a workplace where all feel valued for their contributions. We’ve incorporated DEI into every practice and policy. It’s more than mandatory employee training—it’s at the very root of our organizational culture. How power is distributed, who contributes to decision-making, the distribution of workloads, and the representation of diversity across the organization are all factors in how The Arc’s leadership team guides the organization.

The Arc is constantly finding new ways to invest in its employees’ personal and professional success, to create an environment where people can be their authentic selves and feel a sense of belonging.

About The Arc’s Subsidiaries

What’s unique about The Arc is our focus on innovation, commitment to community-based services, and tremendous growth. The Arc is an entrepreneurial organization, and strongly values innovation informed by community needs. It is the driving force behind the growth of The Arc and the development of new programs, services, and subsidiaries throughout our history.

The Arc’s work providing quality, safe, affordable housing for people with IDD led The Arc to understand the greater community’s need for affordable and accessible housing. Recognizing this need for affordable housing throughout Maryland, The Arc founded Chesapeake Neighbors in 2007 as a nonprofit subsidiary dedicated to the development and management of affordable housing for all. Today, Chesapeake Neighbors owns and operates 70 units throughout Maryland.

Additionally, in 2021, The Arc founded Chesapeake Community Development, a Community Development Corporation (CDC), to serve as our acquisition and development arm. Under this model, Chesapeake Community Development purchases properties and stewards projects through development, while Chesapeake Neighbors provides ongoing leasing, management, and maintenance services throughout the life of the property.

For more information about The Arc, see www.thearcccr.org. For more information about Chesapeake Neighbors, see www.chesapeakeneighbors.org.

The Position

The SVP of External Relations partners with the President & CEO and provides leadership over all aspects of External Relations, including development, strategic communications, government relations, and engagement. Working with executive leadership, the SVP of External Relations will strengthen relationships with all constituency groups of The Arc and its subsidiaries to foster strategic growth and partnerships. The SVP of External Relations will support the development of diverse revenue streams through traditional and nontraditional development strategies. The SVP of External Relations will be a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Roles and Responsibilities

The SVP of External Relations will provide strategy and focus for the External Relations team, and lead key growth initiatives aligned to strategic priorities. The SVP will also:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive and integrated External Relations strategy.
• Provide effective and inspiring leadership in the areas of Development, Government Relations, Strategic Communications, and Community Engagement.
• Promote dynamic collaboration across the External Relations team; strengthen the alignment of goals and roles, foster open communication, and deepen a culture of accountability.
• Represent and lead The Arc and its subsidiaries’ public profile, enhancing the organization’s visibility and influencing public opinion.
• With the President & CEO, provide counsel to support the growth and development of the Board of Directors across all lines of service and relevant committees.
• Ensure the continued financial viability of The Arc and its subsidiaries through growth initiatives, philanthropy, and strategic partnerships.
• Lead a high-performing team of department heads and managers; Manage and coach assigned employees and consultants.

Other Functions

• Act on behalf of the President & CEO in their absence and/or as assigned.
• When requested, conduct research and prepare speeches, presentations, and talking points for the President & CEO on an array of topics and for a breadth of constituencies.
• Facilitate special projects by conducting research, collecting and analyzing data, drafting reports, and preparing presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience and Attributes

• Five or more years of senior-level development, external affairs, marketing, and/or communications leadership with a track record of success and progressively responsible experience
• Bachelor’s degree required; Masters’ degree in business, public policy, or related field preferred
• Ability to translate high-level strategy into tactical implementation in the areas of public affairs, marketing, communications, and development
• Proven experience in setting a vision for communications that extends beyond traditional one-way media relations, encompassing the key roles that leadership and stakeholder development play in supporting an organization’s mission and initiatives
• Ability to build coalitions and invest constituents utilizing exceptional political acumen
• Experience navigating the workings of news media (print, broadcast, and online in national and local markets)
• Demonstrated ability to analyze program, policy, and advocacy issues and communicate findings and recommendations to a variety of audiences
• Experience working across cultural, geographic, and organizational lines to align work, solve problems, and achieve goals
• Excellent oral and written communication; strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage positive communication
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook; and knowledge of outcome systems required

In addition to a competitive base salary of $170,000, The Arc also provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes a company vehicle, access to robust health, vision, and dental insurance; EAP; FSA; Basic Life Insurance and AD&D coverage; STD and LTD; 403(b) with up to 4% employer match; unlimited PTO, as well as 12 paid annual holidays per year. Typical work schedule is Monday through Friday during The Arc office hours, with frequent night and occasional weekend meetings or events. This position is eligible for periodic telework.

Application Process

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region is partnering with Dragonfly Central to find the best candidate for the Senior Vice President position. To apply, email a cover letter that details your fit with the position’s requirements and a chronological resume to [email protected].

For all other inquiries, contact Ginna Goodenow at [email protected].

The Arc is an equal opportunity employer. The Arc provides equal opportunity to all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, sex/gender, national origin, age, marital status, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The Arc Central Chesapeake Region is proud of its commitment to and celebration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout all aspects of its operations, vision, mission, and leadership.