DescriptionJOB RESPONSIBILITIES
The Senior Vice President of External Affairs (SVPEA) leads CISTN's earned revenue strategy by recruiting and retaining school and school district partnerships across 82 counties in Tennessee, with a goal of serving 125,000 students and families. They also oversee marketing and communications for the organization, ensuring strong brand recognition, compelling storytelling, and regular earned media placements. The SVPEA supervises a communications manager and is the liaison to contract support, with the opportunity to build and grow a statewide team of 2-3 additional staff. The SVPEA leads the following responsibilities for the organization:
- Design and implement an earned revenue strategy to recruit and retain schools and school districts to grow and maintain the CISTN footprint in over 200 Title I schools.
- Build and implement a marketing and communications plan to further the impact and awareness of CISTN to critical stakeholders and donors.
- Coordinate and implement public affairs strategies with state and local leaders.
- Provide organizational and team leadership as a member of the organization's senior team.
Specific duties include, but are not limited to:
Earned Revenue Development
- Develops a statewide growth strategy to expand into ~ 200 Title I and Title I eligible schools and maintain services in 270+ schools in 82 counties in Tennessee.
- Trains, supports, and advises local program leaders on building and maintaining strong, successful relationships with local education leaders. Serves as a strategic advisor to staff on local relations when needed.
- Negotiates contracts and fees for services with district leaders and partners with program leadership to execute MOUs and billing in a timely manner, including coordinating the RFP process when needed.
- Creates and implements a consistent earned revenue model that meets organizational needs as well as needs of different schools and school districts in collaboration with operations.
- Partners with districts to identify existing LEA funding and new LEA funding sources that can be used to cover district and school payments for CISTN services.
- Develops and maintains relationships with other state and local elected officials, securing needed funds to support ongoing CISTN services and growth.
- Represents the organization at key meetings and conferences with stakeholders to increase the brand identity and to secure additional CISTN Title I schools.
- Ensures regular, impactful communication with school and district leaders about the qualitative and quantitative results, making the case for continued and further investment.
- Builds and delivers a compelling case of support for local leaders to invest in the work of CISTN in their communities.
Marketing and Communications
- Creates and oversees the annual marketing and communications plan to achieve high impact goals.
- In collaboration with our data, development, and program teams, develops compelling data, storytelling, and marketing materials for various audiences.
- Participates in CIS National MarCom meetings and implement recommendations at CISTN.
- Oversees brand strategy and external communications, including but not limited to, website, print pieces, digital communications, and social media. Collaborate with the Communications staff to develop effective collateral to achieve strategic goals.
- Supports proactive and responsive communications related to significant organizational developments
and community issues.
- Protects and strengthens CISTN's reputation through consistent, thoughtful, and mission-aligned
external communication.
- In partnership with CEO, ensures the development and implementation of crisis communications plans, serving as the lead on crisis communications.
Public Affairs
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, state, and federal elected officials,
government agencies, and policy leaders.
- Coordinate advocacy strategies, legislative engagement, Hill Days, elected-official visits, briefings, and
other opportunities to increase awareness of CISTN's impact in coordination with CEO and public affairs firm.
- Help position CISTN as a credible resource for policymakers and community leaders on issues affecting students and families.
- Supports funding strategies involving government appropriations, public investment, and other external
funding opportunities.
- Ensure robust and accurate constituent relationship management, with the appropriate systems and reporting to support organizational needs.
- Develop and monitor external affairs and contractor budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with strategic goals.
Organizational Leadership
- Serves on various staff teams with organizational leaders, making recommendations and providing insight into the operations and strategic direction of the organization.
- Provides leadership and direct supervision to external affairs staff, including interviewing, hiring, and training; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; addressing and resolving challenges; and ensuring a positive culture in alignment with organizational culture.
- Guides and supports team for growth, including monitoring individual development plans and mentorship, through regular supervision and collaboration.
- Advances our values in all aspects of the work, specifically with vendor selection, donors, engaging audiences, and how we communicate the work that we do.
- Cultivates a dynamic relationship with the Board and all relevant committees as directed by the CEO.
- Serves as the primary liaison to CIS National MARCOM team.
- Partners with senior leaders and other staff as needed when revenue, programming, external affairs, and/or operations overlap.
- Leads the development of effective dashboards and reports for internal tracking and reporting to staff, board members, and other stakeholders.
- Prepares organization leadership for meetings with elected officials, community leaders, funders, media, and other influential stakeholders.
- Maintains awareness of emerging community, political, and external issues that could create
opportunities or risks for CISTN.
- Provides leadership with strategic recommendations regarding external relationships, reputation,
advocacy, and organizational positioning.
Currently, the SVPEA is based in Nashville. Candidates residing in another CISTN's service area (all TN counties except for Memphis/Shelby County, Fayette, Tipton, and the 10 northeasternmost counties in TN) may be considered without requiring relocation, but frequent statewide travel will be required. The CEO and the SVPEA will work together to determine the work arrangements for both in-person and remote work, considering the season of work and organizational needs.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not be considered to be an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other areas to cover absences or relief to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload. Other duties may be assigned by the CEO as required.
CORE COMPETENCIES
The core competencies for the ROLE includes, but are not limited to:
- Drive for Results: Can be counted on to exceed goals, bottom-line oriented and steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
- Political Savvy: Can maneuver through complex political situations effectively and quietly; is sensitive to how people and organizations function; anticipates where the land mines are and plans his/her approach accordingly; views corporate politics as a necessary part of organizational life and works to adjust to that reality; is a maze-bright person.
- Negotiating: Can negotiate skillfully in tough situations with both internal and external groups; can settle differences with minimum noise; can win concessions without damaging relationships; can be both direct and forceful as well as diplomatic; gains trust quickly of other parties to the negotiations; has a good sense of timing.
- Organizational Agility: Knowledgeable about how organizations work; knows how to get things done both through formal channels and the informal network; understands the origin and reasoning behind key policies, practices, and procedures; understands the cultures of organizations.
- Integrity and Trust: Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn't misrepresent him/herself for personal gain.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
- Bachelors in business, marketing, public policy, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field, with a preference for a masters.
- Eight years of statewide work experience in senior or executive leadership in Tennessee State or local government can be substituted for a degree.
- 8-10 years' experience developing and executing external affairs, advocacy, government relations,
communications, or community engagement strategies preferred; focused experience in the TN Department of Education or a Tennessee district central office preferred, as familiarity with how schools and districts are funded in Tennessee is essential.
- Demonstrated success developing relationships with elected officials, government agencies,
community leaders, media, and other influential stakeholders.
- Exceptional executive-level written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to represent CISTN professionally and confidently with diverse external audiences.
- Ability to understand complex policy and organizational issues and translate them into clear, compelling messages.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary range is $153,774 - $182,607
Benefits include:
- Benefits include:
- Employee medical, dental, vision, short-and-long-term disability insurance premiums are 100% employer-paid, with some dependent health plans including an employer contribution.
- 15 paid vacation days, 10 sick days, 4 floating holidays, 10 other paid holidays, and an extended winter break.
- Individual professional development budget and up to $1,500/year educational expense reimbursement.
HOW TO APPLY Interested applicants may apply by submitting a resume and cover letter via cistn.org/careers. Applications will be accepted starting November 13, 2026 through December 01, 2026A criminal background check is required for any candidates who are offered a position with CISTN and will be administered after an offer for employment is made. Criminal background histories will not automatically remove a candidate from consideration and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on the position, criminal history, time, etc.
