Job Title: Social Secretary
Department: Development
Location: Hybrid within Washington D.C. Metro area
Reports to: Chief Revenue Officer
Direct Reports: Yes
Classification: Exempt
Position type: Full-Time Employee
Anticipated Pay Range at Commencement of Employment: $165,000 - $195,000 per year
General DescriptionThis position is Blue Star Families' senior-most steward of relationships with the people whose trust, attention, and resources most advance the organization's mission. This is not an events-logistics role; it is a relationship and reputation role, in which events and experiences are the instruments. The SVP designs and leads a coordinated staff and system of national events, bespoke experiences, and personal stewardship that turns Blue Star Families' relationships with business, military, government, and cultural leaders into deeper trust, visibility, and philanthropic investment in the organization.
As the CEO's senior advisor on protocol, official hospitality, and external engagement, this executive provides input to the CEO's social and official calendar, hosts on behalf of the CEO, other senior leaders or board members and the organization, and oversees invitations, official correspondence, gifts, and honors. The role carries the judgment, discretion, and polish required to represent the CEO and the organization in rooms where reputation matter.
The ideal candidate is a polished, trusted executive with deep protocol expertise and exceptional judgment. They are as comfortable advising the CEO on a delicate invitation as they are hosting a general officer, senior Administration official, a member of Congress or a corporate CEO. They bring warmth, discretion and a deep respect for the military community Blue Star Families serves.
This position is in-person in the Washington, DC office. We rely on regular in-person gatherings to fulfill core business functions, including strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and culture-building. This role requires the ability to travel overnight several times per year to attend team offsites, leadership sessions, donor meetings, and company-wide events. Attendance and participation in these gatherings is a non-negotiable component of the position.
Key Job FunctionsVIP & High Value Individual Stewardship- Build and maintain a disciplined system (moves management) for Blue Star Families' most important individual relationships - business executives, flag and general officers, elected and appointed government leaders, and cultural figures - so that no key relationship depends on a single person's memory.
- Personally manage a portfolio of the organization's top relationships, in partnership with the CEO and development leadership, including pre-briefs, follow-up, and year-round touchpoints that keep relationships warm between events.
- Serve as the organization's point person on protocol: correct forms of address, rank and precedence, seating, gifting, and etiquette for military, government, diplomatic, and corporate guests.
- Contribute to the CEO's social and official calendar, including reviewing invitations, recommending which to accept or decline, and coordinating attendance.
- Serve as host on behalf of the CEO and the organization at official functions, welcoming and caring for VIP guests; own invitation and guest lists, seating plans, and order of precedence.
- Oversee official correspondence on behalf of the CEO when appropriate, including thank-you, condolence, and congratulatory letters, proclamations, and recognition.
- Set protocol standards for forms of address, flag etiquette, military customs and honors, receiving lines, and ceremony order.
- Prepare the CEO and senior leaders with briefings on guests, talking points, seating, and run-of-show before key events.
- Manage gifts and honors given and received, in line with organizational policy and ethics rules for government and military guests.
- Anticipate and resolve sensitivities before they become problems - competing protocol, political considerations, interpersonal history - with the same judgment a chief of protocol brings to a head-of-state visit.
Major National Events- Set the vision and standard for Blue Star Families' flagship national events - galas, summits, and public-facing convenings - ensuring every event advances specific relationship and fundraising goals, not just attendance or visibility.
- Approve the annual events calendar, department budget, and major contracts.
- Oversee the Events team: budget, run-of-show, guest experience, and the integration of VIP stewardship into event design (who sits where, who is introduced to whom, who is thanked how).
- Partner with Development on event-driven fundraising mechanics (sponsorships, table sales, asks) so events convert relationship capital into revenue.
- Make sure every event reflects the organization's brand and is accessible and welcoming to all guests.
- Review event results and decide which events to grow, change, or retire based on mission impact, revenue, and cost.
Experiences (Bespoke Engagements)- Design and oversee a program of smaller, high-intimacy engagements - salon dinners, military installation visits, briefings, and similar high-impact small-group experiences - built around specific individuals or small groups whose engagement the organization most wants to deepen.
- Curate guest lists, settings, and formats that create genuine connection and insight into military family life, rather than generic hospitality.
- Use these experiences deliberately as a cultivation and stewardship tool, sequenced with the Development team's strategy for each individual.
National Advisory Board Oversight- Serve as the primary staff relationship for the National Advisory Board, a group of senior, highly committed volunteer leaders and advocates.
- Design the Board's engagement model: meetings as appropriate, briefing materials, and a clear value proposition for members' time.
- Guide the strategy to recruit, engage, and retain advisory board members, matching prospective members' networks and influence to organizational priorities.
- Activate Board members as connectors and advocates - opening doors, making introductions, and lending credibility - in coordination with Development and the CEO's office.
- Support the Board with meetings, retreats, and recognition events as needed.
Executive & Team Leadership- Serve on the senior leadership team and advise the CRO, CEO and President and Board on protocol, engagement, and reputation.
- Report regularly to the CRO, CEO and Board on events and engagement results.
- Support the Board with meetings, retreats and recognition events as needed.
- Lead, coach and develop the department's leaders and staff; set clear goals, give regular feedback and lead annual performance reviews.
- Manage workload across the event calendar and build a collaborative, inclusive team culture, while personally owning a portfolio of the organization's top relationships.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Experience, Skills, Background- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 10+ years of progressively senior experience in protocol, official hospitality, events, or stakeholder engagement, managing relationships with and events for high-profile individuals.
- Senior experience in one or more of the following (or an equivalent combination): a White House social office, an embassy or Chief of Protocol office, a military service's social aide or protocol program, a cabinet department, or a governor's or mayor's office; senior development or major-gifts leadership at a large nonprofit, university, or cultural institution with direct responsibility for high-net-worth or high-profile relationships; or senior leadership in luxury hospitality, high-level event production, or membership/stewardship serving a similarly elite clientele.
- 5+ years of senior leadership experience, including leading a department and managing managers.
- Expert knowledge of protocol, precedence and etiquette for VIP, government and military guests.
- Proven success leading high-profile events.
- Excellent written communication skills, including formal correspondence.
- Executive presence, sound judgment and discretion with confidential information.
- Comfort operating with a high degree of autonomy and accountability, and the ability to give and receive candid feedback, including with senior executives and Board members.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex campaign strategy into clear materials for executives and Board members.
- Ability to travel overnight several times per year for donor meetings and organizational gatherings.
- May be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays as necessary to carry out key job functions.
Desired Experience, Skills & Background- Experience in a nonprofit, military, government or diplomatic setting.
- Familiarity with the military and Veteran-connected community.
- Experience in a high-growth, performance-driven culture (nonprofit or private sector).
Why Blue Star Families?- Mission-driven work supporting military service members and their families
- Flexible work options (remote, or hybrid depending on the role)
- Competitive salary
- Comprehensive benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
- Flexible Spending Accounts, life insurance, and disability insurance
- Communications allowance
- Professional development and career growth opportunities
- PCS leave for Active Duty military spouses
