Work for a nonprofit organization where our mission is to create possibilities by empowering people with disabilities to achieve their highest potential! Turnstone is the largest organization in the nation offering the most comprehensive services for people with disabilities under one roof. We are seeking a passionate and strategic Chief Engagement Officer to lead engagement initiatives, foster transformational partnerships, and amplify Turnstone's mission, reach, and impact for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Engagement Officer (CEnO) provides strategic leadership for Turnstone's integrated Engagement Team, including philanthropy, marketing, communications, community engagement, and strategic partnerships. The CEnO serves as Turnstone's chief relationship officer and external ambassador, building meaningful connections with donors, community leaders, corporate partners, foundations, healthcare organizations, and other key stakeholders to advance Turnstone's mission and long-term sustainability.
The CEnO is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive engagement strategy that grows philanthropic support, strengthens Turnstone's reputation, elevates program services, cultivates strategic partnerships, and ensures marketing efforts support both fundraising priorities and the visibility, accessibility, and impact of Turnstone's programs. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CEnO serves as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors, helping shape organizational priorities while ensuring all external engagement reflects Turnstone's mission, vision, values, and strategic objectives.
The Chief Engagement Officer is expected to maintain a significant external presence in the community and dedicate substantial time to cultivating relationships with donors, partners, volunteers, advocates, and prospective supporters.
As our Chief Engagement Officer, your duties would include but are not limited to:
Executive Leadership
- Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to enterprise-wide leadership, decision-making, and shared accountability for organizational success.
- Collaborate closely with fellow executive leaders to ensure alignment, integration, and coordinated execution across all areas of the organization.
- Contribute to organizational strategy, long-range planning, and the achievement of strategic priorities.
- Advise the Chief Executive Officer and provide leadership support to the Board of Directors and assigned committees.
- Champion cross-functional collaboration and remove barriers that impede organizational effectiveness.
- Champion Turnstone's mission, vision, values, and culture throughout the organization.
- Lead organizational change initiatives and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
- Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational resources while promoting long-term organizational sustainability.
- Serve as an ambassador for Turnstone with internal and external stakeholders, cultivating relationships that strengthen the organization's mission and reputation.
- Utilize data, organizational performance measures, and emerging trends to inform decision-making and strategic planning.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate organizational risks within areas of responsibility while considering enterprise-wide impacts.
- Promote a culture of inclusion, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
- Develop future leaders through coaching, succession planning, and talent development.
Team Leadership
- Provide leadership, coaching, mentorship, and accountability for assigned team members.
- Build and sustain a high-performing team culture grounded in collaboration, trust, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Recruit, develop, engage, and retain talented team members through effective hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
- Conduct performance evaluations, establish clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and address performance concerns in a timely and constructive manner.
- Oversee day-to-day personnel administration, including scheduling, timekeeping, leave approvals, and compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
- Establish department priorities, allocate resources, and manage workflows to support organizational goals and departmental objectives.
- Promote collaboration and strong working relationships across departments to advance enterprise-wide initiatives and organizational success.
- Model Turnstone's mission, values, and culture while fostering an environment of inclusion, learning, and professional growth.
Engagement Strategy
- Develop and execute a comprehensive Engagement Strategy that integrates community outreach, program marketing, communications, philanthropy, and strategic partnerships to expand Turnstone's mission impact and long-term sustainability.
- Balance Engagement priorities to ensure marketing efforts support both increased access to Turnstone's services and the cultivation of philanthropic investment.
- Align Engagement initiatives with organizational strategic priorities, ensuring efforts strengthen participant engagement, community awareness, donor relationships, and organizational reputation.
- Establish measurable goals and performance indicators that evaluate mission growth, community engagement, philanthropic performance, brand awareness, and relationship development.
- Utilize data, community insights, and market trends to identify opportunities that increase both community participation and organizational sustainability.
Communications & Branding
- Lead integrated marketing and communications strategies that increase awareness of Turnstone's services, educate the community, strengthen organizational reputation, and inspire philanthropic investment.
- Ensure marketing efforts effectively connect individuals and families to Turnstone's programs while also communicating the organization's broader mission and community impact.
- Oversee organizational storytelling, media relations, digital engagement, content strategy, public awareness initiatives, and integrated marketing campaigns that support participant recruitment, community engagement, and philanthropic objectives.
- Steward Turnstone's brand and public voice to ensure consistent, mission-centered messaging across all audiences.
- Identify opportunities to elevate Turnstone's visibility and influence locally, statewide, and nationally.
Philanthropy & Resource Development
- Lead a comprehensive philanthropic strategy that strengthens Turnstone's long-term financial sustainability through diversified revenue development.
- Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, corporations, community leaders, and strategic partners.
- Partner with the CEO, Board of Directors, and executive leadership to develop and execute donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
- Provide strategic oversight of major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, campaigns, grants, corporate philanthropy, and other philanthropic initiatives.
- Foster a culture of philanthropy by helping staff, volunteers, and Board members understand their role in building meaningful relationships that advance Turnstone's mission.
- Promote stewardship practices that strengthen donor trust, engagement, and long-term investment in Turnstone.
Community Engagement
- Serve as a visible and active representative of Turnstone throughout the community.
- Identify, cultivate, and secure partnerships that increase mission impact, program access, philanthropic support, and organizational visibility.
- Represent Turnstone at community, business, philanthropic, and industry events.
- Build a network of advocates, champions, and influencers who actively support Turnstone's mission and strategic priorities.
- Strengthen engagement opportunities for volunteers, donors, families, program participants, and community stakeholders.
Skills & Competencies
- Relationship Building & Stakeholder Engagement
- Strategic Partnership Development
- Fundraising & Philanthropic Strategy
- Mission-Centered Organizational Leadership
- Executive Presence & Communication
- Team Development & Coaching
- Strategic Thinking
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in business, communications, marketing, nonprofit management, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 10 or more years of progressive leadership experience in philanthropy, marketing, communications, community engagement, business development, or related fields.
- Demonstrated success building and stewarding relationships with donors, community leaders, strategic partners, volunteers, boards, and other key stakeholders.
- Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams and fostering a high-performance, collaborative culture.
- Experience developing and executing strategic plans, fundraising initiatives, growth strategies, organizational change efforts, and revenue diversification strategies.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in business administration, nonprofit management, communications, public administration, leadership, or a related field.
- CFRE (Certified Fund-Raising Executive) or comparable professional credential.
- Experience serving in a senior leadership or executive role within a nonprofit, healthcare, education, community-based, or mission-driven organization.
- Experience leading comprehensive engagement programs that integrate philanthropy, marketing, communications, and community engagement.
- Experience working with governing boards, fundraising volunteers, and volunteer leadership groups.
- Knowledge of disability services, healthcare, rehabilitation, adaptive sports, or other mission-aligned service sectors.
Turnstone employees receive the following benefits:
- 12 paid holidays
- 8 paid sick days and 2 personal days after 90 days
- Paid vacation time
- Employer-sponsored life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Health, dental and vision insurance offerings
- Health Saving Account (HSA) offering
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
- Employer-sponsored Employee Assistance Program
- Free on-site fitness membership including our fitness center, pool, & track
- 35% discount on our on-site childcare program (based on availability)
- 50% discount on our sports and recreation programs
- Eligibility for public service loan forgiveness (after waiting period)
- Supplemental insurance offerings (employee-paid)
- 529 plan payroll deduction available (employee-paid)
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- 403(b) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person