YMCA of the USA · 12 hours ago
Director of External Engagements
Memphis, TN
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
5+ years expYMCA of the USA is seeking a Director of External Engagements to support the CEO in all external meetings, events, and public engagements. This role involves comprehensive coordination and communication with community leaders, donors, and corporate partners, ensuring the CEO is well-prepared and informed for engagements.
Career PlanningCommunities
Responsibilities
Ensure the CEO is fully prepared for all external engagements, including meetings, presentations, panels, community events, donor visits, media opportunities, and partner meetings
Develop high-quality talking points, briefing documents, presentation materials, speeches, and slide decks tailored to each audience
Conduct research and gather background information from internal departments and external partners to provide comprehensive preparation materials
Anticipate CEO needs well in advance and ensure all logistics, assets, and information are ready without prompting
Manage the full preparation process for all external CEO engagements, including logistics, agendas, travel details, materials, and hospitality
Coordinate onsite needs for CEO events to ensure seamless execution and professional representation
Work closely with the CEO’s Executive Assistant to align calendars, travel, priorities, and preparation timelines
Lead post-engagement follow-up, including written communication, thank-you notes, next-step documentation, and gift acknowledgments
Maintain high-level stakeholder stewardship to ensure ongoing and meaningful relationship-building with donors, partners, and community influencers
Track commitments, deliverables, and follow-up tasks generated during CEO engagements to ensure timely completion
Serve as an extension of the CEO in interacting with key leaders, partners, donors, board members, and elected officials
Support stewardship strategies in collaboration with the Philanthropy team to strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising opportunities
Build trust with internal leaders to collect information, align messaging, and accurately represent YMCA initiatives
Draft high-quality written communications for the CEO, including remarks, letters, summaries, statements, and official messaging
Create professional, visually compelling slide decks and presentations using PowerPoint, Canva, or similar tools
Ensure communication materials align with YMCA mission, brand standards, and organizational priorities
Collaborate with the Philanthropy Department to support donor meetings, cultivation strategies, and fundraising events
Coordinate with internal departments to gather program updates, data, and impact information needed to prepare the CEO
Partner with Marketing & Communications to align messaging, storytelling, and visual assets
Maintain a forward-looking preparation system that ensures the CEO’s external schedule is supported weeks in advance
Develop briefing templates, checklists, and organizational tools that improve preparation processes and consistency
Track and archive presentations, talking points, and meeting materials for future use
Represent the CEO with professionalism, accuracy, and confidentiality at all times
Support special projects and high-level initiatives requiring CEO involvement
Perform all other duties as assigned by the President & CEO
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree required
5–10 years of experience in executive support, external relations, communications, or stakeholder engagement
Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills
High proficiency in slide design, Microsoft Office, Canva, and digital communication platforms
Strong relationship-building skills and ability to interact confidently with high-level stakeholders
Outstanding organizational skills with demonstrated ability to anticipate needs, manage details, and execute multiple priorities
Ability to handle confidential information with integrity and discretion
Strong alignment with the mission and values of the YMCA
Preferred
Master's degree preferred (Communications, Nonprofit Administration, Public Relations, Business, or related field)
nonprofit or public-sector experience preferred
Company
YMCA of the USA
YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for the nation's YMCAs. Located in Chicago, IL, YMCA of the USA exists to serve YMCAs.
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
YMCA of the USA has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2024 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Suzanne McCormick
President & CEO
Recent News
First Five Years Fund
2025-09-19
2025-03-30
Company data provided by crunchbase