Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is hiring: Director of Strategic Engagement, Pub

Director of Strategic Engagement, Public Relations and Grant Stewardship
The Director of Strategic Engagement, Public Relations, and Grant Stewardship serves as a key member of the organization’s leadership team, responsible for shaping how the organization shows up to the public, to partners, and to funders. This role integrates strategic engagement, public relations, and supervision of grant writing and reporting, supported by a fourth domain focused on internal alignment and cross‑functional leadership.

This position ensures that the organization’s narrative, relationships, and funder‑facing commitments reinforce one another and reflect the values, priorities, and long‑term vision of restorative development. Unlike a traditional communications or marketing role, this position is centered on strategic narrative stewardship, relationship architecture, and accountability, not promotional content or brand marketing.

Impact of this Role
By integrating strategic engagement, public relations, grant stewardship, and internal alignment, this position ensures that the organization speaks with one voice, acts with coherence, and maintains the trust of residents, partners, and funders. The Director plays a critical role in advancing the organization’s mission by strengthening relationships, protecting credibility, and ensuring that narrative and accountability structures reinforce one another across all audiences.

The Director works closely with the Interagency Relations Manager to ensure that technical, regulatory, and governmental coordination is in lockstep, creating a unified, trustworthy, and strategically aligned presence across the region.

Together, these roles maintain coherence between what is being negotiated with agencies and what is being communicated to the public, partners, and funders.

Core Responsibilities
1. Strategic Engagement

Build and sustain relationships with regional partners, philanthropic institutions, community leaders, and cross‑sector collaborators.

Strengthen communication channels across public, private, and nonprofit sectors to support alignment, trust, and long‑term partnership development.

Collaborate with Community Engagement, Special Projects, Executive leadership, and Interagency Relations to ensure messaging reflects community priorities and aligns with technical and regulatory realities.

Translate community input into narrative themes for events, forums, workshops, and public convenings.

Support events, funder luncheons, storytelling showcases, and partner convenings with aligned messaging and narrative framing.

Prepare narrative briefs and research summaries that support policy conversations, community planning efforts, and regional advocacy.

2. Public Relations

Lead the organization’s public relations strategy to elevate its restorative development mission and regional leadership role.

Develop clear, values‑aligned messaging that explains the organization’s community‑authored neighborhood planning work and long‑term development vision.

Manage media outreach, press releases, public statements, and digital communications.

Ensure consistent messaging across all platforms, partner communications, and public‑facing materials.

Prepare leadership with talking points, narrative framing, and briefing materials for public, civic, and philanthropic engagements.

Develop announcements and other materials for community updates, public forums, and regional presentations.

Track media engagement, communication metrics, and PR outcomes.

Coordinate with the Interagency Relations Manager to ensure public messaging accurately reflects technical milestones, regulatory processes, and agency commitments.

3. Supervision of Grant Writing & Reporting

Write and refine grant proposals, reports, and narrative components of funding requests as needed.

Supervise the Grant Writer responsible for grant writing and reporting, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and compliance across all funder communications.

Translate technical planning, infrastructure, and development concepts into accessible, compelling narratives for funders and partners.

Support pitch decks and materials for philanthropic, private, public, and community investors.

Align grant timelines, reporting cycles, and narrative strategy with organizational priorities and public messaging.

Prepare reports on grant progress, narrative outcomes, and communications with funders.

Work closely with the Interagency Relations Manager to ensure grant narratives accurately reflect technical progress, regulatory requirements, and agency coordination.

4. Internal Alignment, Team Leadership & Cross‑Functional Coordination

Partner with all teams — including Community Engagement, Special Projects, Finance, and Interagency Relations — to align communications, engagement strategies, and grant timelines.

Strengthen internal alignment around the organization’s system, strategy, and regional role through clear narrative frameworks and communication practices.

Prepare internal narrative briefs and research summaries to support leadership decisions and advocacy.

Ensure internal processes support consistent, timely, and coordinated communication across departments.

Maintain narrative coherence across engagement, PR, and grant stewardship functions.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or related field.

Minimum 5 years of experience in strategic communications, grant writing, or public affairs.

Demonstrated ability to translate complex concepts into compelling narratives.

Experience with community‑driven development and cross‑sector partnerships.

Skills

Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.

Strong project management and strategic planning abilities.

Proficiency in media relations and public messaging.

Strong cross-team communication and collaboration skills.

Personal Attributes

Results‑oriented, adaptable and empathetic.

Creative, proactive, and detail focused.

Benefits

Contribute to transformative work impacting the Rondo community and Greater MSP region.

Collaborate with a dedicated, mission‑driven team.

Opportunities for professional growth and work‑life balance.

Competitive salary and benefits package

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