Deputy Director of Engagement
About the role
ECHO is a global Christian agricultural networking, training, and resourcing organization. Our mission is to strengthen the capacity of a diverse global network to defeat hunger and improve lives through sustainable food and agroecosystem strategies. ECHO has a significant network of over 20,000 individuals and organizations built over 45 years of work in more than 190 countries. These partners serve as the primary multiplier for ECHO-tested options, strategies, and research.
Responsibilities
Lead the vision and utilization of the Florida campus as a primary platform for donor engagement, inspiration, and education.
Ensure campus experiences reflect ECHO’s identity as a global, Christ-centered, agricultural development organization.
Integrate farm, nursery, seed bank, and training environments into cohesive storytelling experiences that demonstrate impact.
Collaborate with program teams to ensure alignment between what is experienced on campus and ECHO’s global work.
Develop and lead a comprehensive engagement strategy that directly drives fundraising outcomes, donor acquisition, and donor retention.
Design intentional pathways that move individuals from awareness to active partnership (visitor → engaged supporter → donor → advocate).
Partner closely with Advancement leadership to align engagement efforts with campaign priorities, funding initiatives, and donor journeys.
Translate ECHO’s global goals into compelling, donor-facing narratives and experiences.
Establish and track key engagement metrics, including donor conversion rates, pipeline growth, and retention outcomes, ensuring alignment with Advancement goals.
Lead and develop staff, including roles connected to: Welcome & Resource Center, Operations, Regional partnerships.
Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and Christ-centered service.
Facilitate strong collaboration across departments including Advancement, Global Teams, MEAL, Communications, and Operations.
Ensure alignment with ECHO’s strategic framework across all engagement functions.
Represent ECHO in regional events, speaking engagements, and partnership opportunities.
Qualifications & Required Skills
Must subscribe to the ECHO Statement of Faith or Apostle’s Creed and demonstrate character traits consistent with ECHO’s core values.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with a proven ability to engage diverse stakeholders, build consensus, and inspire teams.
Strong organizational and administrative skills, with meticulous attention to detail and the ability to develop systems that support scale and excellence.
Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships across departments, with partners, and among team members with professionalism and empathy.
Self-starter with a high degree of initiative, ownership, and accountability in completing tasks and driving strategic objectives forward.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines and maintaining composure under pressure.
Willingness and availability to support occasional evening and weekend events aligned with donor engagement activities.
High proficiency in Salesforce (or similar CRM), with the ability to learn new systems quickly and optimize database use for fundraising strategy.
Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), with the ability to generate reports, presentations, and communication assets as needed.
Required Education and Experience
Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree preferred (nonprofit leadership, business, marketing, or related field).
Minimum of 5 years in advancement, engagement strategy, fundraising, or nonprofit leadership roles.
Organizational Relationships
The Deputy Director of Engagement reports directly to the Chief Development Officer and provides strategic oversight and support to key ECHO Florida staff. This role collaborates closely with the Deputy Chief Development Officer and Director of Marketing to ensure cohesion across all Advancement functions. The Deputy Director of Engagement also serves as a cross-departmental liaison, strengthening organizational cohesion and strategic alignment.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions within an office environment. The noise and activity level is usually quiet; however, at times the environment may become fast-paced due to urgent projects and deadlines. This role requires the ability to work constructively under pressure and the ability to travel on short notice.
Physical Requirements
Regularly stand; walk; use hands, talk and hear.
Fine motor skills such as typing, the use of a computer mouse and telephone handset are required.
Sit, stoop, kneel, and crouch.
Occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time, exempt leadership position. Standard working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is an on-site position located in North Fort Myers, FL. Candidates who are not currently local should indicate whether they are willing to relocate. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to support donor engagement activities, events, or organizational needs. Flexibility in scheduling is expected to support high-priority initiatives and cross-functional collaboration.
Travel
Regular travel, including local and domestic trips for donor, church, and institutional partner visits.
Occasional international travel is also required to ECHO's Regional Impact Centers to support relationship development and strategic initiatives.
Travel frequency will vary based on campaign needs, partner engagement opportunities, and organizational priorities.