Engagement Director

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as a key ambassador of the organization to community partners, neighborhood stakeholders, donors, volunteers, and civic organizations.
  • Represent the agency at community events, speaking engagements, and coalition meetings.
  • Build and manage strategic partnerships with local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, business leaders, school systems, and educational institutions.
  • Collaborate with the philanthropy and communications teams to create messaging and campaigns that deepen community understanding and support.
  • Plan and lead campus tours for funders, city leaders, neighborhood associations, and stakeholders.
  • Co-design volunteer service events and ongoing programs (e.g., donation drives, service career day visits) that build authentic relationships between the public and our programs.
  • Establish and grow a mentorship-style volunteer program that connects caring adults or community members with youth or programs in appropriate ways.
  • Plan, coordinate, and execute fundraising and stewardship events (including golf tournaments, internal organization celebrations, and donor and community awareness events), ensuring alignment with organizational goals, donor engagement strategies, and budget guidelines.
• Partner with the CEO and Philanthropy/Comms to draft internal staff messages and share compelling stories of success, milestones, and mission alignment.
  • Create meaningful communication rhythms (e.g., internal newsletters, town halls, shout-outs, and video spotlights) that reflect Ellipsis values.
  • Partner with CEO, HR, and program directors to enhance employee engagement and retention through recognition, planning events and celebrations, establishing feedback loops, and mission-driven culture building.
• Monitor state and federal policy developments related to child welfare, foster care, behavioral health, and emergency services.
  • Develop strong working relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, and policy partners.
  • Organize advocacy days, legislative briefings, legislative tours and opportunities for staff and board engagement in public policy in collaboration with the CEO and other leaders.
  • Equip staff, youth, and community supporters to elevate their voices through tools like action alerts, storytelling campaigns, and letter-writing efforts.
  • Coordinate grassroots efforts for Ellipsis supporters to contact their respective legislators by providing prepared communications.

Required Qualifications And Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, marketing or related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least 2 years communications, marketing, or legislative advocacy experience.
• Demonstrated ability to engage diverse audiences and build programming through integrating the voice of persons served in storytelling, advocacy, and service events.
• Prior experience in public speaking, legislative advocacy, or storytelling-based campaigns.
• Proven project management experience, with demonstrated ability to plan, execute, track, and report on project progress.
• Critical thinker and problem solver who demonstrates decision-making and time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Able to work independently, with minimal oversight, and with high ethical standards.
• Able to interact tactfully with youth, family members, visitors, government agency representatives, and the general public.
• Basic computer skills, including experience working in Microsoft Windows and Google products.
• Clear criminal and child abuse background checks.
• Adequate driving record.

Preferred Qualifications And Skills

• 3 or more years of experience in fundraising and volunteer management through a variety of tactics; annual fund experience is particularly helpful.
• 3 years or more of database experience (Raiser’s Edge preferred) and basic graphic design (Canva) is helpful.
• Demonstrated expertise in event planning and/or volunteer management is helpful.
• A marketing background is helpful.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Able to sit or stand for extended periods.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Capable of pushing, pulling, lifting, and/or carrying up to 10 pounds.
• Noise level in the work environment is generally low to moderate.

Our mission celebrates diversity. Ellipsis is an equal opportunity employer.