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The Committee of Seventy was established in 1904 to combat corruption in Philadelphia, playing a major role in the adoption of civil service reforms and the passage of the 1919 and 1951 Home Rule Charters. A nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, Seventy does not endorse candidates or represent any special interests.
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Interactive Voter Guide

Senior Director of External Affairs

Position Overview:

The Senior Director of External Affairs is a senior leadership role responsible for advancing the Committee of Seventy's public presence, strategic partnerships, and external communications across Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. This position requires a seasoned professional with deep knowledge of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania civic and political landscape, someone who understands how the region's institutions, coalitions, and civic actors work and how to move effectively within them.

The Senior Director is a leader who balances strategic relationship-building with operational execution, coordinates across program and policy teams, and manages C70's communications function. This person reports directly to the President & CEO and supervises the Communications Manager and Digital Media Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

External Affairs and Programmatic Partnerships

Cultivate and manage C70's relationships with civic organizations, government entities, coalitions, and community partners across Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
Develop or expand engagement in C70's partner-facing programs, including WeVote, PA Civics, and related initiatives, working closely with the program team to ensure alignment.
Recruit new school and institutional partners to participate in WeVote Next and civic education activities across K–college institutions statewide in close conjunction with our Western PA Program Director.
Represent C70 in external meetings, coalitions, and public forums; serve as an organizational ambassador with credibility across the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania civic and political landscape.
Track and evaluate partnership satisfaction and identify opportunities to deepen or expand relationships.
Collaborate with partners to mobilize citizens and encourage participation in C70 programs and civic life broadly.

Communications Leadership

Oversee and direct C70's external communications strategy, ensuring consistent, mission-aligned messaging across all channels.
Supervise and support the Communications Manager and Digital Media Manager, setting priorities and maintaining quality and timeliness of communications output.
Serve as a strategic thought partner to the President & CEO and VP of Policy on communications positioning, media strategy, and public narrative.
Help develop and execute proactive and reactive communications around C70's policy and programmatic work, including press statements, op-eds, newsletters, and social media.

Project Management and Cross-Departmental Coordination

Manage multiple concurrent workstreams with strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to move projects from idea to completion.
Coordinate across C70's program, policy, development, and communications teams to ensure alignment on external-facing work.
Oversee special projects and strategic initiatives as directed by the President & CEO.
Help develop organizational goals and metrics tied to external affairs and communications, and monitor progress.

Qualifications:

Deep familiarity with Philadelphia and Pennsylvania's civic, political, and governmental landscape — knowledge of key institutions, actors, and dynamics is essential.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships across diverse sectors, including government, nonprofits, education, and community organizations.
Strong written and verbal communications skills, with experience developing public-facing content across multiple formats and platforms.
Proven project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
Experience supervising staff and managing communications or external affairs functions.
Commitment to nonpartisan civic engagement, democracy, and good government.
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in public policy, communications, political science, or a related field preferred.
7-10+ years of relevant experience in government, civic organizations, advocacy, communications, or a closely related field.

Work Environment and Reporting Structure:

This is a hybrid position, requiring both in-person attendance at events and remote work.
Must be based in Philadelphia or the surrounding area and able to travel within the city as needed.
This position reports to the President & CEO. Direct reports include the Communications Manager and the Digital Media Manager.

Compensation

Our nonprofit organization offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience ($95,000 - $105,000), along with a comprehensive benefits package. This senior leadership position provides an exciting opportunity to grow nascent programs with a fast-growing organization. Join our dedicated team and help us drive positive change through civic engagement.

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and contact info for three professional references to Dan Bright’s attention at [email protected] on or before August 1, 2026 tto be considered for this position. Please include "Senior Director of External Affairs Application" in the subject line.

Commitment to Diversity

We strongly believe in the power of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We recognize that a diverse workforce brings together unique perspectives, experiences, and talents, leading to increased creativity, innovation, and better decision-making. As such, we actively seek out and value job applicants from all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientation, ages, or disability. Our commitment to DEI extends throughout our hiring process, ensuring equal opportunities and fair treatment for all candidates. We firmly believe that by fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, we can create a stronger, more vibrant, and more successful organization.

Note: This job description is intended to convey essential information about the general nature and level of work expected for this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required.