San Diego Diplomacy Council
The San Diego Diplomacy Council seeks a new Executive Director. This is a full‑time, hybrid position based in San Diego. Salary range: $75,000–$90,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications, with a comprehensive benefits package.
ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO DIPLOMACY COUNCIL For over 45 years, the San Diego Diplomacy Council (SDDC) has served as a bridge between San Diego and the world by fostering trust, cultural understanding, and collaboration across borders. We develop and deliver international exchanges, educational programs, and global engagement experiences for leaders, students, professionals, and citizen diplomats.
SDDC is entering a moment of significant transition—shifts in federal funding, evolving community needs, increasing domestic polarization, changes in how diplomacy occurs, and growing demand for youth and community‑based global learning. The next Executive Director will lead this evolution and guide SDDC into its next era of resilience, relevance, and community impact.
POSITION SUMMARY The Executive Director (ED) is SDDC’s chief executive, strategist, fundraiser, and ambassador. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED is responsible for organizational leadership, fiscal management, staff development, fundraising, program oversight, partnership building, and community engagement.
The ED must be both a stabilizer—strengthening existing programs, staff culture, and financial operations—and a transformative leader capable of innovating new program models, diversifying revenue streams, expanding partnerships, and positioning SDDC as a leader in both international and domestic diplomacy.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Leadership & Vision
Lead the next phase of SDDC’s evolution, including reimagining programming, expanding audiences, and adapting to new funding realities.
Integrate domestic bridge‑building and community cohesion into SDDC’s diplomacy mission.
Develop strategies to engage families, youth, schools, diaspora communities, and underrepresented groups in global and civic learning.
Position SDDC as a modern, innovative diplomacy organization, including expansion into digital diplomacy and emerging social media platforms.
Incorporate a startup mindset—flexible, fast‑moving, willing to experiment, and prepared to navigate uncertainty.
Operational & Staff Leadership
Lead and mentor staff, interns, and volunteers, and external consultants and contractors, cultivating a professional, mission‑driven, and supportive work culture.
Build and oversee operational systems that support organizational stability, efficiency, and clarity of roles across staff and contracted partners.
Promote a collaborative and accountable workplace, ensuring staff and consultants have access to appropriate professional development and performance feedback.
Ensure strong internal communication, cross‑team coordination, and effective collaboration among staff, consultants, and contractors, while fostering openness to differing perspectives and backgrounds.
Program Oversight & Innovation
Oversee IVLP and custom exchange programs, ensuring excellence in design, logistics, evaluation, and participant experience.
Develop new programs including youth diplomacy, outbound learning, domestic diplomacy, and educational programming.
Strengthen SDDC’s digital footprint through podcasts, videos, social media campaigns, and virtual events.
Expand partnerships with schools, universities, nonprofits, cultural groups, and diaspora communities.
Fundraising, Revenue Diversification & Financial Management
Serve as SDDC’s chief fundraiser, expanding revenue beyond federal sources.
Build diversified funding streams including major donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, local/state government, and earned‑income programs.
Develop multi‑year fundraising strategies to stabilize finances and build reserves.
Oversee budgeting, financial planning, and financial reporting in partnership with the Finance Committee.
Community Engagement & Partnerships
Represent SDDC publicly and cultivate relationships with government agencies, universities, corporations, cultural groups, and nonprofit partners.
Increase SDDC’s visibility through media engagement, public speaking, and digital outreach.
Leverage Board and Advisory Board networks more strategically.
Governance & Board Relations
Serve as primary liaison to the Board of Directors.
Prepare board agendas, reports, and strategic updates.
Engage board members in fundraising, planning, and community visibility.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required; master’s degree in a related field preferred.
Minimum three years of leadership experience in a nonprofit, civic organization, exchange program, or similar mission‑driven environment.
Experience working with volunteer Boards of Directors, nonprofit stakeholders, and major donors.
Demonstrated success in fundraising, including major donor cultivation and diversified revenue strategy.
PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS
Proven ability to develop and implement innovative fundraising campaigns tailored to diverse audiences.
Track record of building and sustaining effective partnerships that advance organizational mission and impact.
Strong financial management experience and skills.
Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and public‑speaking abilities.
Cross‑cultural competence and diplomacy experience.
Experience managing staff and developing organizational culture.
Experience launching new programs or partnerships.
Experience with federal agencies and grant processes.
Familiarity with San Diego’s civic and philanthropic landscape.
Experience in community engagement, youth programs, or domestic bridge‑building.
Experience expanding digital media presence.
LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS The ideal candidate is visionary yet grounded, entrepreneurial and innovative, relationship‑driven, strategic, culturally aware, and globally minded.
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ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO DIPLOMACY COUNCIL For over 45 years, the San Diego Diplomacy Council (SDDC) has served as a bridge between San Diego and the world by fostering trust, cultural understanding, and collaboration across borders. We develop and deliver international exchanges, educational programs, and global engagement experiences for leaders, students, professionals, and citizen diplomats.
SDDC is entering a moment of significant transition—shifts in federal funding, evolving community needs, increasing domestic polarization, changes in how diplomacy occurs, and growing demand for youth and community‑based global learning. The next Executive Director will lead this evolution and guide SDDC into its next era of resilience, relevance, and community impact.
POSITION SUMMARY The Executive Director (ED) is SDDC’s chief executive, strategist, fundraiser, and ambassador. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED is responsible for organizational leadership, fiscal management, staff development, fundraising, program oversight, partnership building, and community engagement.
The ED must be both a stabilizer—strengthening existing programs, staff culture, and financial operations—and a transformative leader capable of innovating new program models, diversifying revenue streams, expanding partnerships, and positioning SDDC as a leader in both international and domestic diplomacy.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Leadership & Vision
Lead the next phase of SDDC’s evolution, including reimagining programming, expanding audiences, and adapting to new funding realities.
Integrate domestic bridge‑building and community cohesion into SDDC’s diplomacy mission.
Develop strategies to engage families, youth, schools, diaspora communities, and underrepresented groups in global and civic learning.
Position SDDC as a modern, innovative diplomacy organization, including expansion into digital diplomacy and emerging social media platforms.
Incorporate a startup mindset—flexible, fast‑moving, willing to experiment, and prepared to navigate uncertainty.
Operational & Staff Leadership
Lead and mentor staff, interns, and volunteers, and external consultants and contractors, cultivating a professional, mission‑driven, and supportive work culture.
Build and oversee operational systems that support organizational stability, efficiency, and clarity of roles across staff and contracted partners.
Promote a collaborative and accountable workplace, ensuring staff and consultants have access to appropriate professional development and performance feedback.
Ensure strong internal communication, cross‑team coordination, and effective collaboration among staff, consultants, and contractors, while fostering openness to differing perspectives and backgrounds.
Program Oversight & Innovation
Oversee IVLP and custom exchange programs, ensuring excellence in design, logistics, evaluation, and participant experience.
Develop new programs including youth diplomacy, outbound learning, domestic diplomacy, and educational programming.
Strengthen SDDC’s digital footprint through podcasts, videos, social media campaigns, and virtual events.
Expand partnerships with schools, universities, nonprofits, cultural groups, and diaspora communities.
Fundraising, Revenue Diversification & Financial Management
Serve as SDDC’s chief fundraiser, expanding revenue beyond federal sources.
Build diversified funding streams including major donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, local/state government, and earned‑income programs.
Develop multi‑year fundraising strategies to stabilize finances and build reserves.
Oversee budgeting, financial planning, and financial reporting in partnership with the Finance Committee.
Community Engagement & Partnerships
Represent SDDC publicly and cultivate relationships with government agencies, universities, corporations, cultural groups, and nonprofit partners.
Increase SDDC’s visibility through media engagement, public speaking, and digital outreach.
Leverage Board and Advisory Board networks more strategically.
Governance & Board Relations
Serve as primary liaison to the Board of Directors.
Prepare board agendas, reports, and strategic updates.
Engage board members in fundraising, planning, and community visibility.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required; master’s degree in a related field preferred.
Minimum three years of leadership experience in a nonprofit, civic organization, exchange program, or similar mission‑driven environment.
Experience working with volunteer Boards of Directors, nonprofit stakeholders, and major donors.
Demonstrated success in fundraising, including major donor cultivation and diversified revenue strategy.
PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS
Proven ability to develop and implement innovative fundraising campaigns tailored to diverse audiences.
Track record of building and sustaining effective partnerships that advance organizational mission and impact.
Strong financial management experience and skills.
Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and public‑speaking abilities.
Cross‑cultural competence and diplomacy experience.
Experience managing staff and developing organizational culture.
Experience launching new programs or partnerships.
Experience with federal agencies and grant processes.
Familiarity with San Diego’s civic and philanthropic landscape.
Experience in community engagement, youth programs, or domestic bridge‑building.
Experience expanding digital media presence.
LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS The ideal candidate is visionary yet grounded, entrepreneurial and innovative, relationship‑driven, strategic, culturally aware, and globally minded.
#J-18808-Ljbffr