The Golden LEAF Foundation seeks a motivated, detail-oriented, quick learner to serve as External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives Manager. This role supports and strengthens the Foundation’s outreach and engagement, helping to advance our mission to support economic advancement for North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities.
You will thrive in this role if you are a strategic thinker and thoughtful doer — someone who enjoys solving problems, navigating complex situations, and making connections that matter. This position reports to the Vice President/Chief of Staff.
Primary Functions
Outreach and Engagement
- Manage the President’s calendar and coordinate external engagements
- Prepare briefing materials and background documents for external meetings
- Serve as liaison for external inquiries, routing them to the appropriate staff
- Identify and coordinate outreach visits with key stakeholders and organizations
- Maintain and update the Foundation’s CRM to track contacts and outreach
- Support internal staff engagement efforts
Events
- Plan and execute external events, workshops, trainings, and meetings (in person and virtual)
- Lead coordination of Golden LEAF Scholarship gatherings on college campuses each semester (in coordination with the Scholarship Program Manager)
- Manage the Foundation’s presence at external events (table at a resource fair or similar)
Government Relations
- Supports Vice President/Chief of Staff in lobbying efforts at the North Carolina General Assembly, including handling Secretary of State filings, scheduling meetings, and drafting correspondence. This position is not expected to register as a lobbyist.
- Supports development of the Foundation’s annual report
Strategic Initiatives
- Supports the development and execution of strategic initiatives that advance Golden LEAF’s mission and priorities
- Conducts qualitative and quantitative research to inform internal planning and external engagement
- Drafts content and presentations in support of cross-functional and mission-aligned projects
- Collaborates with staff across departments to coordinate and implement time-sensitive or high-priority projects
- Provides flexible, high-quality support on special assignments as directed by senior leadership
Sample day-to-day activities
In this role, you may:
- Reach out to a community college where a new president was recently named to set up a visit with the Golden LEAF Foundation President and then pull information regarding prior funding and developing other background information to prepare the President for the meeting.
- Meet with staff from a university to plan a gathering with Golden LEAF Scholars including setting the run of show, planning outreach to students, and collaborating with other Golden LEAF team members.
- Collaborate with the Vice President/Chief of Staff to develop a slide deck for an upcoming All Staff meeting.
- Source a location for an in person gathering (small group roundtable lunch), researching contact information and reaching out to various entities to invite.
- Draft emails to legislators to notify them of a project in their district receiving funding.
- Update Airtable databases and dashboards, tracking relevant metrics and sharing internally.
What Makes You Successful in This Role
- You are naturally curious and resourceful — when you don’t know something, you figure it out
- You think critically and ask smart questions that help move ideas and people forward
- You have strong social awareness and communicate thoughtfully and appropriately in any setting
- You enjoy both strategic work and hands-on logistics — and can shift between the two fluidly
- You’re energized by variety and complexity and can juggle priorities gracefully
- You bring clarity to your work, even in ambiguity — always keeping mission, people, and outcomes in view
Minimum Qualifications
- At least two years of relevant professional experience supporting external affairs, public engagement, events, communications, government relations, or cross-functional project work. Internship or fellowship experience may be counted toward this requirement.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex schedules, coordinate logistics for events or meetings, and prepare briefing or background materials for leadership.
- Experience working with or maintaining contact databases, CRMs, or other organizational tracking tools.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience drafting emails, presentations, or reports for internal or external audiences.
- Demonstrated proficiency in use of common software programs, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel (or Google Drive equivalents)
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience planning and executing both large-scale events (e.g., multi-stakeholder gatherings) and smaller meetings or engagements.
- Familiarity with the North Carolina policy landscape, higher education system, or nonprofit sector.
- Experience working directly with elected officials, government staff, and/or university officials.
- Demonstrated experience using project management tools to track and manage tasks (Golden LEAF uses Asana)
Preferred Attributes
Mindset and Interpersonal Skills
- High emotional intelligence and ability to build trust with diverse stakeholders
- Keen understanding of context and tone, with polished communication skills and the ability to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds
- Strong problem-solving ability, analytical thinking, and a bias for action
- Confidence navigating ambiguity and adapting when priorities evolve
Work Ethic and Values
- Self-directed with excellent judgment and a strong work ethic
- Organized and deadline-driven, with ability to manage multiple projects
- Detail-oriented but able to keep the big picture in view
- Comfortable identifying opportunities for improvement and suggesting solutions
- Understanding and appreciation for economic challenges and opportunities of North Carolina’s rural communities
- Attraction to the mission of the Golden LEAF Foundation and a desire to be part of a mission-driven team
Location and Work Schedule
This position will be based at the Golden LEAF office at 301 N. Winstead Avenue in Rocky Mount, NC. This position is expected to work from the office the majority of the week with opportunity for work from home flexibility on occasion. Some travel within North Carolina is expected (2-3 times per month for scholarship gatherings, not every month of the semester).
Physical Requirements/Working Conditions
Following are physical and mental requirements of the position as typically performed. Inability to meet one or more of these physical and mental requirements will not automatically disqualify a candidate or employee from the position. Upon request for a reasonable accommodation, the Foundation may be able to adjust or excuse one or more of these requirements, depending on the requirement, the essential functions to which it relates, and the proposed accommodation.
- Operates in a professional office environment and performs primarily sedentary work.
- Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, and phones.
- Sits for prolonged periods at a desk. Frequent standing and walking. Occasional stooping, reaching, bending, climbing, pushing, pulling.
- Repetitive use of fingers and hands for typings and other tasks.
- Occasional lifting up to 35 lbs.
- Frequent listening, speaking, and use of visual acuity.
- Ability to use all senses to safely drive a vehicle, and ability to drive a vehicle.
Compensation and Benefits
The External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives Manager is a full-time, salaried position with a hiring range of $60,000–$70,000, based on experience.
Golden LEAF provides the following benefits to employees:
- Golden LEAF paid contributions to a 403(b) retirement plan at the rate of ten percent (10%) of base salary with no required contribution by the employee. There is no waiting period for participation in the 403(b) retirement plan.
- Enrollment in Golden LEAF’s medical insurance plan for the employee and dependents. The plan pays a benefit of 90% of medical costs once the deductible has been met. Golden LEAF contributes to a Health Savings Account (HSA) in the employee’s name to help offset the cost of the deductible. Golden LEAF pays all medical plan premiums, provided that premiums plus HSA contribution total less than $23,000. Medical insurance begins after the 30th day of employment.
- Enrollment in Golden LEAF’s dental plan for the employee and dependents, maximum benefits are $1,000 per person in the plan year.
- Enrollment in a vision coverage plan for the employee and dependents, at no cost to the employee.
- Enrollment in a long-term disability insurance plan and a life insurance plan.
- Annual leave and sick leave. Golden LEAF has 13 official holidays per year.
Timeline
Interviews are expected to begin no later than the week of May 26, 2025.
Applications will be reviewed and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the successful candidate is identified and the position is filled.
Compliance
Golden LEAF will conduct a criminal background check and may conduct additional background checks. Golden LEAF is a drug-free workplace and may conduct drug tests of applicants as a condition of employment. Golden LEAF uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.
How to Apply
A resume and cover letter must be submitted using the form on the Golden LEAF website below.
Applicants may be asked to complete a sample project or provide a writing sample.
Completion of all fields in the form below is required for submission. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address provided following successful submission.
If you have any questions about the position or experience technical difficulties, please contact Kasey Ginsberg at [email protected].