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Alignsocialimpact

Align Social Impact is a global impact agency that merges culture, storytelling, research, and systems change to create a more just, inclusive, and vibrant world where businesses, individuals, and the planet can thrive. Partnering with some of the world's most influential organizations and individuals, we craft purpose-driven initiatives, programs, strategies, and campaigns that drive tangible and measurable change. Stay updated with our latest news, impact briefs, and emerging trends across the social impact landscape by signing up on our website. We are committed to data privacy and adhere to strict policies. As proud supporters of the United Nations Global Compact, 1% For The Planet, and members of Don’t Ban Equality & Time To Vote, we prioritize sustainability and equality in all our endeavors. Get in touch with our New York or Amsterdam office to start making a meaningful impact today.

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Align Social Impact

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## About Align Social Impact

Align Social Impact is a full-service impact agency working at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, research, culture, philanthropy, and systems change.

We help organizations turn ambitious ideas into meaningful action. Our partners include companies, nonprofits, foundations, government entities, family offices, philanthropists, and influential talent working to address complex social and cultural challenges. Depending on the engagement, our work may involve shaping an impact strategy, developing a campaign, building a cross-sector partnership, strengthening an organization, designing a philanthropic initiative, or creating an experience that brings people together. What connects our work is a belief that impact should be both deeply felt and meaningfully measured.

Align is a women-owned business with offices in New York City and Amsterdam. We are a close-knit, entrepreneurial team that values imagination, rigor, generosity, cultural fluency, and follow-through. We work across disciplines and sectors, bringing together the right people and perspectives for each challenge.

We are building toward a just, inclusive, and vibrant world where people, planet, and culture thrive.

## Fractional Head of Growth & Business Development—U.S.

**Engagement Overview**
Consulting Opportunity | Approximately 15–20 Hours per Month

**The Opportunity:**

Align is seeking a Fractional Head of Growth & Business Development, U.S., to help expand our national presence, deepen strategic relationships, and develop new client and partnership opportunities. Working closely with our CEO and senior leadership team, this consultant will introduce Align to a broader network of mission-aligned organizations and leaders across the United States. They will identify where our integrated capabilities can deliver distinctive value, cultivate trusted relationships, and guide promising opportunities from an initial conversation through a defined engagement.

This is not a high-volume sales role. Align's work is complex, collaborative, and grounded in trust. We are looking for someone who understands that sustainable agency growth comes from listening well, making thoughtful connections, communicating value clearly, and following through consistently.

The right person will bring an established U.S. network and the curiosity to keep building it. They will be commercially astute without being transactional, comfortable initiating conversations with senior decision-makers, and able to recognize opportunities that are genuinely aligned with our mission and capabilities.

This is a fractional, hands-on consulting role. Success will require both strategic thinking and direct participation in relationship development, positioning, proposals, negotiations, and pipeline stewardship.

**What You'll Do:**

**Grow Align's U.S. presence:**

- Develop and maintain a focused approach to expanding Align's client and partner network across the United States.
- Identify priority sectors, markets, organizations, and relationships based on Align's strengths and growth goals.
- Cultivate relationships across companies, nonprofits, foundations, philanthropy, government, family offices, and influential talent.
- Build new sources of trusted referrals, strategic introductions, and cross-sector collaboration.
- Reconnect with former clients and partners where there is a meaningful opportunity to renew or deepen the relationship.
- Represent Align at selected meetings, conferences, convenings, networking opportunities, and industry events.

**Create meaningful opportunities:**

- Initiate and lead conversations with senior decision-makers about their goals, needs, and emerging priorities.
- Listen for the larger challenge behind an initial request and identify where Align can contribute distinctive value.
- Communicate Align's integrated capabilities, approach, and experience with clarity and credibility.
- Recognize opportunities that align with our mission, values, expertise, and commercial goals.
- Bring together the right Align leaders and subject-matter experts for each opportunity.
- Help prospective partners understand how strategy, storytelling, research, culture, philanthropy, and organizational change can work together.

**Move relationships into action:**

- Guide qualified opportunities from early conversations through proposals, negotiations, contracting, and engagement.
- Collaborate with Align colleagues to develop thoughtful approaches, scopes, budgets, presentations, and proposals.
- Help shape opportunities around the client's real needs rather than forcing them into a predetermined service offering.
- Maintain momentum through timely follow-up, clear next steps, and consistent relationship management.
- Support closing conversations with sound commercial judgment and an understanding of professional-services economics.
- Identify opportunities to expand relationships with current and former clients.

**Strengthen Align's growth practice:**

- Maintain an accurate, useful pipeline and provide concise updates on progress, timing, risks, anticipated revenue, and next steps.
- Work toward agreed relationship, pipeline, partnership, and revenue goals.
- Share market insights and prospective-client feedback to strengthen Align's positioning, services, and growth strategy.
- Help the team understand how needs and priorities differ across sectors, regions, and organizational contexts.
- Collaborate with Align's U.S. and European teams on national, cross-market, and global opportunities.
- Contribute ideas and practical systems that make growth more focused, coordinated, and sustainable.

**What It's Like to Work with Align:**

Align is an ambitious agency with an entrepreneurial operating style. Our environment is collaborative, fast-moving, and often nonlinear. We take the work seriously without taking ourselves too seriously.

We value people who create momentum without compromising thoughtfulness or trust. Our strongest collaborators are comfortable working with autonomy, generous in how they share relationships and knowledge, and committed to doing what they say they will do.

Because our work crosses sectors, communities, and disciplines, we look for people who are curious and adaptable. They can move fluidly between a conversation with a foundation leader, a corporate executive, a government stakeholder, a cultural partner, or a prospective collaborator—and understand that each requires a different kind of listening.

We believe growth should strengthen our mission, our work, and our relationships. The person who thrives in this role will treat business development not as a separate commercial function, but as an extension of how Align creates value in the world.

**You May Be a Strong Fit If You:**

- Care deeply about social impact and share Align's commitment to a just, inclusive, and vibrant world.
- Have an active and trusted network across one or more of Align's priority U.S. sectors or markets.
- Know how to turn relationships into substantive conversations and well-matched professional-services opportunities.
- Are commercially minded without being transactional.
- Build credibility by listening carefully, asking strong questions, and making thoughtful connections.
- Can communicate a complex, multidisciplinary offering in a way that feels clear and relevant.
- Are proactive, entrepreneurial, organized, and able to create momentum independently.
- Understand when an opportunity is promising—and when it is not right for Align.
- Are comfortable with measurable pipeline and revenue expectations while recognizing that trusted relationships often develop over time.
- Navigate different sectors, communities, regions, and organizational environments with sensitivity and good judgment.
- Value collaboration and know when to bring colleagues and subject-matter experts into a conversation.
- See reputation, trust, and long-term relationships as essential business-development assets.

**Experience and Capabilities:**

We expect strong candidates to bring:

- Approximately 10 or more years of relevant experience in growth, business development, agencies, consulting, communications, philanthropy, corporate purpose, nonprofits, government, social impact, or related fields.
- A demonstrated record of developing senior relationships and securing significant professional-services engagements.
- An active network across one or more relevant U.S. sectors or markets.
- Relationships with senior decision-makers, advisors, and influential connectors.
- Experience leading discovery conversations, pitches, proposals, negotiations, and closing discussions.
- Strong commercial judgment and the ability to evaluate opportunities across markets and sectors.
- Excellent relationship-building, presentation, facilitation, negotiation, and communication skills.
- The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a multidisciplinary team.
- Comfort managing a pipeline and working toward defined relationship, partnership, and revenue goals.
- A commitment to thoughtful, ethical, and relationship-centered growth.

An advanced degree is welcome but not required. We place greater value on demonstrated results, relevant relationships, sound judgment, reputation, and lived experience.

We also recognize that exceptional candidates do not always follow linear career paths. If this opportunity resonates and you believe your experience and relationships could contribute meaningfully to Align's next phase of growth, we encourage you to apply.

**What Success Looks Like:**

Specific goals will be established at the beginning of the engagement based on Align's priorities, target markets, and realistic relationship-development cycles.

Success may include:

- Meaningful growth in Align's network among partner organizations and leaders.
- New strategic relationships, collaborators, and sources of trusted referrals.
- Qualified conversations with senior decision-makers.
- Opportunities advanced to proposals, defined scopes, or formal partnership discussions.
- A healthy pipeline of well-matched, high-value opportunities.
- New client engagements and agency revenue.
- Expanded relationships with current and former clients.
- Consistent, visible progress across priority relationships and opportunities.
- Stronger market insights that improve Align's positioning and services.

We understand that significant relationships and engagements take time to develop. Progress will therefore be evaluated through both near-term activity and the quality, relevance, and long-term potential of the opportunities created.

**Engagement Details:**

- **Location:** New York City strongly preferred; hybrid.
- **Engagement:** Independent consulting opportunity with an initial six-month commitment.
- **Time commitment:** Approximately 15–20 hours per month.
- **Compensation:** $60–$80 per hour, based on experience.
- **Works with:** Chief Executive Officer and senior leadership team.
- **In-person participation:** Regular participation in New York City is required and may include team sessions, prospective-client meetings, presentations, networking opportunities, and events.
- **Other clients:** The consultant may serve other nonconflicting clients, subject to Align's confidentiality and conflict-of-interest requirements.
- **Work authorization:** Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

CEO | Strategist | Storyteller | Investor | Optimist

Sarah Acer

Chief Executive Officer

Fractional Head of Growth & Business Development—US

Business Development

Growth Strategy

Relationship Management

Chief Growth Officer

Align Social Impact is seeking a Fractional Head of Growth & Business Development to expand their national presence and develop strategic relationships. This consulting role involves approximately 15–20 hours per month, focusing on relationship development and business growth.

Fractional Head of Growth & Business Development

Sales

**About Align Social Impact**

With more than two decades of experience, Align's team works at the intersection of research, communications, culture, philanthropy, and social change.

Our mission is to drive community, business, and social outcomes through strategy, storytelling, campaigns, organizational development, philanthropy, transformational partnerships, and experiences that bring people together.

Align is a women-owned business with offices in New York City and Amsterdam. We work with corporations, nonprofits, foundations, government entities, and influential talent to support a shared vision of a just, inclusive, and vibrant world where people, planet, and culture thrive.

We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to building a team that represents a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills. All employment and contracting decisions are based on qualifications, merit, organizational needs, and alignment with our values.

## Executive Vice President, Client Strategy, Growth & Operations

**Location:** New York City–based; hybrid

**Engagement:** Initial three-month contract opportunity

**Time Commitment:** Approximately 12+ hours per week

**Compensation:** $90–$100 per hour, based on experience

**Schedule:** Must be available during core East Coast business hours

**Reports to:** Chief Executive Officer

**Leadership Level:** Senior-most executive leader below the CEO, providing guidance and oversight to SVPs, VPs, and other senior team members

### Overview

Reporting directly to the CEO, the EVP will serve as Align's senior-most executive leader below the CEO. They will provide leadership, guidance, and accountability to the agency's SVPs, VPs, account leaders, and other senior team members.

The EVP will provide senior oversight across priority client engagements, business development, growth operations, team management, and agency operations. They will help senior leaders navigate complex decisions, coordinate work across divisions, and ensure that important organizational and client priorities move forward.

This is a hands-on fractional leadership role for an experienced executive who can serve as a trusted partner to the CEO while strengthening and supporting the senior leadership team. By taking ownership of selected client and organizational priorities, the EVP will enable the CEO to focus on high-level strategy, external relationships, visibility, and long-term growth.

### Key Responsibilities

**Executive Leadership:**

- Serve as the senior-most executive leader below the CEO in internal and external environments, representing the company, its vision and its standards of practice.
- Provide direction, guidance, coaching, and accountability to SVPs, VPs, and other senior leaders on key accounts
- Help senior leaders make decisions, resolve challenges, and advance priorities within their areas.
- Drive workstreams forward and lead on specific work product wherein there is expertise (example M&E or strategic planning)
- Support coordination of work across divisions and ensure alignment with agency-wide goals with a focus on specific accounts only.
- Clarify responsibilities, decision-making authority, and escalation paths.
- Step in when issues require leadership beyond the SVP or VP level.
- Provide the CEO with concise updates on organizational performance, risks, decisions, and emerging needs, noting part time structure limitations.
- Take ownership of selected responsibilities that would otherwise require the CEO's direct involvement.

**Client Leadership:**

- Provide executive oversight and strategic guidance across selected priority accounts.
- Assume an active role in the day-to-day leadership of a limited number of high-touch client relationships.
- Support SVPs, VPs, and account leaders in managing complex client needs and expectations.
- Serve as a senior point of contact or escalation resource for clients when appropriate.
- Guide teams in managing priorities, budgets, timelines, scopes, and deliverables.
- Help resolve complex client, scope, staffing, and team challenges.
- Review key strategies, proposals, presentations, and deliverables.
- Identify opportunities to deepen and expand existing client relationships.
- Reduce the need for the CEO's involvement in routine client decisions and follow-up.

**Business Development and Growth:**

- Partner with the CEO and senior leadership team to develop new client, partnership, and revenue opportunities.
- Guide SVPs and VPs in identifying and advancing growth opportunities within their areas.
- Cultivate relationships with prospective clients, partners, funders, and influential connectors.
- Lead or support discovery conversations, proposals, scopes, budgets, pitches, and negotiations.
- Connect prospective clients' needs with Align's integrated capabilities and expertise.
- Maintain momentum and clear ownership across active opportunities.
- Identify opportunities to reconnect with former clients and expand current relationships.
- Represent Align at selected meetings, conferences, and convenings.

**Growth Operations:**

- Oversee Align's pipeline, proposals, opportunities, and anticipated revenue.
- Establish a consistent cadence for pipeline review, follow-up, forecasting, and decision-making.
- Hold opportunity owners accountable for progress, next steps, and reporting.
- Track the status, timing, value, risks, and ownership of priority opportunities.
- Improve coordination between business development, contracting, staffing, onboarding, and delivery.
- Develop practical systems for monitoring growth goals and organizational priorities.
- Share market insights and client feedback to inform Align's positioning and services.

**Team Leadership and Management:**

- Provide leadership and management support to SVPs, VPs, account leaders, and other senior team members.
- Directly manage selected senior leaders as assigned by the CEO.
- Coach senior leaders in team management, client leadership, decision-making, and accountability.
- Help address performance, capacity, workflow, and team-dynamic challenges.
- Ensure senior leaders have clear goals, priorities, and measures of success.
- Lead selected senior leadership and management meetings.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, communication, and professional growth.
- Help identify staffing needs and support recruitment, onboarding, and leadership development.
- Strengthen consistency in how teams plan, communicate, manage clients, and deliver work.

**Agency Operations:**

- Take ownership of selected day-to-day leadership and operational responsibilities.
- Improve internal workflows, meeting structures, and decision-making processes.
- Support resource and capacity planning across client and internal work.
- Identify operational gaps and implement practical improvements.
- Help ensure teams have the information, resources, and support required to succeed.
- Strengthen coordination across client services, growth, operations, and administration.

### Our Ideal Candidate

- Is passionate about social impact and aligned with Align's mission and values.
- Has served at an EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Managing Director, or comparable executive level.
- Has experience leading and supporting SVPs, VPs, directors, and other senior professionals.
- Can establish authority and accountability while maintaining a collaborative leadership style.
- Can work effectively across client leadership, business development, operations, and team management.
- Thinks strategically while remaining practical, responsive, and hands-on.
- Creates structure and forward movement in a dynamic agency environment.
- Builds trust with clients, colleagues, partners, funders, and senior stakeholders.
- Is decisive, resourceful, and able to solve complex problems with sound judgment.
- Understands how professional-services agencies operate, grow, and serve clients.
- Can contribute meaningfully within a focused, part-time executive schedule.

### Skills and Experience

- 15+ years of relevant experience in the nonprofit, government, corporate social responsibility, corporate-purpose, philanthropy, or social-impact sectors, including significant executive leadership responsibility.
- Demonstrated experience leading senior leadership teams and managing SVP-, VP-, or director-level professionals.
- Success overseeing complex client engagements, teams, organizational operations, and growth initiatives.
- Agency or professional-services experience strongly preferred.
- Experience managing senior client relationships across corporations, nonprofits, foundations, government entities, or philanthropy.
- A record of developing new business or expanding significant client relationships.
- Strong operational judgment and experience improving systems, workflows, and accountability.
- Strong financial acumen, including experience with budgets, scopes, staffing, and resource allocation.
- Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, presentation, and facilitation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound decisions in a fast-moving environment.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices across social impact, philanthropy, CSR, communications, culture, and organizational strategy.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

An advanced degree is welcome but not required. Align places greater value on demonstrated leadership, judgment, results, and relevant experience.

### What Success Looks Like

- SVPs and VPs have clearer direction, stronger support, and greater accountability.
- Senior leaders can resolve more decisions without requiring CEO involvement.
- Selected high-touch client relationships receive consistent executive attention.
- Client work remains strategic, high-quality, timely, and well-managed.
- Ownership and coordination improve across teams and divisions.
- Operational systems and decision-making become clearer and more effective.
- The business-development pipeline advances consistently.
- Current client relationships expand and new engagements are secured.
- The CEO has greater capacity for high-level strategy, relationships, visibility, and long-term growth.

### Engagement Details

This is a New York City–based contract position beginning with an initial three-month engagement. The engagement may be renewed, extended, or modified by mutual agreement.

The role requires approximately 10 hours per week, regular in-person participation in New York City, and availability during core East Coast business hours. The specific schedule may vary based on client meetings, leadership needs, deadlines, and organizational priorities.

Some travel may be required and will be discussed in advance. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

Executive Vice President, Client Strategy, Growth & Operations

Executive Leadership

Fractional Leadership

This is a fractional leadership role for an experienced executive to provide guidance and oversight at Align Social Impact. The EVP will manage client strategy, growth operations, and team leadership, reporting directly to the CEO. The role is part-time, requiring approximately 12+ hours per week, with a compensation of $90–$100 per hour.

Align Social Impact

About Align Social Impact

Jobs

Fractional Head of Growth & Business Development

Fractional Executive Vice President, Client Strategy, Growth & Operations