Children's Services Council (CSC) of Palm Beach County is a special independent district authority established pursuant to Florida statute and headquartered in Boynton Beach, FL. CSC is an innovative leader in creating a community where children and families reach their full potential through our goals:  that children are born healthy, remain free from abuse and neglect, are ready for kindergarten and are on grade level by the end of 3^rd grade.

CSC collects approximately $100 million annually, all of which is devoted to improving the lives of the county's children through funding and support of approximately 60 nonprofit and governmental organizations throughout Palm Beach County. However, CSC is far more than a funder. It operates on a scientifically sound evidence-based system, ensuring that the programs delivered in the county are based on proven research and meet the highest standards. It offers ongoing guidance and support to its provider agencies, and has a strong national reputation for the quality of research it conducts and publishes.

CSC's people are highly committed and highly able, and CSC is recognized as a leader in its field.

Children's Services Council is in the midst of an internal reorganization to ensure that its structure remains appropriate to its operating environment. One step in that reorganization is the recent consolidation of its Marketing and Communications; Government and Community Relations; and Public Information functions into a unified Public Affairs Division.

The Public Affairs Division now comprises expertise in writing and editing; spokesperson-ship; public information; marketing; policy development; graphics and production; media relations; planning; communications technology, digital and social media; government relations; community relations; and event planning. This suite of requisite skills will be tailored to the needs of the organization as they change over time.

We are seeking an experienced executive who is a dynamic, connected and articulate leader.  The successful candidate will serve as an executive member of the CEO's Group (senior leadership team) and lead the division's affairs.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership by actively participating on the CEO's Group
• Participate in planning the organization's goals and strategies
• Ensure that CSC's goals are effectively communicated to the appropriate internal and external audiences
• Counsel management on the governmental, community, and public relations implications of policies and strategies, and recommend specific action toward gaining favorable reaction from those affected
• Shape CSC's communications with both internal and external audiences in order to gain their understanding, acceptance, and support for CSC's mission and activities
• Reformulate how CSC forms relationships with community constituents, leaders, and service providers, and between management and employees
• Proactively oversee the organization's media and social media contacts in order to make CSC's organizational goals clear to government, taxpayers, community groups, service providers and consumer groups
• Oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive public affairs programs
• Oversee CSC's government affairs and community affairs activities
• Oversee the design, implementation and direction of marketing activities, in accordance with programs approved by the Chief Executive Officer
• Integrate and oversee the functions of public policy planning and advocacy
• Direct and manage the preparation and publication of all organizational materials
• Enhance the public standing of CSC's service providers and maintain a healthy relationship with them (This is an intersecting core responsibility of the Chief Public Affairs Officer and the other executives of CSC.)
• Convene the various constituents of the organization to plan a proactive communications strategy in alignment with CSC's strategic plan that develops and sustains the public face/image/profile of CSC, and be accountable for implementation of that strategy
• Develop and monitor program budgets and implement cost-saving procedures whenever possible
• Discharge such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer.

Reporting Relationships

• The Chief Public Affairs Officer is an executive officer of Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and having a seat on the CEO's Group.
• Titles and responsibilities within the division are in flux as the division, together with the rest of the organization, is implementing a restructuring. The heads of the functions of public information, government and community relations, marketing, public policy planning and advocacy, and project management now report to the Chief Public Affairs Officer.

Purpose of Position

• Clarify and enhance the image of CSC with its many audiences and deepen their engagement in the work of CSC
• Help create a more open, transparent organization while inspiring people to accomplish CSC's goals and be accountable for outcomes
• Leverage for CSC's benefit the increased volume and number of communication channels open to citizens, partners, clients, employees, and community leaders
• In coordination with the Chief Knowledge Officer and Program Division Chiefs, plan, coordinate and direct CSC's outreach and communications protocols and processes
• Develop the division's flexibility to adapt to fast-changing situations
• Rethink relationship building in the context of the new social culture of sharing and open information
• Develop a platform for the right communication tools, protocols, and infrastructure to support the development of new forms of relationship building

Skills

• Ability to value and direct a broad spectrum of functional activities
• Ability to create an environment that inspires creative thinking and innovation
• Capacity to utilize both short-term and long-term strategic lenses
• Good judgment about how to increase the visibility and credibility of CSC
• Ability and experience in directing senior managers and their staff of skilled and creative professionals
• Professional knowledge of and experience with traditional and new communication media
• Excellent cognitive and professional skills must be matched by emotional intelligence
• Articulate and impactful communication skills, both oral and written, are essential

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in Public Affairs, Public Administration, or related field supplemented by ten (10) years of progressively more responsible management and leadership experience that includes a minimum of three (3) years as a member of the senior executive team of an organization of comparable size and professional management experience.  Experience in at least two (2) of the areas of government relations and public policy, public relations, marketing, and digital media is also required.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the minimum requirements listed.

For consideration, must submit cover letter and resume online at www.cscpbc.org by 5 p.m. March 4, 2011.  Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, 2300 High Ridge Road, Boynton Beach, FL  33426.