We’ve got a problem.
Our vision is that no good cause suffers from bad communication. There are a lot of good causes out there, and we can’t help them all.
That’s where you come in.
Mission Minded, a strategy firm that works with nonprofits and schools, is looking for our next great Senior Strategic Planner to join our team.
We are all about planning for impact. And while we love data, we aren’t a marketing research or analytics firm that focuses just on the numbers. Our approach to strategic planning is focused on operational priorities laddering up to outcomes, and not the other way around. As part of our team, you will help organizations to think big and develop and implement actionable three-to-five-year strategic plans that dramatically further their mission and organizational goals.
About You
- You are a strategic thinker and problem solver with excellent communications skills who understands that listening well is as important as talking.
- You are passionate about helping mission-driven organizations define their vision, mission, and values and develop strategic plans that help achieve their next level of greatness.
- You are a dynamic presenter and facilitator who is adept at conducting in-person, Zoom, and hybrid client meetings and creative working sessions.
- You are experienced in conducting qualitative and quantitative research, identifying threats and opportunities, and presenting in-depth analysis and findings.
- You use your expertise to create actionable strategic plans that inform culture, not just operations, and delight in setting up clients for successful implementation.
- You enjoy building relationships with clients to lead them toward bold opportunities and strive to ensure Mission Minded delights clients throughout the strategic planning engagement.
- You actively think about social and racial justice and are comfortable engaging in dialogue with others to use communications to advance anti-racist practices.
- You think like a business builder, and the thought of growing a small organization excites you. Expertly managing client projects while building internal capacity and culture are part of your DNA.
- You love nurturing talent, working in teams, and you measure yourself by the success of your peers.
About Us
- We’re deeply committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse voices partake in all aspects of our company and have been actively working on overall DEI internal practices for several years. You can learn more about our commitments here.
- We’ve been a virtual office since our founding in 2002. We know how to create a strong culture remotely, and we’re energized knowing that every person who joins our small company contributes to that culture. We successfully create opportunities for connections with colleagues in many ways.
- We take our company values seriously and invite you to discuss them with any of our employees throughout the hiring process. You can learn more about them here.
- We’ve developed a very strong reputation in the nonprofit and education community. Much of our business comes through referrals from previous clients. We’re proud of that. So, we set high standards for our work, and we’re very committed to excellent customer service.
Responsibilities
- Partner with Director of Strategic Planning and Strategists, while collaborating with all team members in the work plan and timeline of client projects.
- Design and conduct research appropriate for client needs and budgets.
- Co-lead projects as one of two key client liaisons.
- Co-lead client brainstorming meetings and group work sessions.
- Write compelling Vision, Mission, Values, and strategic commitments and present them confidently to clients.
- Write, or contribute to, findings, situation summaries and SWOT analyses.
- Manage project timelines, schedule meetings, and facilitate workflow as needed.
- Attend virtual weekly staff meetings and annual retreats.
- Contribute to Mission Minded initiatives to improve our process and products.
Our Ideal Candidate Has
- Minimum seven to ten years paid experience working in the strategic planning field or at a strategic planning agency or firm
- An analytical mind with problem-solving aptitude and strong project management skills
- Proven experience conducting market research and data analysis
- The ability to be a dynamic presenter and session facilitator
- Excellent writing and exceptional communications skills
- Experience working with nonprofit organizations or within a creative organization
- The motivation to work well both independently and in teams
- A strong commitment to, and lived experience with, racial justice, equity and inclusion work
- Fluent user of Microsoft Office, Keynote, Basecamp 3, Teamwork, Slack, Trello, Google Analytics, Google Suite, Survey Monkey
The Logistics
- You will work in teams with Director-level colleagues, and other Strategists as the project dictates. You’ll act as a project lead for a nonprofit or school (with plenty of coaching from us first!). At times, you’ll partner with more junior strategists and will be encouraged to develop their strategic planning acumen.
- We offer additional non-salary benefits (such as 100% employer paid healthcare, generous vacation policy, professional development funds, etc.) that contribute another 25% above this.
- Although Mission Minded is a for-profit company, our clients work with limited budgets and often within constrained resources; our compensation reflects that reality. The salary range for this position is $90-95K depending on experience.
- Applicants must be comfortable engaging in dialogue with others about social and racial justice and using communications to advance anti-racist practices.
- Ability to travel for work is a requirement, and applicants should have a valid driver's license.
- Applicants must live in the contiguous US and be legally authorized to work here.
- Applicants use their own office technology, including an Apple computer (we’ll provide if necessary), software, and phone.
We can’t wait to read your cover letter/email and resume. In your letter, please tell us about a vision statement you love and why.
Cover letters present a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know you better. Therefore, please be sure to send BOTH your resume and cover letter with an answer to the prompt above. Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. No phone calls, please—we promise to respond via email.