How to Apply: Egon Zehnder has been exclusively retained by The Rockefeller Foundation (“Foundation”) to search for a Senior Vice President, Connected Leaders located in New York, NY. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to rockefellerconnectedleaders@egonzehnder.com.

Please do not contact The Foundation directly; all resumes sent to the Foundation will be routed to Egon Zehnder for handling and will delay the consideration of your application. The Rockefeller Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

Pay Range: $340,000 - $491,000. This represents the present low and high end of the Foundation’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to experience.

Work Schedule: A hybrid work schedule in the New York City office is preferred, with the expectation to be in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Position Summary

The Senior Vice President, Connected Leaders is a high-impact leadership role at The Rockefeller Foundation. It is responsible for leading the design and implementation of an intentional and outcomes-oriented strategy for the Foundation’s distinctive global convening capabilities, which are a central tenet in the Foundation’s overall mission - improving the well-being of people across the globe – and have a special focus on the Climate Strategy.

In this role, the leader will leverage the Foundation’s strong brand and equity to create and nourish connections amongst key leaders, corporations, governments, non-profit organizations, and forward-thinking ideas. By galvanizing these networks and connecting previously unconnected dots, this leader will drive toward the creation of partnerships and alliances that amplify action toward and beyond our mission.

The leader will seek to mobilize resources to enhance the impact of current Foundation pillars (Grant Making, Voice & Influence); find new areas of impact where the Foundation can play a distinctive role in tackling some of the world’s biggest issues; and continue elevating the Foundation’s brand. To effectively achieve the strategic objectives and accelerate positive change, the SVP, Connected Leaders will use the Foundation's current global capabilities – resources, expertise, networks, and physical spaces (New York City headquarters, Washington DC office, Nairobi office, Bangkok office, and historic Bellagio Center). This leader will also enable the Foundation to develop new capabilities, such as the use of integrated data science and AI strategies. The SVP, Connected Leaders will enhance cooperation and participation with third-party forums and strengthen the Foundation’s position on the global stage.

The role requires a willingness to travel.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the Design and Execution of a Global Convenings Strategy

• Lead the co-creation of a global, unified, and intentional Convenings strategy that amplifies the impact of the Foundation’s current initiatives, finds new ways to galvanize global resources towards positive change, and elevates RF’s brand.
• Amplify the Impact of Grant Making Programs and Voice & Influence by co-creating a strategy for convenings that connects dots within the Foundation and identifies external sources of capital, talent, ideas, and influence that can build on current work to scale outcomes.
• Work closely with regional heads to ensure the global strategy reflects local context and dynamics.
• Support influence and advocacy efforts to build political will and create a demand for action, especially in the realms of climate and leadership.
• Enhance the utilization and impact of RF’s global physical spaces.
• Identify new conversations to foster amongst experts, key decision makers, and influencers to catalyze actionable outcomes, and create an environment for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and mobilization towards action to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues, such as Climate Change.
• Identify new partners and actors to bring into the Foundation’s work, network, and conversations, with a focus on diverse representation and inclusive participation in all engagements, reflecting the variety and richness of perspectives and voices in the dialogue.
• Organize and nourish a community of leaders and key partners that is motivated, committed, and activated year-long across digital and physical formats, to enhance the impact of convenings.
• Develop the strategy for the Foundation’s participation at convenings and events led by external parties and on other stages.
• Oversee the team, planning, and execution of events, including budget management, risk management, and compliance, ensuring the incorporation of sustainability principles, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to target net zero across global operations.
• Foster effective two-way communication and collaboration with colleagues across teams (President’s Office, Senior Leadership, Program, Leads, etc.) to drive towards the Convenings Strategic Agenda.

Capture and Leverage Data and Technology

• Partner and collaborate with the Foundation’s Chief Technology Officer and Innovation team to identify and roll out tech solutions that enable team effectiveness and enhance convening outputs by employing data and systems strategies and AI tools to capture, analyze, and leverage insights from interactions and engagements.
• Implement tools to ensure follow-up, connect relevant actors, and enhance cooperation between and following convenings to ensure greater impact.
• Uphold the highest standards of data ethics, privacy, and confidentiality while innovatively using data to inform strategies and enhance stakeholder engagement.

Lead Impact Reporting

• Assess the success of events through post-evaluations and reporting on key metrics and outcomes to the Chief Operating Officer and/or President.

Education, Experience, and Skills

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience, with a demonstrated track record of leading strategy, and diverse, successful teams towards growth and impact at scale.
• Leadership within a philanthropic, non-profit, or related sector, preferred
• Demonstrated ability to build networks (formal and informal) and influence and collaborate across a broad group of internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement high-level, impactful convenings at a regional scale, with a track record of fostering collaboration and achieving substantive outcomes.
• Familiarity with and understanding of a broad group of stakeholders, including private, sector, and public sector.
• Established authority in international gatherings, with a track record of building and sustaining relationships with key figures including government representatives, business executives, societal organization members, and community leaders, preferred
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate visions and strategies effectively to diverse audiences and foster an environment of openness and collaboration.
• Proficiency in using data and technology to inform strategies, enhance stakeholder engagement, and optimize the impact of convenings, preferred
• Multi-cultural, and globally minded and ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds in diverse international settings.
• Passionate about the Foundation’s goals and the ability to have an impact at a global scale.
• Strategic, critical, and systems thinker; creative problem solver; curious and determined; balanced with an ability to dive into details, operations, and execution.
• Recognizes the value of different perspectives and commits to inclusion, equity, and diversity in every aspect of work.
• Fluency in a second language (in addition to English), preferred
• Knowledge of the climate space, preferred

Qualifications and Competencies

• Builds Networks: Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.
• Cultivates Innovation: Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Develops Talent: Develops people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.
• Drives Vision & Purpose: Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.
• Values Differences: Recognizes the value of different perspectives and commits to inclusion, equity, and diversity in every aspect of work.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at http://rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn.

The Rockefeller Foundation offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes health insurance programs, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment, a generous 401K, parental leave, and various forms of paid time off, all to help our employees feel energized, cared for, and engaged.

As an organization, we focus on six values to advance our culture and continue our success. We are dedicated to being Transparent, Optimistic, Accountable, Collaborative, Trusted, and Equitable. We operate from a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything that we do. It is not only the right thing to do – we could not make an impact without our team members' diverse perspectives and experiences. We expect all employees at the Foundation to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices.

The Rockefeller Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, liability for service in the United States Armed Forces, or any other protected status.

The Rockefeller Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.