Deputy Director of Engagement ECHO

About ECHO

ECHO is a global Christian agricultural networking, training, and resourcing organization. Our mission is to strengthen the capacity of a diverse global network to defeat hunger and improve lives through sustainable food and agroecosystem strategies. ECHO has a significant network of over 20,000 individuals and organizations built over 45 years of work in more than 190 countries. These partners serve as the primary multiplier for ECHO-tested options, strategies, and research.

Why Join ECHO

At ECHO, you will join a global Christian network committed to defeating hunger and restoring hope through sustainable agriculture. Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and deeply committed to equipping leaders around the world with practical tools that create lasting impact. If you are passionate about faith-integrated service and sustainable solutions, you will find meaningful purpose in this role.

Summary

The Deputy Director of Engagement provides strategic leadership for all engagement functions at ECHO’s Florida campus, integrating guest experience, regional partnerships, and advancement initiatives into a unified, mission-driven strategy. This role ensures that every interaction—with visitors, donors, partners, and the local community—advances ECHO’s mission by strengthening relationships, expanding the network, and inspiring deeper engagement. Working cross-functional, this leader aligns on-site experiences with ECHO’s global strategy, translating impact into compelling, Christ-centered opportunities for participation, partnership, and investment.

Site as a Strategic Engagement Platform

• Lead the vision and utilization of the Florida campus as a primary platform for donor engagement, inspiration, and education.
• Ensure campus experiences reflect ECHO’s identity as a global, Christ-centered, agricultural development organization.
• Integrate farm, nursery, seed bank, and training environments into cohesive storytelling experiences that demonstrate impact.
• Collaborate with program teams to ensure alignment between what is experienced on campus and ECHO’s global work.

Advancement-Focused Engagement Strategy

• Develop and lead a comprehensive engagement strategy that directly drives fundraising outcomes, donor acquisition, and donor retention.
• Design intentional pathways that move individuals from awareness to active partnership (visitor → engaged supporter → donor → advocate).
• Partner closely with Advancement leadership to align engagement efforts with campaign priorities, funding initiatives, and donor journeys.
• Ensure all engagement activities contribute to strengthening and growing the ECHO network and increasing its effectiveness.
• Translate ECHO’s global goals into compelling, donor‑facing narratives and experiences.
• Establish and track key engagement metrics, including donor conversion rates, pipeline growth, and retention outcomes, ensuring alignment with Advancement goals.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Lead and develop staff, including roles connected to Welcome & Resource Center, Operations, and Regional partnerships.
• Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and Christ-centered service.
• Facilitate strong collaboration across departments including Advancement, Global Teams, MEAL, Communications, and Operations.
• Ensure alignment with ECHO’s strategic framework across all engagement functions.
• Build and strengthen relationships with local churches, donors, institutions, and community partners.
• Represent ECHO in regional events, speaking engagements, and partnership opportunities.

Qualifications & Required Skills

• Faith Alignment: Must subscribe to the ECHO Statement of Faith or Apostles Creed and demonstrate character traits consistent with ECHO’s core values.
• Leadership Communication: Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with a proven ability to engage diverse stakeholders, build consensus, and inspire teams.
• Strategic Administration: Strong organizational and administrative skills, with meticulous attention to detail and the ability to develop systems that support scale and excellence.
• Relational Agility: Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships across departments, with partners, and among team members with professionalism and empathy.
• Initiative & Accountability: Self-starter with a high degree of initiative, ownership, and accountability in completing tasks and driving strategic objectives forward.
• Time & Priority Management: Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines and maintaining composure under pressure.
• Team-Oriented Independence: Capable of thriving both independently and collaboratively, with a strong orientation toward team success and shared goals.
• Event Flexibility: Willingness and availability to support occasional evening and weekend events aligned with donor engagement activities.
• Technical Proficiency: High proficiency in Salesforce (or similar CRM), with the ability to learn new systems quickly and optimize database use for fundraising strategy.
• Data Integrity Focus: Exceptional attention to data accuracy, entry, and ongoing validation, with a mindset for continuous improvement in recordkeeping.
• Software Competency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), with the ability to generate reports, presentations, and communication assets as needed.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree preferred (nonprofit leadership, business, marketing, or related field).
• Minimum of 5 years in advancement, engagement strategy, fundraising, or nonprofit leadership roles.

Organizational Relationships

The Deputy Director of Engagement reports directly to the Chief Development Officer and provides strategic oversight and support to key ECHO Florida staff. This role collaborates closely with the Deputy Chief Development Officer and Director of Marketing to ensure cohesion across all Advancement functions. The Deputy Director of Engagement also serves as a cross-departmental liaison, strengthening organizational cohesion and strategic alignment.

Work Environment

The work environment is generally quiet, though it may become fast-paced during urgent projects and deadlines. The role requires the ability to work constructively under pressure and travel on short notice.

Physical Requirements

Regular standing, walking, speaking, hearing, typing, and use of hands. Frequent reaching, sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and occasional lifting or moving of up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close, distance, peripheral, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Position Type and Expected Hours

This is a full-time, exempt leadership position. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The position is on-site in North Fort Myers, FL. Candidates not currently local should indicate willingness to relocate.

Travel

Regular local and domestic travel for donor, church, and institutional partner visits. Occasional international travel to ECHO’s Regional Impact Centers for relationship development and strategic initiatives.

Other Duties

Responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.