Strategy & Innovation Consultant

Strategy & Innovation Consultant 

Six-Month Consulting Engagement | Potential for Permanent Employment 

Position Overview 

Fairfield County's Community Foundation is seeking an experienced, strategic, and action-oriented consultant to help advance new ideas and organizational priorities. 

Working directly with the President & CEO, the Strategy & Innovation Consultant will play an important role in moving key initiatives from concept to execution. The consultant will bring fresh perspectives, practical solutions, and dedicated leadership to projects that advance the Foundation's mission and Strategy Begins with Place approach. 

This role requires someone who can see the bigger picture while also managing the details needed to make things happen. The consultant will work across departments, engage community partners, and help the Foundation explore new opportunities, strengthen collaboration, and turn strategic priorities into meaningful results. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Planning & Execution 

• Partner closely with the CEO to identify, evaluate, and advance high-priority strategic initiatives. 
• Translate emerging ideas into actionable plans with clear objectives, timelines, deliverables, and measures of success. 
• Lead CEO-designated initiatives from initial planning through implementation, ensuring projects stay focused and move forward. 
• Evaluate opportunities based on their potential impact, required resources, and long-term sustainability. 
• Help embed the Foundation's Strategy Begins with Place decision-making framework into planning, priorities, and day-to-day decisions across departments. 

Innovation & Opportunity Development 

• Identify and explore new approaches to community engagement, partnerships, philanthropy, and regional collaboration. 
• Research emerging opportunities and assess their potential to advance the Foundation's mission. 
• Develop recommendations for new initiatives, including potential partners, resources, and implementation approaches. 
• Design and support pilot projects that allow the Foundation to test new ideas, evaluate results, and determine whether to expand or sustain them. 

Collaboration & Project Leadership 

• Work across departments to coordinate initiatives that require input and participation from multiple teams. 
• Build relationships with staff, community partners, and other stakeholders to gather perspectives and support implementation. 
• Facilitate meetings and working sessions that move projects forward and lead to clear decisions and next steps. 
• Establish project milestones, track progress, and address challenges as they arise. 
• Provide the CEO with regular updates, recommendations, and decisions requiring attention. 
• Document project outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for future implementation or transition to existing teams. 

Qualifications & Experience 

• Demonstrated experience in strategy development, innovation, consulting, or leading complex initiatives. 
• Strong ability to take emerging ideas, evaluate opportunities, and turn them into practical plans and measurable results. 
• Experience managing projects that involve multiple teams, partners, or stakeholders. 
• Excellent communication, facilitation, analytical, and relationship-building skills. 
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and balance competing priorities. 
• Comfortable navigating evolving priorities and working in an environment where new opportunities regularly emerge. 
• Experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, community development, or civic innovation preferred. 

Engagement Structure & Deliverables 

This role is structured as an initial six-month, project-based consulting engagement, with the potential to transition into a permanent position. 

At the start of the engagement, the CEO and consultant will establish priority initiatives, expected deliverables, timelines, and measures of success. The engagement will focus on agreed-upon assignments and outcomes rather than a traditional hourly arrangement.