Chief Strategist Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

The Chief Activation Officer (CAO) is a senior executive leadership role and key strategic partner to the President & CEO. As a member of the executive leadership team, the CAO will lead EPIC's Activation & Advocacy efforts, driving business engagement, strategic partnerships, advocacy, communications alignment, and revenue growth initiatives that advance the organization's mission and impact.

Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) is a nonprofit organization founded by business and philanthropic leaders to address childcare challenges facing the workforce, businesses, and communities. As a trusted advisor, subject matter expert, and nonpartisan business voice, EPIC works with employers, policymakers, and strategic partners to increase access to quality, affordable childcare and early education.Through partnerships, policy, practical tools, and applied insights, EPIC helps business and civic leaders understand childcare as essential workforce and economic infrastructure. As a growing organization with expanding influence across Colorado and nationally, EPIC is committed to entrepreneurial leadership, disciplined execution, meaningful relationships, a values-driven culture, and measurable impact.More information about EPIC, its mission, and its work to support the workforce of today and tomorrow can be found at www.EPICimpact.org.

Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) is seeking a Chief Activation Officer!

Note: applications for this role close on September 20, 2026 at 5pm MT.

About Us

Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) is a nonprofit organization founded by business and philanthropic leaders to address childcare challenges facing the workforce, businesses, and communities. As a trusted advisor, subject matter expert, and nonpartisan business voice, EPIC works with employers, policymakers, and strategic partners to increase access to quality, affordable childcare and early education.

Through partnerships, policy, practical tools, and applied insights, EPIC helps business and civic leaders understand childcare as essential workforce and economic infrastructure. As a growing organization with expanding influence across Colorado and nationally, EPIC is committed to entrepreneurial leadership, disciplined execution, meaningful relationships, a values-driven culture, and measurable impact.

As EPIC continues to grow, we are seeking a Chief Activation Officer to join the executive leadership team and help advance the organization's mission, influence, and impact. This is a unique opportunity to serve as a key strategic partner to the President & CEO, helping to strengthen business engagement, advocacy, partnerships, and thought leadership that drive meaningful outcomes for businesses, families, and communities.

More information about EPIC, its mission, and its work to support the workforce of today and tomorrow can be found at www.EPICimpact.org .

About the Position

The Chief Activation Officer (CAO) is a senior executive leadership role and key strategic partner to the President & CEO. As a member of the executive leadership team, the CAO will lead EPIC's Activation & Advocacy efforts, driving business engagement, strategic partnerships, advocacy, communications alignment, and revenue growth initiatives that advance the organization's mission and impact.

This role is designed for a relationship-oriented leader who thrives at the intersection of business, policy, and community impact. The Chief Activation Officer will engage CEOs, senior corporate executives, policymakers, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and other influential partners to help position childcare as essential workforce and economic infrastructure.

The CAO will play a pivotal role in expanding EPIC's influence, strengthening strategic partnerships, and helping guide the organization's continued growth across Colorado and nationally.

This position offers a flexible work environment with a strong preference for candidates based in the Denver metro area. Approximately 20-25% travel is expected.

About the Job

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead EPIC's Activation & Advocacy pillar, including strategy development, annual priorities, budgeting, performance measurement, and accountability for results.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the President & CEO, contributing to organizational planning, board engagement, financial decisions, and cross-functional leadership.
• Establish and execute strategies that engage, mobilize, and sustain business leaders and business organizations around childcare as essential workforce and economic infrastructure.
• Translate EPIC's research, employer experiences, policy insights, and practical solutions into opportunities for business action, advocacy, partnership, and investment.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with CEOs, senior corporate executives, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, business associations, policymakers, philanthropic leaders, and other influential partners.
• Partner with the President & CEO to cultivate and steward EPIC's highest-priority business, civic, philanthropic, and corporate relationships.
• Lead membership, sponsorship, partnership, and business engagement strategies that expand EPIC's reach, influence, and revenue.
• Support the growth of EPIC's Colorado membership community while helping advance national engagement opportunities and strategic partnerships.
• Lead EPIC's business-centered advocacy and policy strategies in collaboration with organizational leadership, board committees, and external policy partners.
• Engage business leaders in policy education, advocacy, and opportunities for action while maintaining EPIC's trusted, nonpartisan voice.
• Represent EPIC in business, policy, media, and community settings, serving as a key ambassador for the organization and its mission.
• Provide strategic oversight for communications, marketing, branding, external relations, and thought leadership initiatives that strengthen EPIC's visibility and impact.
• Guide the strategy and execution of key events, convenings, and stakeholder engagement opportunities that support business engagement, advocacy, and organizational growth.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of employees, consultants, and contractors while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and high performance.
• Partner with operations and leadership teams to strengthen systems, forecasting, reporting, relationship management, and organizational effectiveness.

About You

You are a collaborative and relationship-driven leader with a demonstrated ability to engage executives, build strategic partnerships, influence key stakeholders, and drive meaningful results. You bring a blend of strategic vision, business acumen, political awareness, and operational leadership, along with a passion for advancing solutions that strengthen businesses, families, and communities.

Qualified candidates will bring:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• A minimum of 8+ year’s of senior leadership experience in business engagement, external affairs, economic development, chamber leadership, corporate government affairs, public policy, trade associations, nonprofit leadership, strategic partnerships, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success building trusted relationships with CEOs, senior corporate executives, chambers of commerce, economic development leaders, government affairs professionals, policymakers, philanthropic leaders, workforce leaders, or other influential stakeholders.
• Proven ability to translate relationships into strategic partnerships, sponsorships, memberships, investments, advocacy participation, and measurable organizational value.
• Experience developing and achieving revenue, business development, partnership growth, membership, or sponsorship goals.
• Experience developing, supporting, or engaging in public policy, government relations, or advocacy strategies, preferably in partnership with the business community.
• Strong understanding of how public policy is developed, influenced, communicated, and implemented, with the ability to advocate effectively while preserving organizational credibility and a nonpartisan approach.
• Executive presence and the ability to represent an organization effectively in high-level business, policy, philanthropic, media, and public settings.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, relationship management, communication, facilitation, negotiation, and public speaking skills.
• Experience leading teams, managing senior professionals and external partners, overseeing budgets, and successfully delivering complex initiatives.
• Strong judgment, emotional intelligence, discretion, and the ability to create clarity from ambiguity while translating vision into execution.
• Alignment with EPIC's mission and commitment to positioning childcare as essential workforce and economic infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established relationships within Colorado's business, chamber, economic development, corporate, philanthropic, or policy communities.
• Experience with nonprofit governance, funding, advocacy, or lobbying requirements.
• Experience leading organizational growth, strategic partnerships, or expansion into new markets or networks.
• Experience in childcare, early childhood education, workforce development, or economic development policy.

What We Offer

• Expected salary range of $165,000-$200,000
• Eligible for an annual performance incentive of up to 10% beginning in 2027
• Flexible, family-friendly, and hybrid work environment
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with EPIC paying 90% of employee premiums
• Employer-paid life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 4%
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Childcare reimbursement for qualifying work events outside of typical business hours
• Generous paid time off, including:
• Two weeks of paid sick leave
• Three or more weeks of paid vacation
• Fourteen paid holidays
• Opportunity to help shape a growing organization with national influence and meaningful mission impact

Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. In addition to federal law requirements, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants for failing to disclose wage rate history in accordance with applicable law.

Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.