Executive Director

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

Since 1944, United Way of the Black Hills has been fighting for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in the Black Hills region. UWBH strengthens the community by identifying key issues facing our region, engaging individuals to build solutions-focused strategies, and mobilizing resources to invest for change. United Way invests resources through Community Impact Grants to 50+ local nonprofit organizations, and leads Impact Initiatives including Black Hills Reads, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, the Mental Health Initiative, and Month of Caring. The United Way of the Black Hills is located in the beautiful Black Hills mountains of western South Dakota and serves a six-county region with a population of approximately 200,000 people. UWBH has an operating budget of $2.4 Million with a staff team of eight employees. 

Job Description

The Executive Director provides visionary leadership to the organization to meet its mission and achieve community impact.

The Executive Director will bring exceptional leadership and strategic abilities, strong organizational management, and communication skills; will work across private, public and corporate sectors to improve conditions in the community; and will be an efficient fundraiser for UWBH with the ability to conceive of, build support for, and implement strategies for increasing funding.  The Executive Director will be responsible for the successful leadership and management of the organization according to the strategic direction set by the Board of Directors.  The Executive Director also provides direct supervision to the professional staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership

The Executive Director serves as the principal resource to the Board of Directors, Advisory Cabinets, and key committees and provides strategic direction and visionary leadership by:

• Partnering with the Board of Directors and Advisory Cabinets to craft organizational goals and strategic plans and develop strategies to ensure they are achieved.
• Serving as a spokesperson and advocate who acts as the steward of the United Way brand. 
• Ensuring coordination and alignment of all UWBH activities to strategic direction in the areas of community impact, resource development, and staff alignment.

Community Impact 

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall impact of UWBH with emphasis on increasing its capacity to drive the impact agenda through:

• Establishing a leadership role in community planning efforts to address issues related to mental health, early education, food security, abuse & neglect, affordable housing, and economic opportunities.
• Working closely with the Board to craft and adopt appropriate strategies to achieve the desired outcomes, including raising the funds to support programs, initiatives, and grants.
• Establishing and building relationships with leaders in the community, including those representing the highest levels in business, education, government, nonprofit sectors, and non-traditional partners.
• Working with community leaders to ensure community connections and relevance across our six-county region:
• Provide quality investments in community organizations to address the community’s greatest needs and create desired outcomes.     

Resource Development 

The Executive Director works closely with the Development Director on oversight responsibility for workplace campaigns, major donors, fundraising events, and all other resource development activities needed to raise over $2 Million every year through:

• Develop and maintain a year-round marketing and communication strategy to promote broad support and awareness of the value of the United Way.
• Identifying, cultivating, and soliciting prospective donors and key leaders of prospective new corporate partners.
• Establishing relationships with the potential for fundraising opportunities.
• Promoting a culture of fundraising in the organization, both at the staff and board level.
• Engaging with current donors to maintain and strengthen the relationship and understanding of UWBH’s work. 

Organizational Management

The Executive Director is accountable for building and leading high-performing teams of staff and volunteers, ensuring all team members are aligned and collaborating to achieve organizational results through:

• Maintaining accountability for the operational and fiscal integrity of the organization.
• Assessing organizational capacity to implement strategies and identifying gaps in systems and staff.
• Managing the human resources through appropriate employee development and performance management strategies.
• Work with staff and the board to develop and manage the organization’s budget, tracking resource development, and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
• Cultivate an organizational culture committed to community impact, inclusiveness, and continuous learning.
• Ensuring that UWBH goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion among staff and volunteers are met.
• Ensure that UWBH meets the membership requirements as established by United Way Worldwide.

Additional duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proven track record of success or quantifiable change while leading and managing in the nonprofit sector, or organization of comparable size and mission, through the following:
  • Attracting, motivating, developing, and retaining staff and volunteers.
  • Building well-functioning teams in a complex, multi-layered organization.
  • Developing and managing multiple projects.
  • Developing and implementing organizational strategy.
  • Analyzing and interpreting relevant metrics.
  • Fundraising and resource development, including cultivating and maintaining positive donor relationships.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, specifically public speaking and serving as a media spokesperson.
  • Understanding individual community interests and regional issues and dealing with the concerns of multiple constituents.
  • Promoting diversity and building collaboration with the community-at-large.
  • Knowledge of nonprofit administration.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively in the Black Hills region.

Preferred Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, social sciences, nonprofit management, or related field preferred.       
• Experience in a leadership role which required working with a board of directors and volunteers
• Supervision of a diverse staff
• Knowledge of the local nonprofit and business landscape of the Black Hills
• Understanding of and experience addressing the top community needs of residents
• Experience in Razor’s Edge, Constant Contact, and/or e-CImpact
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret profit and loss statements
• Managing an organizational budget of at least $2.5 Million

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary minimum of $80,000 and commensurate with education, experience, and professional skills. Benefits include health, life and disability insurance, retirement benefits, paid vacation, holidays, and sick time. 

Submission Process for qualified applicants:

Please send your resume, cover letter, responses to the follow-up questions, and three references to Bethany Bloom at bbloom@bmscares.org.

Priority consideration for applications received by February 15, 2023. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

Follow-up Questions:

• Why are you a good fit for this role?
• Tell us about your approach to juggling multiple large-scale projects to ensure success in this role.
• How would your colleagues describe your communication style? Give an example.
• How have your effectively managed diverse teams of employees and/or volunteers and how do you keep them engaged throughout the process? Give an example.
• What is your experience with fundraising? What is the most you have raised in a single ask? How did you do it.