President / CEO

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

United Way of the Lakeshore is a human services organization impacting social changes through its work to improve the lives of people in Muskegon, Oceana, and Newaygo counties.  Our mission is to unite a partnership of community resources, leaders, and volunteers so that we can inspire change and build thriving communities.  Our regional aspiration is that the people of the lakeshore region will have the educational and economic opportunities needed to succeed and thrive.  We work collaboratively with private companies, employees, and non-profit partners to create and promote a support system to cause lasting change in conditions for our community.  Our targeted focus is ALICE – families who are asset-limited, income-constrained, and employed, sometimes referred to as the “working poor”.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The President provides effective leadership to all staff members so that the United Way organization can increase its capacity to drive impact.  This leader must be able to retain and grow strong collaborative relationships that will lead to the innovative development of our financial resources so that we can respond to community priorities in health and human services.  Creates and builds awareness of the United Way’s role in supporting the diverse constituencies in the community.  Maintains accountability for the overall operational and fiscal integrity of the organization with the policies set by the Board of Directors.

The scope of this position is broad, requiring the CEO to establish and maintain significant relationships with persons at all levels within the public, private, and voluntary sectors.  These persons include corporate chief executives, local government leaders, labor representatives, leaders of other funding organizations, representatives of other United Way organizations (local, state, and national), key planning organizations, and representatives of constituencies.

I.    LEADERSHIP
    A.    Provide leadership in developing financial resources to help meet the health and human services needs of the community.
        1.      Establish financial development goals with the Board of Directors.
        2.      Develop creative strategies and plans for achieving financial goals and ensure appropriate staffing of the campaign structure.

    B.    Maintain a leadership role among United Way’s constituencies.
        1.    Chair or play a key role in committees/task forces that deal with significant community issues.
        2.    Foster a defined level of mutual respect and understanding between United Way and member agencies.
        3.    Meet regularly with community decision-makers, advancing both community interests and United Way interests.
        4.    Address community groups.
        5.    Maintain regular communications with major donor groups.

    C.    Balance legitimate interests of major constituents.
        1.    Position United Way to advocate improving health and human services practices within community economic constraints and according to the values of the community.
        2.    Mediate the resolution of politically sensitive human services issues.

    D.    Participate on the state and national level in health and human service activities that affect the community.

    E.    Manage the recruitment and development of a Board of Directors that represents the entire community – including business and industry, government, labor, education, and health and human services.

    F.    Provide leadership in bringing about greater understanding among staff, board, and community related to United Way’s role in working with diverse populations.

    G.    Develop and maintain core competencies for leadership identified by the United Way Worldwide.

2.    POLICY DEVELOPMENT / PLANNING
A.    Work with the Board of Directors to identify and initiate appropriate issues requiring policy decisions/actions and assure implementation.

B.    Establish an ongoing process of staff and volunteer involvement in the development of short-range and long-range planning.
1.    Assist volunteers in assessing the United Way organization and its environment.
2.    Analyze and interpret existing conditions, opportunities, and problems.

C.    Monitor the organization’s progress against the strategic plan and annual work plan.

3.    MANAGEMENT / ADMINISTRATIVE

A.  Staff the organization with fully competent diverse professionals and delegate responsibilities/authority.  Develop organizational work plan and monitor implementation.  Promote continued professional development among staff and demonstrate and assure cultural competency of managers/staff.
1.    Create an atmosphere that fosters the development of strong, effective teams and empowers staff through involvement and participation in decision-making.

2.    Establish and ensure that the organization maintains open and honest communication both internally and externally.

 B.    Manage and direct activities of professional staff consistent with the concept of the “full-service” United Way.
 1.    Plan, organize, implement, and evaluate United Way fundraising programs, within the framework of the volunteer campaign structure and under the principles of United Way fundraising. 
 2.    Maintain stewardship and accountability for financial and capital resources (including management of property), official records, operating budgets, and campaign collection and disbursement.
 3.    Develop effective, integrated, and efficient support systems for the organization, in such areas as computer services, staff and volunteer training, and building management.                                                     
4.     Enhance public awareness, understanding, and support of human service
      needs through coordinated marketing and communications of programs,  
      including enhancing the United Way’s understanding of public perceptions and needs.                                                                                            

5.    Assess community needs and identify appropriate roles for United Way in addressing them.  Serves as a community catalyst in addressing the changing or emerging service needs, delivery systems, and population groups.
6.    Assure prudent distribution of United Way resources.
7.    Enhance the capabilities of affiliated agencies to respond to local community needs and to manage their organizations effectively.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS:
(Minimum Requirements)
1.    A Bachelor’s Degree in social work, public administration, or business administration is required.  is required; a Master’s Degree is preferred. 
2.    Ten years experience leading a nonprofit or other mission-driven organization in a senior-level executive position.
3.    Demonstrated results in planning, consensus building, facilitation, collaboration, fundraising, and managing staff and essential resources.
4.    Proven fund-raising results, with experience in complex resource development.
5.    Strong financial acumen and experience managing budgets.
6.    Demonstrated commitment and knowledge of health and human services and operations.
7.    Proficiency in the use of computer programs for accounting, word processing, databases, spreadsheets, email, and the Internet.
8.    Ability to work with volunteers, staff, partners, and community-at-large in providing leadership, direction, and resource information as needed.
9.    Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of ALICE households and barriers to educational success, through a combination of lived experience and/or professional and educational expertise. 
10.    Proven experience working with and or leading a nonprofit Board and working with diverse groups of people
11.    Excellent written, oral, and public speaking skills; persuasive and passionate communicator with strong interpersonal skills 
12.    Proficient with technology, MS Office Suite, data, and accounting software.
13.    Experience in driving high-level strategy, making critical, daily decisions that impact multiple stakeholders

CORE COMPETENCIES:
1.    Mission-Focused: The top priority is to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities.  This drives performance and professional motivation.
2.    Relationship-Oriented:  Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
3.    Collaborator:  Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize financial and human resources through meaningful engagement.
4.    Results-Driven:  Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good; creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact.
5.    Brand-Steward:  Understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.

JOB DEMANDS:
1.    Problem solving
2.    Analytical skills
3.    Speaking ability
4.    Writing ability
5.    Interpersonal skills
6.    Organizational skills
7.    Time Management skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
1.    Ability to occasionally push, pull, and/or move objects weighing up to 24 pounds.
2.    Ability to continuously perform moderately difficult manipulative tasks such as typing/keyboarding, writing, filing, phone work, etc.
3.    Ability to occasionally stand to obtain files from the top drawer of a 4-drawer file cabinet.
4.    Ability to continuously sit for prolonged periods to perform computer and clerical deskwork.
5.    Ability to effectively communicate written and verbally (i.e. clear speech and writing ability to make self clearly understood in face-to-face, phone, and electronic interactions with staff, volunteers, and customers).
6.    Ability to frequently articulate with extreme accuracy and precision to give instructions, describe a project plan, answer questions, etc.
7.    Ability to continuously see objects closely to proofread work, perform word processing, filing, etc.
8.    Ability to continuously hear normal sounds and voices with some background noise to receive verbal instructions, answer the telephone, and communicate with employees, volunteers, customers, etc.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
The President/CEO reports to the United Way of Lakeshore County Board of Directors.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This is a full-time, exempt position with a budgeted lifespan salary range for this position of $95.5k to $113k per year.  Proffered salaries are determined by several factors including the applicant’s knowledge, skills, experience, position, equity, and market. Relocation assistance is available.

HOW TO APPLY:
For consideration, please submit your cover letter and resume.

Research shows that women and people of color are less likely to apply for a job unless they meet 100% of the described qualifications. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the position and encourage applicants to think broadly about how their lived and/or professional experience has prepared them to fulfill the duties of this position.