United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region is looking for an impassioned, motivated individual to bring leadership and professional experience in the accomplishment of UWBCKR’s mission, vision, and community impact goal in Education (To Improve High School Graduation Rates and Reduce Racial and Economic Disparities in Graduation Rates) and 3 Strategic Education Priorities:
- Early Childhood Success and Kindergarten Readiness
- Early Grade Reading Achievement
- Social Emotional Well-being
Additionally, this position will also assume responsibility for providing staff leadership and managing a volunteer committee in the setting and execution of UWBCKR’s annual Public Policy agenda, strategies and activities.
This professional-level position reports directly to the Vice President of Community Impact and will bring vision, expertise, leadership, and commitment to equity & inclusiveness to United Way’s overall impact work in delivering on strategies for real, meaningful change; working collaboratively with Community Impact team members, UWBCKR staff and volunteers, Funded Partners’ Organizations, various community stakeholders, local and non-local legislators and elected officials, and a network of other key partners to make it happen.
A successful Director of Education and Public Policy will work diligently along with the full Community Impact Team to transform our region by consistently delivering the following professional outcomes:
- Administers UWBCKR’s Education priority work and grant portfolio in the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, including but not limited to managing grant investment processes and activities for development of Requests For Proposals (RFPs), preparation and submission of grant applications from area nonprofit organizations, and required reporting.
- Leads, supports, convenes, and facilitates community-wide Education initiatives; recruiting, coordinating, and collaborating with community partnership groups.
- Advances selected strategies that further UWBCKR’s community impact Education goals and strategies for change, as well as intersections with UWBCKR’s community impact goals and strategies in the areas of Health, Income and Basic Needs.
- Provides technical assistance and staff expertise to Funded Partner Organizations
- Assesses and aligns/re-aligns UWBCKR’s strategies, common data indicators and measures, initiatives and programs as needed to focus work on the outcome of achieving stated community goals
- Provides critical thinking and analysis of program-level outcome data provided by Funded Partner Organizations to assess and evaluate performance of programs, impact of grant investments and measure progress made on strategies and goals
- Builds broad-base of networks and relationships to advance select Education strategies and community-wide initiatives; including partnerships with United Way Worldwide, other United Ways and funding organizations, and other local, state , and national organizations, partners and stakeholders that can support the advancement of local Education efforts.
- Actively recruits, develops, manages and supports diverse volunteer committees; facilitates volunteer engagement activities and motivates team towards fulfilling United Way’s mission, vision, community goals and objectives.
- Engages and partners with philanthropic organizations outside of UWBCKR investing funds and resources into community programs and initiatives, representing both private and public sectors.
- Works cross-functionally within organization team to support the alignment of Educational work and initiatives with strategies for targeted resource development, fundraising and donor engagement strategies.
- Provides direct staff leadership and clear direction in developing and executing on standard operating procedures on UWBCKR’s annual public policy agenda, strategies and activities at local, state and national levels.
- Identifies, researches, monitors, and advocates for key local and /or regional public policy issues, performs analysis on organizational priority issues, develops strategy, convenes discussion and provides issue advocacy leadership and community education as appropriate.
- Identifies public policy strategies and opportunities that support system change, funding opportunities, and advocacy partnerships; mobilizes the Public Policy Committee, UWBCKR Board members and companies, other volunteers, agency representatives and other external constituencies for action in support of public policy agenda.
- Cultivates and maintains relationships with local, state, and federal policymakers; disseminates information about public policy information, efforts and successes, including communication through newsletters, email action "alerts" and social media.
- Works in partnership with other local, statewide and national Public Policy & Advocacy committees and coalitions
- Serves as a staff ambassador of United Way at various community meetings, conferences, committees; attend, represent and participate in special events and functions on behalf of the organization.
- Additional duties and responsibilities within the organization to be assigned as needed
- Previous educational and professional experience in the fields of Education and Public Policy
- Professional, collaborative and knowledgeable personality that appropriately represents the United Way organization and culture.
- Working knowledge of public policy and legislative issues impacting populations in poverty, working on limited income, disabled, families with children, seniors, homeless, immigrant/refugee, etc., desirable
- Excellent written and oral skills
- Prior experience with financial analysis and management
- Prior experience with data collection, performance evaluation and data research
- Prior experience with grant management
- Prior experience with meeting facilitation and public speaking
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Windows products including: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Adobe Pro.
- Ability to maintain the confidentiality of highly sensitive information.
- Demonstrated superior project planning and project management skills. Demonstrated skills in designing work plans, timelines, and managing for results.
- Ability to work independently and take initiative.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to work with a diverse range of community organizations and populations is also required.
- A continual, passionate commitment to the work of United Way and the community we serve.
Salary: $51,000 to $60,000 per year