President & CEO

at United Way of the Plains Inc. in Wichita, Kansas, United States

Job Description

United Way of the Plains’ mission is “To improve lives by harnessing the caring power of our community to advance the common good in south central Kansas.” Since 1922, we have brought together individuals and organizations to create real and lasting results. From strengthening local resilience to advancing health, youth opportunity, and financial security, United Way is mobilizing our community to action so all can thrive. We serve Sedgwick, Butler, Cowley, Sumner and surrounding counties in south central Kansas, covering approximately 800,000 people. We bring individuals and organizations together to meet the biggest needs in our community in innovative ways. We do this by forging unlikely partnerships, forming new solutions to old problems and mobilizing the best ideas and resources. But we don’t do it alone. We inspire others to join the fight. We enable individuals, groups and companies to make a difference – individually and collectively – through their time, talents and treasure.

United Way of the Plains goes beyond just funding programs. We conduct research and look for ways to address specific issues through coordinated efforts, called collective impact. We partner with nonprofits, government organizations, and businesses to address larger issues, such as homelessness, at-grade reading levels, and barriers to financial stability, including access to free tax filing services. We also help people find needed services through our 211 information line that covers most of the State of Kansas.

United Way of the Plains has a rich history dating back to 1922 when it began as the Wichita Community Chest, expanded its coverage area in 1957 as United Fund of Wichita & Sedgwick County, and expanded further in 1987 as United Way of the Plains. United Way of the Plains has a staff of 46, coordinates thousands of volunteers, and manages a total annual revenue of approximately $16 million. See more at: https://unitedwayplains.org/

Overview of Responsibilities

The President / CEO is the leader of the organization, establishing a vision for Collective Impact that is achieved through the efforts of a diverse team of high-performing leaders, staff, and volunteers alike. The President/CEO is the Chief Mobilizer; s/he leverages the power of relationships and networks, and works across private, public, and corporate sectors to improve conditions in the community. The President/CEO possesses a high level of broad business and management skills and is effective at generating resources and financial support for the organization. The President/CEO is dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good – creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies for broad investment and impact. The President/CEO is a steward of the United Way brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation of United Way. S/he is responsible for building trust in United Way and its relevance in the community. S/he values network and strives to leverage United Way’s breadth of community presence, relationships, and strategy.

Key Responsibilities/Essential Functions

The major responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Collective Impact
  The President/CEO is responsible for the overall impact of this United Way on the community, with particular emphasis on increasing its capacity to drive the impact agenda. The President/CEO is expected to be an active member within the community. The President works closely with the Board to craft and adapt the strategy to achieve this increased impact, with an emphasis on fundraising to support the mission. S/he will establish and build relationships with the United Way of the Plains employees, Board of Directors, Volunteers, and Directors of other United Way agencies. In addition, s/he will develop working relationships with top leaders in the community, including those representing the highest levels in business, organized labor, government, and non-profit sectors.
  
  
• Resource Development
  The President/CEO is charged to drive key results in fundraising; to identify, cultivate and solicit prospective donors and key leaders of prospective new corporate partners; to leverage personal and professional contacts and relationships into fundraising opportunities; to meet off-site with corporate leaders and leaders of organized labor and promote United Way of the Plains partnership using methods such as audio/visual presentations, promotional activities, providing informational materials or hosting events; and to promote a culture of fundraising in the organization, both at the staff and board level.
  
  
• Strategic Management
  The President/CEO serves as the principal resource to the Board of Directors and its key committees and gives strong direction in policy formulation and interpretation. S/he partners with the Board of Directors and the Senior Leadership team to craft organizational goals and develops strategies to ensure that they are achieved. S/he ensures coordination and alignment of all United Way activities to strategic direction in the areas of community impact, resource development, and staff alignment.
  
  
• Organization Management
  The President/CEO is accountable for building and leading high-performing teams, ensuring all teams are aligned and collaborating to achieve organizational results. S/he maintains accountability for the operational and fiscal integrity of the organization within policies set by the Board of Directors. The President/CEO assesses organizational capacity to implement strategies and identify gaps in systems and staffing; directly supervises senior leadership positions and establishes individual goals; works with the Chief Financial Officer to manage organizational spending, monitor budget compliance, and mitigate financial risks; and ensures that goals of inclusiveness and diversity among staff and volunteers are met.

Core Competencies Required for This Position

• Mission-Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities. This drives their performance and professional motivations.
• Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
• Collaborator: Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement.
• 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.
• Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.
• Visionary: Confronts the complex realities of the environment and simultaneously maintains faith in a different and better future, providing purpose, direction, and motivation.
• Team-Builder: First ensures that the right people are in the right roles at the right times; fostering commitment, trust, and collaboration among multi-cultural leaders and stakeholders.
• Outward Turning: Understands the dynamics of local, regional, and national environments, and works on an agenda rooted in the community’s own perception of its needs and aspirations.
• Business Acumen: Possesses a high-level of broad business and management skills and is effective at generating financial support for the organization.
• Network-Oriented: Values the power of networks; striving to leverage United Way’s breadth of community presence, relationships, and strategy.

United Way of the Plains is committed to providing Equal Opportunity in Employment, to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, handicap, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

United Way of the Plains participates in the federal E-Verify program.  Once a candidate accepts an offer for employment and completes federal form I-9, the I-9 information is provided to the federal government to confirm eligibility to work in the U.S.