Director, Chapter Relationship Leader (CRL)

Position Summary:

The Director, Chapter Advancement (CRL) will advise chapters and strengthen relationships between chapters and Make-A-Wish America. This role focuses on identifying and implementing strategies to enhance chapter performance, drive operational efficiency, financial growth, and overall success. 

The Director collaborates with chapter CEOs, Boards, and the National Office to ensure execution of enterprise strategy, align chapter priorities, and deliver resources to help chapters meet annual goals. Key responsibilities include supporting cross-initiative collaboration, sharing best practices, and driving mission effectiveness. 

Candidates should be bold, strategic, and hands-on collaborators, skilled at building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels—internally and externally. Experience in chapters and chapter board management and proactive communication is essential. 

Knowledge and Abilities: 

• Demonstrates the ability to identify and address conflict and create solutions that lead to resolution. 

• Possesses sound knowledge of operational nonprofit best practices, with ability to translate into strategic plans. 

• Demonstrates exceptional leadership skills and the ability to engage effectively with professionals at all levels of the organization, including Board members. 

• Possesses excellent communication and coaching skills, strategic thinking, and project management skills. 

• Organizes work, priorities, and follow-though to meet deadlines, and makes timely decisions with sound judgment. 

• Demonstrated consultation, collaboration, and negotiation skills. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence through change. 

Responsibilities: 

• Conduct Comprehensive Assessments: Perform thorough assessments of chapters to identify key areas of improvement and formulate actionable recommendations. 

• Develop Improvement Strategies: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement tailored strategies to address identified challenges and opportunities for improvement. 

• Financial Analysis: Analyze financial statements, budgets, and performance metrics to identify trends, anomalies, and areas for financial optimization. 

• Operational Efficiency: Streamline and support the optimization of operational processes within chapters to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall performance. 

• Performance Metrics Monitoring: Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and measure the success of improvement initiatives. 

• Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with chapter leadership, department heads, and key stakeholders to ensure alignment with improvement objectives and foster a collaborative approach to change. 

• Implementation of Best Practices: Introduce industry best practices and benchmarks to drive and support continuous improvement in overall chapter operations. 

• Team Collaboration: Collaborate with internal teams, including finance, operations, development, and mission to ensure seamless execution of improvement initiatives. 

• Training and Development: Along with chapter leadership, identify skill gaps within teams and develop training to enhance the capabilities of personnel. 

• Risk Management: Assess potential risks associated with improvement initiatives and develop contingency plans to mitigate any adverse effects. Being a critical liaison between the National Office and chapters in communicating opportunities, concerns/learnings and positioning themselves as a facilitator/enabler of building understanding and driving to solutions.  

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, or related field preferred 

• 10+ years of total years of experience. 7+ years of experience in a federated non-profit organization/environment required. Make-A-Wish Chapter leadership experience preferred.  

• Proven experience in nonprofit performance management and/or strategic consulting 

• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications required, including demonstrated expertise in Word, Excel, and Power BI  

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills 

• Strong financial acumen with project management and organizational abilities 

• Knowledge of nonprofit industry best practices and trends 

• Demonstrated high level understanding of chapter operations and issues chapter staff and board face daily. 

Work Environment  

• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced remote environment. 

• Travel to chapters, staff meetings, and conferences required, 20-25%. 

• May require work outside a traditional Monday – Friday work week, and outside normal business hours.