INTRODUCTION:

Granite United Way (GUW) is one of the pre-eminent nonprofits in the state of New Hampshire. Over the last 20 years the organization has grown from one location to the consolidation of 7 of the 11 United Ways in New Hampshire and has collectively raised and invested nearly $200M into social services programs. These investments were made through over 1,000 nonprofit agency partners and direct delivery services. These include a full-service 211 NH call center, a Family Resource Center, and leadership of statewide programs such as Recovery Friendly Workplace and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Today, Granite United Way covers 85% of New Hampshire and all of Windsor County, Vermont. The combined entity annually raises and delivers $14M in support to over 600 nonprofits.

Granite United Way seeks an innovative leader to serve as its next President & CEO. The successful candidate will shape the future of the organization by increasing engagement and impact across the communities we serve. Established in 2010 to bring together local United Ways to have a greater Impact, GUW is at an exciting turning point and evolving to a thriving United Way that builds upon local expertise and the ability to leverage the power of a large multi-regional United Way.

The vision of Granite United Way is to be the preferred way people work together to build a community that values its collective responsibility to care for each other. All employees at GUW are integral to our ability to achieve our mission. Performance of the job duties outlined below will enable the organization to follow through on our promises to the communities we serve.

The next President & CEO, in partnership with the Board of Directors and senior leadership, will support and drive the Strategic Plan for the $14M organization and its 70+ employees. The successful candidate will come with a growth mindset, proven progressive leadership experience, excellent track record in fundraising, advocacy, and strong communication and networking skills. In the Spring of 2023, Granite United Way completed a strategic plan and identified 4 priorities: Evolve Partnerships, Increase Diversity, Tell Our Story, and Build Capacity. The next President & CEO will position GUW as the primary expert for local and statewide solutions while demonstrating a passion for United Way and its partners.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Visibility

• Provide charismatic leadership for GUW by championing the strategic vision, operational plan, staffing structure and alignment to achieve GUW’s mission and strategic goals.

• Provide leadership to a large and diverse Board of Directors, approximately 100 local Community Impact volunteers, and 70+ person professional staff located across seven locations, a Family Resource Center, the 211 NH Call Center, and three Public Health Networks.

• Serve as a collaborative and guiding force in unifying the seven current regions of GUW to leverage the unique strengths of local communities. Build a working knowledge of GUW programs and the missions and capabilities of over 100 partner organizations with the goal of creating collaborative approaches to health and human service issues.

• Identify and champion statewide opportunities to increase resources, mission, and visibility of GUW and its partners.

• Foster partnerships and collaborations with local government agencies, nonprofits, healthcare providers, and community organizations to streamline service delivery and ensure that Granite United Way initiatives are integrated into the social service ecosystem.

• Display exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal. Experience communicating with media, government, volunteer-led and community-based organizations. Comfortable communicating with diverse stakeholders to build collaboration in a variety of settings. This role is the primary spokesperson for the Board of Directors and the organization.

Management

• Proven management and leadership skills are required. Granite United Way is a complex organization with a $14M budget, over 70 full time employees, and hundreds of volunteers. The President & CEO will directly supervise a senior leadership team, who are the thought leaders for their departments.

• The President & CEO serves as the lead staff to the Board of Directors and is responsible for all aspects of board governance and engagement.

• Granite United Way has a wide array of programs and initiatives. The President & CEO will need to have the ability to work with the Board of Directors and senior leadership to determine when programs should be expanded, outsourced, or shuttered.

• The ability to retain and recruit staff is critical to GUW’s success. Demonstrated experience as a motivational leader who retains and grows their teams is an advantage.

Government Relations & Advocacy

• Serve as the designated spokesperson for GUW in communicating with local, state and federal government officials, press and public at large on health and human service issues.

• Align the multiple GUW programs and initiatives into a concise policy platform that advocates for key pillars of our work, including 211 NH Information & Referral, Early Childhood, Housing, Financial Empowerment, and Public Health.

Resource Development & Fundraising

• Serve as Granite United Way’s champion and lead spokesperson for the annual campaign and biennium state contracts process. Experience with public speaking and the ability to form quick and lasting relationships is an essential skill.

• Identify corporate, public, and private funding opportunities for GUW and its partners. Including the ability to identify and connect with new audiences. Provide vision, energy and leadership to the GUW $7M annual campaign by building relationships with corporate and individual donors.

• Provide leadership and vison to sustain and grow GUW programs funded by contracts and earned income ($5M annually.) These programs require strong relationships with state, municipal, and elected leaders. Familiarity with New Hampshire state government and how it operates is critical to these relationships.

• Experience working with New Hampshire and Vermont health and human services networks, is desired. Understanding of the various departments, divisions, and bureaus that GUW intersects with is important. The President & CEO will have a strong understanding of the health and human service delivery system in NH and VT, as well as demonstrated experience working with government systems, particularly in the areas of public health, behavioral health, and safety. The President & CEO will be responsible for ensuring the continuation and growth of these crucial partnerships as a strategy for addressing the most complex public health needs in our states.

Community Engagement

• Champion increased engagement with partner agencies and volunteers. Granite United Way supports both established and emerging NH and VT nonprofits. The President & CEO will lead the implementation of GUW’s new grant making process. This process will increasingly focus on uplifting grassroots and emerging nonprofits who serve marginalized populations. The successful candidate will have the ability to envision and implement collaborations with partners who align with GUW to create solutions that no one agency can deliver on its own.

• Granite United Way has prioritized engaging volunteers. Granite United Way has set an ambitious goal of engaging 10,000 volunteers by 2026. Experience leading or collaborating with volunteer organizations is vital.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS:

• Growth and opportunity driven, strategic thinker with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, strong operational skills

• Exemplary nonprofit and government relations experience

• Existing reputation and relationships in NH and VT are preferred

• Solid knowledge of the state legislative process and ability to navigate the political, economic, and social environments that impact fundraising and public policy decision making

• Collaborative and creative management style, trustworthy, demonstrating high ethical standards

• Experienced negotiator and facilitator, able to bring people together regardless of differing needs and viewpoints to pursue the common good for network goals, public policy and legislation

• Well-organized and self-directed, able to think independently and identify potential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, proven ability to strategically utilize social media and technology, able to deliver persuasive speeches and presentations on complex topics

• Master’s degree preferred. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; and ten years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Consistently demonstrates the values and mission of United Way

• Performs other duties as assigned

ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The venue of this position is a general office environment that is clean, well-lighted, environmentally comfortable, free of fumes or airborne particles, and only minimally exposes employees to office solvents limited to those relative to copier equipment.

• Minimal requirement to reach at or above shoulder level; occasional reaching below shoulder level required

• Hand manipulation - equipment and controls, frequent; grasping and handling, occasional

• Ability to travel throughout the territory required

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, which may include night and weekends

• Ability to tolerate prolonged sitting and/or standing and to lift approximately 50 pounds to waist high level whenever necessary.

• Mobility includes regular sitting, some standing and walking.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

At Granite United Way, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the hard work and dedication of our employees. In addition to your salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, disability, life, and pet insurance, as well as a 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match. Granite United Way also provides paid time off, including vacation days, holidays, and sick leave to support your work-life balance. Furthermore, we encourage ongoing professional development and offer opportunities for growth within the company. Our commitment to our team members goes beyond financial rewards; it extends to a supportive and inclusive work environment that fosters career satisfaction and personal well-being