POSITION SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (SVP & COO) serves as an officer of a 30M+ organization and primary partner to the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in shaping and driving the strategy and leading the development and ongoing management of United Way of Central Maryland’s (UWCM) vision, mission and strategic direction; its governance system; human resources, talent management, equity, diversity, and inclusion (as executive sponsor from EMT), and benefits systems; enterprise-wide risk management program; learning and policy compliance programs and systems, information technology, and various accreditation programs. The SVP & COO has oversight for the multi-location facilities, resources, and administrative activities that support them and leads all aspects of the Executive Office/Administration Division’s operations, personnel, and multiple budgets. The position also serves as executive champion for the organization’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and its organization-wide initiatives and programming at staff and board levels. The SVP & COO regularly authors a wide range of communications, messages, and thought leadership pieces from the President and CEO, Executive Management Team (EMT), and on behalf of various board and volunteer leaders, serving as a voice for the organization and steward of the brand.
As a member of the EMT, the SVP & COO makes proactive and knowledgeable strategy and business decisions for the organization and serves as a primary resource for problem prevention and resolution, offering technical assistance and counsel across the organization and to partner organizations, corporations, and entities in a wide range of industries across the region. The SVP & COO also leads and coordinates the Maryland State Association of United Ways (group of 10 independent United Ways across the State of Maryland) and provides guidance and shared oversight to UWCM’s relationship with the Maryland information Network (211 Maryland, Inc.) and the Maryland Department of Health on matters related to 211 Maryland. The position also leads various national and local certification/accreditation programs and oversees contracts, agreements, and related legal matters and represents the organization and its President and CEO, as needed, at local, state, national, and international levels.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES includes, but are not limited to:
40% Strategy, Leadership, Governance, Oversight and Accountability (Internal and External)
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Lead comprehensive strategic planning processes. Demonstrate insight and stewardship with future-oriented thinking, working to build a stronger organization. Think long-term, stretching horizons to develop an image of how UWCM and the community should work and energize others to commit to the vision. Help ensure that UWCM evolves/ transforms, as needed, and that its long-range plans mesh with community and customer needs. Review plan to identify goals and objectives to drive strategy; works with the Executive Management Team (EMT) in determining resources needed and ensures execution.
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Champion equity and drive change, demonstrating willingness and ability to initiate, lead and/or support change management initiatives. Anticipate and, when possible, prevent problems/issues by identifying and diagnosing them well, seeing the crux of the issue, its potential impact and people/functions affected; seeking effective, collaborative solutions.
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Provide ongoing management activities across the organization; ensuring annual goals and work plans are aligned to the strategic direction, implemented, monitored, and reported. Serve as primary executive partner to the Strategic Planning Committee and develop reports and organizational scorecards to the Board and related organizational oversight bodies.
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Drive the development and ongoing maintenance of a “best in class” governance system that ensures required volunteer resources and effective policies, systems, and supports as well as compliance with United Way Worldwide and related certification/regulatory bodies such as CARF (Center for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). Build and maintain productive relationships with a diverse corps of board members and volunteers; engage and empower them to maximize effectiveness.
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Partner with CEO in leading and managing the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Manage the Strategic Planning Committee, Governance Committee, Enterprise Risk Management Committee, HR Advisors, and other volunteer committees, ad hoc groups (e.g., board advisory group on real estate and conflicts of interest matters) and tasks forces, as needed.
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Provide leadership and oversight to the growth and management of the governance aspects of UWCM’s six regional volunteer advisory boards, ensuring their work is aligned to UWCM’s strategic direction and that the organization effectively leverages their on-the ground perspective as UWCM’s “eyes, ears, voice and presence” in the respective jurisdictions of the organization’s service area.
20% Talent Management, Diversity and Organizational Development (Internal & External)
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Act as primary people officer with the VP of People and Culture by overseeing the development and execution of a leadership and talent management strategy, policies and procedures, systems, and all aspects of human resources administration. Help staff leaders, teams, and individuals grow in pursuit of UWCM’s goals via a performance-driven, collaborative culture. Oversight responsibilities include talent acquisition and retention, career management, benefits rewards, recognition, and employee engagement.
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Guide management in continuous improvement/organizational learning through education and development activities designed to foster growth, ensure effective succession planning, team building, and customer service aligned to UWCM’s mission. Develop individual abilities by coaching, mentoring, and advising; and ensure tools and systems are in place to help groom all staff for success/advancement with emphasis on high potential/high performers.
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Foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture in partnership with the VP of People and Culture that enables openness to learning and new ideas and supports teamwork and recognizes, rewards and celebrates team accomplishments. Serve as formal mentor in the organization’s Mentorship Program and an informal mentor, as requested to the organization’s vice presidents and associate vice presidents the IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Learning) Committee and Internal United Way Workplace Fundraising Campaign Committee.
20% Information Technology (Internal and External)
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Oversee effective management and efficient utilization of all UWCM IT resources including work to provide comprehensive computer and communications development and production in new and existing applications and systems, networking, telecommunications, and information management for the organization; appropriately leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) enterprise.
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Oversee the analysis of systems and processes and implementation of infrastructure improvements with a focus on systems integration across the organization. Ensure a focus on high-payoff innovative improvements that drive costs down with solutions that improve the efficiency of Information Technology and business operations.
10% General Management & External Relationship Building (Internal and External)
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Serve on UWCM’s Executive Management Team as well as task forces and committees. Provide supervision, coaching, and development to staff both in the Executive Office/Administration Division as well as to staff across the organization, as needed.
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Play key role in the development and stewardship of UWCM’s budget and multiple cost centers including Executive Office, Region United Network Boards (six), Strategic Planning, Volunteer Development, Human Resources, Operations and Organizational Development, and Maryland State Association of United Ways.
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Serve as a corporate officer and signatory for various UWCM accounts and grant and other legal agreements. Oversee various national certification programs and related accountability & trust building activities for the organization.
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Coordinate the State Association of United Ways and other external groups, as needed. Represent UWCM and its CEO, as requested, at local, state, national and international levels. Participate in partnerships and collaborative efforts to further United Way’s mission as needed.
10% Administration, Operations and Risk Management (Internal & External)
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Leads the establishment and ongoing maintenance of UWCM’s organization-wide Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Program in collaboration with the CFO. Is primary partner to the board-level ERM Committee and provides oversight and guidance to the cross-functional staff-level ERM Committee which is managed by the VP of Operations and Organizational Development.
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Provides oversight for all facilities management (main headquarters and satellite offices as well as its family centers in South Baltimore, West Baltimore, and Columbia to ensure a good working environment and quality customer service.
INTERACTION: (Internal and External)
Includes a wide range of constituents in private, public and nonprofit sectors at local, state & national levels.
Internal: President and CEO, Executive Management Team Members, All United Way of Central Maryland Staff, Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Governance Committee, Enterprise Risk Management Committee, Region United Network Boards, and UWCM volunteers
External: United Way Worldwide and local United Ways across the U.S. and beyond, public and private sector businesses and organizations, local and national foundations, community leaders and residents, and Federal, state, and local government officials and staff
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
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Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 10 years general management and supervisory experience with demonstrated performance in nonprofit management. Masters degree preferred.
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Must possess strong, strategic planning, governance, marketing and public relations, organizational development, information technology, fundraising and/or program experience with extensive knowledge of United Way system.
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Demonstrate leadership, vision, and insight; excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills, customer focus, teamwork, and strength in managing volunteers & coaching staff.
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Provide excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and follow through
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Be achievement-oriented; exuding initiative and enthusiasm while demonstrating uncompromising responsibility, courage, self-discipline, emotional intelligence, and self-confidence, even in the face of difficulties.
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Have integrity; being committed to ethical conduct and UW’s mission; displaying caring with sound judgment.
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Be adaptable and open to alternative solutions & flexible in interacting with others.
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Pursue continuous learning & self-mastery; analyzing strengths/weaknesses & creating plans for growth.
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Demonstrate a deep commitment to equity and social justice, championing and propelling UWCM’s multi-faceted equity roadmap initiatives forward.
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Be inclusive - networks and partners with a broad and diverse group of stakeholders.
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Be politically astute and acts as a key influencer in United Way and acts in its best interests at all times.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: (sitting, standing, lifting, etc.)
Ability to stand or sit for extended periods; stamina to work long hours; ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. for short distances.
