ABOUT UNITED WAY:

We are Uniters. We bring people together to solve problems. We identify the most pressing issues in our community, and we bring together the people we think can solve them. United Way invests in agencies that, working together, can address the nuances of complex problems like the racial wealth divide, homelessness, or the academic achievement gap. We create programs and initiatives to fill unmet needs. We empower communities and socially responsible companies as engines of change. United Way relies on a strong, effective, and strategic advocacy and public policy agenda that aligns with and supports its efforts for a just economy. We raise funds through generous donors who understand that social change can't happen without it.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

As a key member of the Economic Inclusion and Wealth Building (EIWB) team, the Senior Director of Community Strategies will focus on building, fostering, and supporting communities that are interested in or are implementing financial empowerment, wealth-building, and economic inclusion strategies through community-based partnership models. United Way is currently prioritizing community-based strategies that utilize a partnership model in pursuit of an economic inclusion-related community goal. That is, through a systems-change lens, the community partnership intends to improve or resolve a common, specific, and measurable economic inequity problem: this may include, but not be limited to, increasing population savings and wealth, expanding access to safe products and financial systems, building credit, reducing debt, or increasing overall financial wellbeing. This is a hybrid position requiring a minimum of two in-office workdays.

The Senior Director of Community Strategies will focus on two key strategies:

I. Evolution of Boston Builds Credit

Boston Builds Credit (BBC) is an innovative citywide initiative launched in 2017 and implemented in partnership with community partners to assist Boston's estimated 250,000 residents with low-to-no credit scores to achieve financial stability and upward economic mobility using credit building as a key lever. In the short-term, representing the United Way as a Lead Partner and working closely with other key United Way personnel, the Sr. Director will be responsible for the management and coordination of the BBC initiative in collaboration with our network of service providers, policy and advocacy organizations, and representatives of the public and private sectors. In the long-term, the Sr. Director will lead the transition process of shifting the BBC project director's responsibilities to a community-based partner. This will include facilitating the strategic planning and transition process with existing key partners and other United Way personnel. United Way's role as a strategic thought partner, performance evaluator, and financial supporter within BBC will continue. For more information on the Boston Builds Credit initiative, click here: https://www.bostonbuildscredit.org/

• II. Expansion of Community-based Economic Inclusion Partnerships

United Way seeks to support the launch or expansion of economic inclusion-focused partnership models in target communities within United Way's focus region over the next several years. The Sr. Director will be intently involved in the recruitment and selection process of new partnerships to provide strategic planning support, thought leadership, technical assistance, and implementation guidance, building on the history and learnings of the Boston Builds Credit initiative.

• I. Boston Builds Credit Management, Program Development, and Oversight:

Plan and oversee the administration of BBC directly and collaboratively with lead partners, community-based leaders and practitioners, and United Way associates to achieve the economic mobility vision and goals of the project:

• Collaborate with community partners to develop and implement strategies consistent with the mission, goals, and activities outlined in the BBC business plan and committee charters.
• Lead the strategic planning and implementation process to transition project management role to a community-based partner.
• Co-chair the Board and Backbone Committees while supporting the coordination and oversight of all other BBC committees in collaboration with committee chairs to maintain strategic and implementation cohesion and communication.
• Supervise and train staff assigned by United Way for the project.
• Work with the United Way's Data Analytics team to collect, analyze and report data using a shared database provided by United Way as well as other external data sources.
• Prepare timely reports on performance, demographics, budgets, and program impact for Lead Partners and funders.
• Develop and monitor contracts with vendors and consultants hired to support the partnership.
• Coordinate and monitor performance for any United Way project-related grant awards issued to community partners.
• Provide guidance and support in the development and implementation of BBC marketing campaigns in collaboration with the Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications and the UW public affairs staff; assist with content creation and management of the BBC website as needed.

• II. Expansion of Community-based Economic Inclusion Models

Support the execution of United Way's Theory of Action by collaborating in the planning and implementation process of our community-based wealth-building strategies, particularly in the exploration and scaling of partnership models that seek to expand population-level financial stability and upward economic mobility.

• Collaborate in the development and implementation of United Way's Economic Inclusion and Wealth Building community-based strategies.
• Conduct field assessment of communities that are implementing or interested in launching an economic inclusion-related partnership model to achieve population-level solutions.
• Stay abreast of wealth-building policy and program initiatives, including community partners' financial capability programs and financial institution credit and wealth-building products.
• Provide field building, training, convening, and technical assistance; develop written technical guidance, best practices, and training materials for launching and implementing an economic inclusion-related partnership model.
• Manage individual field projects in the EIWB area as assigned.
• Oversee and manage future partner grants throughout the performance period.
• Prepare timely reports on performance, demographics, budgets, and program impact on assigned projects.
• Document and report updates and developments in the field, including internal and external reporting, data management, and record keeping.

Qualifications Required:

• Degree from a four-year college, graduate degree, or 5 years of demonstrated experience in program implementation, handling multiple priorities, and/or working for a nonprofit or community-based organization.
• At least 5 years of experience working with community-based economic mobility and wealth-building issues, particularly in community-based credit and wealth-building strategies.
• Experience working with community-based partnership models seeking to achieve economic inclusion of marginalized communities.
• Sound understanding of community-based collaboration and partnership models, particularly collective impact models. For more information on the structure of a collective impact, model click here: https://collectiveimpactforum.org/what-is-collective-impact/.
• Strong understanding of banking and financial products and systems in relation to credit and wealth-building community-based strategies.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach, lead, and develop high-performance teams, set, and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget.
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
• Robust analytical skills; demonstrable commitment to program quality and data-driven performance evaluation.
• Strong comprehension of Gateway community dynamics and economies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; bilingual skills desired.
• Proficient in delivering presentations to groups utilizing various formats and settings.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends from time to time, as needed.

Work Environment:

No unusual physical requirements.

Timeframe:

Seeking full-time staffer to start as soon as possible.