Executive Director

Reports to: Board of Directors

Location: WellShare Headquarters, Minneapolis, MN

Classification: Non-exempt

Compensation: $130,000-$160,000. Compensation includes participation in the comprehensive benefits plan.

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:

WellShare International envisions a world where your zip code, your skin color, and your birthplace do not determine your access to quality healthcare, and where all people can achieve optimal health and wellness. Join a dynamic team building a new way of community health programming and social change work to address the impact of systemic racism in people’s ability to live healthy lives.

We are a non-profit organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with an over forty-year history of partnering with communities, health care systems, government, and social service providers to promote health equity and wellbeing. Using a community health worker (CHW) model, we work with underserved communities in Minnesota and rural Africa. WellShare has offices in Minneapolis and Mankato, Minnesota and currently serves 19 Minnesota counties and dozens of villages in the Bariadi district of Tanzania. Our programs serve people across the lifespan – including pregnant people, infants, children, youth, adults, and the elderly.

WellShare designs, implements, and evaluates community-based public health programs that focus on increasing access to healthcare, eliminating barriers to care and providing culturally tailored health education. WellShare leads programs promoting healthy living, reducing health disparities, and increasing cost-efficacy, all things that support a brighter future for our communities.

SUMMARY

The Executive Director/CEO will support the WellShare mission, leading a diverse team to success in accordance with the strategic direction set by the Board. Responsibilities include serving as WellShare’s leader while fostering relationships and promoting collaboration with communities, donors and the Board. The Executive Director/CEO will hire and provide supervision and support for the Leadership Team and ensure compliance with all contracts. The Executive Director/CEO proactively identifies evolving organizational needs, capacities, and resources and develops strategies to improve and expand organizational capacity and maintain fiduciary responsibility in ways that align with organizational values. Effective relationship management is key to success in meeting internal and external partner needs across WellShare. This person will be expected to develop and maintain a high level of community engagement and possess exceptional cultural competency.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director/CEO reports to the Board of Directors and serves as a member of the leadership team. WellShare currently has 36 staff and 12 contract workers. The Executive Director/CEO manages a budget of $3 million.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Vision and Strategy

In collaboration with the Board, develop visionary strategic plan with significant input from staff and community.
Identify, assess, and inform the Board of internal and external issues that affect the organization.
Act as a professional advisor to the Board on all aspects of the organization’s activities.
Foster effective team work between the Board and the Executive Director/CEO and between the Executive Director/CEO and staff.
In collaboration with the Chair of the Board, publicly represent WellShare.
Lead organizational culture strategy and practices that balance quality service delivery with a desirable workplace environment.
Meet a minimum of four times per year with the full Board to review programs, finances, and to discuss strategic issues.
Serve on interagency community health task forces and boards.

Fundraising

Work with the Board to secure adequate funding for the operation of the organization.
Create an annual Development Plan to ensure there are abundant resources for the effective operation of the organization and its programs, with a focus on building up unrestricted funding.
Supervise fundraising staff and grant writing and marketing consultants.
Participate actively on the Fundraising Committee.
Work with the Program Managers to renew existing program grants.
Oversee fundraising activities (review large grants, host key events, occasional grant writing, etc.).
Position WellShare to embrace a philosophy of abundance vs. scarcity.

YIELD Grant

WellShare is delighted to have recently been a recipient of a generous YIELD grant, which along with the board and staff, will provide the new Executive Director/CEO with the opportunity to create a strategic vision for how this gift can best be leveraged to the benefit of WellShare’s mission.

Program and Operational Management

Oversee the efficient and effective day-to-day operations of the organization.
Ensure that personnel, client, donor, and volunteer files are securely stored and confidentiality is maintained.
Ensure the programs and services offered by the organization align with the organization’s mission and reflect community needs.
Build effective Leadership Team culture and practices; directly supervise 4-6 senior staff.
Oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of the organization’s programs and services.
Monitor the outcomes of programs and services of the organization to maintain or improve quality.
Identify, evaluate, and manage the risks to the organization.
Ensure the Board and the organization carry appropriate and adequate insurance coverage.

Human Resources Planning and Management

Determine staffing requirements for organizational management and program delivery.
Oversee the development and implementation of the human resources policies and procedures.
Establish a positive, healthy and safe work environment in accordance with all appropriate laws and regulations.
Ensure all staff receive an orientation to the organization and that appropriate training is provided.
Implement a performance management process for staff which includes monitoring staff performance on an on-going basis, conducting an annual performance review, providing raises as appropriate and releasing staff if necessary.
Coach and mentor staff as appropriate to improve performance.

Financial Planning and Management

Work with controller and senior staff to prepare an annual organizational budget.
Approve expenditures within the authority delegated by the Board.
Ensure sound financial management practices are followed.
Administer the funds of the organization according to the Board-approved budget.
Monitor the monthly cash flow of the organization.
Provide the Board with comprehensive, quarterly reports on the revenues and expenditure of the organization.
Meet a minimum of four times per year with the Board Finance Committee to review financial statements.
Ensure the organization completes an annual audit using an independent auditing firm.
Ensure the organization complies with all laws covering taxation and withholding payments.

Community Relations/Advocacy

Represent and speak on behalf of the organization at key community, academic, funder, and program events.
Oversee development and implementation of organizational communication plan to promote the WellShare vision, services and achievements.
Establish good working relationships with community groups, funders, and organizations to achieve the goals of the organization.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Extensive leadership experience with visible progressive growth, ideally with a health organization.
Ability to raise significant unrestricted funding from major donors or foundations, make connections to funders and nurture and manage relationships.
Proven success managing a complex non-profit financial portfolio with diverse revenue streams.
Strong team leadership and organizational development experience.
Experience working with a nonprofit Board of Directors.
Experience working with culturally diverse staff and communities.
Excellent and effective interpersonal communication skills, both written and oral.
Proven ability to recruit and motivate senior staff.
Self-starter with ability to work independently, meeting high professional standards.
Experience managing third party payer claims revenue preferred.
Knowledge of nonprofit leadership and management principles.
Knowledge of state and federal nonprofit law including: employment standards, contract implementation, occupational health and safety, charities, taxation, health coverage etc.
Familiarity with the cultural communities WellShare serves.
Knowledge of human resources and financial management.
A builder with an entrepreneurial approach to non-profit leadership.
Ability to make difficult decisions in a complex and ever-changing environment.
A true leader of people with a sense of curiosity.

LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS

Analytical and Critical Thinking. Skilled with investigating and summarizing qualitative and quantitative data, drawing useful and nuanced ﬁndings, and asking critical questions to reﬁne conclusions.

Cultural Competence, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion. A commitment to the values and best practices that inform and influence the core purpose and values of the organization.

Teamwork. Comfort with and enthusiasm for working in a small team and contributing to the generation of new ideas while also maintaining an effective autonomous workﬂow.

Partnership Building. Enthusiasm for and ability to build and maintain strong interpersonal relationships and partnerships with outside organizations and individuals to inform and improve internal work-product.

Project Management. Demonstrated effectiveness in organizational and time management skills.

Program Evaluation. Solid experience with and understanding of program evaluation methods, including quantitative techniques. Emotional Intelligence and Humility. Ability to acknowledge the achievements of others, to share credit, and to welcome feedback.

TO APPLY

Inquiries may be directed to Holly Kelsey-Henry: holly@ballingerleafblad.com.

Applications will be accepted until June 14, 2024 or until the position has been filled, which may be earlier. There will be an immediate and ongoing review of candidates, so we encourage and appreciate early applications.

All inquiries will remain confidential.

WellShare International is actively looking for people with a broad background of lived experiences and identities. We are committed to hiring a staff that is representative of the communities we serve. If you believe you would succeed in this role and are not necessarily reflected in the description above, we encourage you to apply whatever your background, identities, lived experiences, or geography!