Director, Emerging Initiatives

DESCRIPTION:

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey’s (United Way) mission is to end poverty and expand opportunity for all. We are focused on new approaches to harnessing the collective power of our region to help individuals and families break the cycle of poverty and new ways of engaging and investing in the communities we serve. We deploy several tools to that end, including:  

• Convening local and national leaders to build and execute high-impact strategies to reduce economic insecurity in the region. 

• Motivating individual, corporate, and institutional philanthropy. 

• Investing in evidence-based programming to increase opportunity and employment, ensure financial empowerment for families, and resource high quality early education.  

• Measuring progress and strengthening the nonprofit sector in data/evaluation, leadership, and organizational effectiveness 

Position Description  

The Director of Emerging Initiatives plays a crucial role in our efforts to combat poverty in Philadelphia. This position involves directing ambitious, early-stage projects with a unique balance of strategic vision, stakeholder management, and hands-on execution capabilities. The Director will excel at navigating complex landscapes and applying operational rigor to ensure effective execution. This role will be pivotal in driving innovative solutions from concept to reality, ensuring that initiatives are executed with precision and alignment with organizational goals.  

In addition to project planning and day-to-day project management, this role is responsible for providing information for investor tables and clear communication with valued community partners. Strong community partnership engagement is essential to this role, as it fosters collaboration, ensures that our initiatives resonate with and meet the needs of the community, and amplifies the impact of our mission. This involves collaborating with colleagues to design and implement investor engagement and communication strategies. The role requires the ability to balance big-picture thinking with practical implementation and is coupled with a focus on operational rigor in order to deliver tangible results and drive meaningful change. By supporting external strategies and meetings, you will contribute significantly to advancing our mission and achieving our organizational objectives.  

Essential Functions and Responsibilities     

The Director of Emerging Initiatives is responsible for the following:  

Internal Project Management 

• Lead and coordinate the development, design, and implementation of innovative, high-impact anti-poverty initiatives across the organization.  

• Facilitate ideation processes and oversee initiative design by collaborating with internal and external subject matter experts.  

• Identify and integrate external consultants as needed to enhance project development.  

• Manage cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive project development and execution.  

• Develop and maintain project timelines, milestones, and deliverables while fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovative thinking and problem-solving.  

External Relationship and Investor Management  

• Support the Senior Leadership Team and other leaders to identify, acquire, and cultivate relationships with key investors for new, high-impact initiatives.  

• Research and engage potential investors/donors, analyzing profiles and designing investor tables.  

• Develop and tailor compelling pitch decks and presentations to attract and secure investment for emerging initiatives.  

• Build and maintain relationships with critical stakeholders, facilitating prospect meetings, follow-ups, and feedback collection to advance investment opportunities.  

Project Management and Execution  

• Drive the progress of all emerging initiatives, ensuring coordinated delivery against time and budget while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and excellence.  

• Build detailed plans and internal infrastructure to advance initiatives and investor engagement through the pipeline.  

• Define and track goals, timelines, and KPIs for initiatives and investor engagement, including managing pivots and reprioritization as needed.  

• Lead day-to-day management, assigning action items, and ensuring their timely completion.  

• Identify resource requirements and manage potential risks with appropriate mitigation strategies.  

• Provide regular updates to executive-level stakeholders, demonstrating clear progress and strategic direction, while fostering an environment of trust and accountability.  

Communications  

• Support the design, development, and ongoing evolution of communications materials for internal and external use.  

• Develop clear and professional materials such as solution summaries, budgets, and impact measurement plans.  

• Coordinate across departments to ensure alignment and shared understanding of emerging initiatives and ongoing refinements.  

• Create progress reports, presentations, and talking points for executive leadership and Board communications.  

• Manage stakeholder awareness through coordinated meetings and timely updates on initiative status.  

BASIC JOB QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES  

Education & Experience:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field; Master’s degree or relevant advanced certification preferred.  

• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in project management, strategic planning, or a related field, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership role. Proven experience managing complex, high-impact initiatives and working with external stakeholders and investors.  

• Experience in leading cross-functional teams and driving strategic projects to successful outcomes.  

• Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar certification is advantageous but not required.  

Knowledge:  

Technical Knowledge:  

• Deep understanding of project management methodologies, including Agile and Waterfall, with practical application skills.  

• Familiarity with strategic planning processes and experience in developing and implementing strategic initiatives.  

Industry Knowledge:  

• Knowledge of strategic planning, investor relations, and fundraising strategies.  

• Understanding of operational rigor and best practices for managing complex projects and initiatives.  

Skills:  

Technical Skills:  

• Strong project management skills, including the ability to develop detailed plans, track goals, and manage resources effectively.  

• Proficiency in using project management tools and software to monitor and report on project progress.  

Organizational Skills:  

• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.  

• Strong attention to detail to ensure accuracy and high standards in project execution.  

Communication Skills:  

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to create compelling presentations, reports, and communications materials.  

• Ability to effectively convey information and engage with a range of stakeholders, including investors, donors, and internal team members.  

Abilities:  

Strategic Vision:  

• Ability to develop and implement strategic plans that align with organizational goals and drive impactful results.  

• Strong analytical skills to assess project progress and make data-driven decisions.  

Execution and Rigor:  

• Capability to apply operational rigor in managing project execution, ensuring high standards of professionalism and excellence.  

• Skill in identifying challenges and developing innovative solutions to drive project success.  

Collaboration:  

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, fostering a collaborative environment and supporting colleagues to achieve common goals.  

• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.  

Adaptability:  

• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and manage evolving project requirements in a dynamic environment.  

• Capacity to handle multiple responsibilities and support organizational goals effectively.

Ethical Integrity:  

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical principles and practices, ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in all project activities and stakeholder interactions. 

• Maintains confidentiality and handles sensitive information with discretion and care.

• Upholds organizational values and ethical standards consistently, making decisions that reflect the highest level of integrity and respect for all stakeholders.

UWGPSNJ promotes a culture of inclusion and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected factor.

Hiring Range: $111,600-$125,000

The hiring range for this role accounts for the many factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.