What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vice President of Mission Services position at Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan?
Goodwill Southwestern Michigan (SWMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The organization is comprised of 250 dedicated team members to help achieve its mission of improving the community by providing employment, education, training, and support services tailored to individual needs across a six-county territory.
At Goodwill SWMI, the work they do is effective in the lives of the individuals we serve and, in turn, in the communities in which we live. Goodwill SWMI manages eleven retail stores (with attached, attended donation centers and one stand-alone donation center), E-commerce Retail, Contract Manufacturing Operations as well as Custodial & Janitorial business units. These business operations provide stability to our organization that is not always enjoyed by nonprofit organizations solely funded by outside sources.
The organization’s values shape its culture and guide its interactions with program participants, customers, the community, and one another. Their shared commitment to Living the Mission; Promoting Teamwork; Driving Collaboration; Taking Responsibility for our Actions and Behaviors; and Respecting and Appreciating Others is what makes them successful and inspires all that they do.
An ongoing strategic planning effort is underway to increase market position in the face of formidable competition, engage customers and donors with their mission, and ensure every product reaches its best possible use.
In support of these priorities, Goodwill SWMI will:
- Support Members to Scale Impact
- Advance their Competitive Position Together
- Elevate and Protect their Brand
Job Title: Vice President of Mission Services
Position Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Reports To: President/Chief Executive Officer
Direct Reports: Mission Services Leadership Staff & Teams
Position Summary:
The Vice President of Mission Services determines strategy and direction for all of Goodwill’s missions, education, and community programming. The position is responsible for the strategic design, implementation, and oversight of all Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan program services serving both internal and external participants. This includes planning, developing, implementing, and monitoring services to assist individuals in the achievement of their maximum potential, through barrier removal, training, and development.
These services must be responsive to the objectives of consumers, funding agencies, and employers; in compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards; and operated with financial efficiency. This position also directs the efforts to expand mission and education initiatives throughout Southwestern Michigan aligning our organization with the area's economic development goals.
This position reports directly to the President/CEO of Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan (GWSWMI) and is a valued member of the executive team. There will be considerable interaction with all of Goodwill’s boards, including the strategic grant funding relationships throughout Southwestern Michigan stakeholders.
The Vice President of Mission Services is a champion in the advancement of Goodwill’s mission through diverse, established, and new and innovative programs and services. The VP of Mission Services oversees and supports the advancement of the overall Mission function by ensuring operational effectiveness. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. This role demonstrates behaviors consistent with our Mission, Vision, and Values, on behalf of Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan.
Overall Responsibilities:
- Provides strategic leadership and oversight for all mission-related programs, ensuring alignment with the organization’s goals and values. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing workforce development, training, and community outreach programs to support individuals in achieving sustainable employment and self-sufficiency. The Vice President collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to expand program impact and secure funding opportunities.
- Works closely with Retail Leadership to intentionally integrate our program participants into retail positions and provide support through Career Coaches to help them achieve self-sufficiency.
- Works cooperatively with other agency staff to accomplish the mission, including offering training and employment opportunities for program participants and selected populations.
- Works collaboratively with the Training and Development Department to ideate appropriate resources for external clients and employees.
- Has ownership of financial and budgetary oversight for the mission service areas and is responsible for leading, collaborating, and holding program leaders accountable for prudent management of their budgets, KPI scorecard, and community impact data collection.
- Develops, manages, and oversees grant submissions for programs and services and is accountable for achieving goals and annual stakeholder reporting.
- Continually reviews agency services to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and customer satisfaction, and assures the continued development, implementation, and monitoring of an effective outcome measurement system to provide data for this purpose.
- Develops and maintains positive, productive relationships with a broad spectrum of educational, governmental, and social service agencies. Identifies prospective partners and pursues the development of such partnerships.
- Build and nurture positive community relations with existing and potential funders, businesses, and the professional community to enhance the public image and awareness of Goodwill’s mission.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the highest standards possible in relationships with internal and external associates of Goodwill while maintaining awareness of opportunities and strategic initiatives to maximize the support of Goodwill’s programs and services.
- Participates with other executive staff and the Goodwill Board of Directors to formulate and update the agency’s strategic plan, with a particular focus on strategic direction for career services.
- Ensures compliance with agency policies, procedures, and safety standards throughout areas supervised, and maintains same to meet CARF, Department of Labor, HIPAA, grant/contract requirements, and other legal regulatory standards as well as Goodwill’s Code of Ethics.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in human or social services, education, business administration, operations, or related field required. A master’s degree is strongly preferred.
- 10 years of proven executive-level experience developing and leading Non-Profit and/or Workforce Development initiatives and teams.
- Must have budget management responsibility of $5M .
- Strong relationship builder, collaborator, and communicator with experience leading diverse work teams, developing an enterprise-wide strategy for program excellence, engaging community partners, and partnering with a President/CEO and board of directors.
- Demonstrated knowledge of economic & workforce development initiatives; resourced to influence diverse populations with barriers to employment.
- Demonstrates integrity, strives for excellence in their work, and has experience in leading others to new levels of effectiveness and programmatic impact.
- A strong track record of operational and leadership excellence.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with multiple stakeholders to achieve mission goals.
- Strong proficiency in MS Office suite, Word, PPT, Excel, & database analytics.
- Due to the nature of the participant population, this position must possess expertise in workforce development issues from a statewide perspective with a focus on middle-skill jobs.
- Strong analytical skills combined with demonstrated leadership qualities are essential; can point to tangible examples of reporting and program measurement and evaluation.
- Demonstrated financial and accounting acumen, including strong skills in budgeting and financial analysis, including ROI justification and reporting.
- Project management skills, including the ability to identify, coordinate, and complete commitments on new projects and provide detailed documentation on in-house solutions.
Physical and Work Condition Requirements:
- This job may have physical requirements that are considered sedentary work. Sedentary work involves sitting for long periods of time; occasional bending, squatting, kneeling, and stooping; good finger dexterity and feeling; frequent repetitive motions; talking, hearing, and visual acuity and occasional lifting up to 10 pounds.
- Travel to multiple locations across the entire state beyond the assigned work location is moderately required.
- The position requires a valid driver’s license. Reliable personal transportation.
- Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, theft-related background check, and be insurable under the agency’s automobile insurance policy.
Personal Characteristics Desired:
- Ability to think creatively, innovatively, and analytically.
- Demonstrates passion, determination, and a results-oriented mindset to achieve success.
- Thinks critically, develops long-term plans, and aligns efforts with organizational goals.
- Works effectively with cross-functional teams, fostering strong relationships and teamwork.
This job description outlines the primary responsibilities and qualifications for the Vice President of Mission Services position. The role may evolve over time, and additional duties may be assigned as deemed necessary by the President/CEO and the organizational needs.
Please send resumes to: a.jablonski@stantonchase.com