Director of Community Initiatives

ABOUT UNITED WAY OF GREENVILLE COUNTY

For over 100 years, we have united the community to help people live better, safer, and more successful lives. While our work has evolved to meet the challenges of the day, our vision remains the same: We believe everyone should have access to the tools and opportunities that empower them to achieve their full potential.

MISSION & VISION

Our mission is to mobilize people and resources to improve lives, strengthen the community, and advance equity for the benefit of all. Our vision is a Greenville County where all people have access to the opportunities to achieve their full potential.

STAR VALUES

Our focus on collaboration, internally and externally, connects our team and work to our community so we can achieve the balance and symmetry needed to consistently show up for all of Greenville County.

SUPPORT- We collaborate with our team, stakeholders and organizations to support our community and move our mission forward.

TRUST- With integrity and respect, we embrace transparency and build relationships with each other and the community to deliver on our promises.

ACT- Each day we show up to do our best work for our coworkers, our investors and our community by staying proactive, adaptable and innovative.

REFLECT- We reflect the change we wish to see within our communities by holding each other accountable to our mission, recognizing how our leadership today will impact the future of Greenville County.

WHERE WE SERVE

United Way of Greenville We serve people across the cities of Greenville, Greer, Fountain Inn, Simpsonville, Mauldin, and Travelers Rest. Our impact also extends to the following communities: Berea, City View, Dunean, Five Forks, Gantt, Golden Grove, Judson, Parker, Piedmont, Sans Souci, Marietta, Taylors, Tigerville, Wade Hampton, Ware Place, and Welcome.

OUR STRATEGY

Poverty is persistent in Greenville County. We can’t let it win—because everyone deserves a shot at a better life. Our donor base is changing. So much we. From Baby Boomers to Gen Z and beyond, we must adapt and evolve to remain relevant.

To flip the script and win for our community, United Way of Greenville County must inspire and activate donors to increase access and reduce barriers to higher earnings for low-income earning members of the community.

WHERE TO PLAY

Our strategy to reduce barriers to higher earnings starts with increasing access in four critical areas:

• Affordable Housing
• Post Secondary Education
• High-Quality, Affordable Childcare
• Transportation and Mobility

INVEST IN ONLY WHAT WORKS

Nobody likes a bad investment. Data-driven decision-making ensures we’re making smart choices.

TELL STORIES THAT CHANGE NARRATIVES AND INSPIRE

Knowing is only half the battle. To unite the community behind real solutions, we tell stories that reframe common narratives about the causes of poverty and how to solve it.

FIGHT FOR POLICIES THAT HELP, NOT HURT

It takes more than money to win for our community. We advocate at all levels of government for policies that help us beat back poverty.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Community Initiatives is a key member of the Community Impact Team with responsibility for the development and implementation of high-impact community programs and partnerships that reduce barriers to higher earnings for low-income community members. This role will be responsible for identifying key opportunities, launching and managing initiatives, and driving measurable results that align with United Way’s mission and How We Win strategy. The Director of Community Initiatives also strives to achieve positive outcomes by leveraging individual and organizational relationships, engaging stakeholders, and demonstrating impact.

Reports to: Vice President, Community Impact

Location: Greenville, SC

FLSA Status: Exempt

Key Relationships:

External: United Way funded partners, foundation staff, Greenville County’s corporate, civic, volunteer, community, and religious leaders. Local, state, and federal agency leaders and key staff. United Way state and national network leaders.

Internal: Volunteers associated with VITA and Community Impact Committee; United Way staff.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITES

Initiative Leadership and Development

• Leads UWGC Community Impact teammates to implement programmatic initiatives, execute detailed project plans, and ensure resource accessibility/availability to achieve equitable outcomes.

• Strategically leads and aligns processes for UWGC’s signature initiatives, Opportunity Center, 2-1-1, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, to further UWGC’s community impact.

• Pilots, tests, and scales innovative programs that align with United Way’s mission and organizational strategy.

• Serves as a thought leader by identifying and championing strategies, communicating UWGC’s strategic direction and priorities, and demonstrating impact to external audiences.

• Researches, collects, and utilizes data and best practices to identify and implement solutions that reduce barriers to higher earnings for low-income community members.

• Maintains a current understanding of and effectively articulates United Way of Greenville County’s How We Win strategy, impact initiatives, and results.

Impact Management

• Cross-functionally, develops and oversees measurement framework to ensure documentation of targets and regularly scheduled review of data measuring Community Impact program efficacy.

• Utilizes a data-driven approach to develop, manage, and evaluate initiatives.

• Evaluates progress and determines if recalibration is necessary. Ensures that problems are addressed quickly, and appropriate measures are taken in partnership with the Vice President of Community Impact.

Relationship Management

• Convenes and connects relevant influencers to develop strategic and programmatic partnerships that help low-income community members become financially stable. Manages and navigates often complex, multi-faceted relationships with public, private, funded, and unfunded partners.

• Maintains knowledge of current and evolving community needs, resources, trends, and best practices to develop and implement impactful solutions. Participates in appropriate internal and external committees.

• Ensures frequent and ongoing input from the community.

• Creates and maintains a culture of collaboration, trust, and accountability between community stakeholders, partners, and United Way staff. Be an effective ambassador of United Way programs and initiatives.

Internal Leadership

• Provides oversight, guidance, and coaching to direct reports.

• Proactively responds to and resolves issues regarding funding, staffing, capacity, local community need, and other barriers.

• Advises fundraising teams in securing resources and aligning grant funding.

• Works with teammates to develop annual line-item budgets for initiatives. Provides oversight and monitoring for initiative budgets.

• Performs other duties as requested by supervisor.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

• Five plus years of related professional experience.

• Experience in team leadership and management, strategic thinking, program development and implementation, volunteer management, research, evaluation, and report writing.

• Strong written communication skills.

• Experience with meeting facilitation, public speaking, and training.

• Knowledge and use of current Microsoft Office and its applications. Database experience a plus.