HUGS Foundation Director

HUGS Foundation Director

Rochester, NY

JK Executive Strategies is proud to partner with the HUGS Foundation in search of a Director to join its team! The HUGS Foundation Director is a highly visible leadership role responsible for overseeing the Foundation’s fundraising operations, international medical mission logistics, donor engagement activities, and signature events. This individual will serve as the operational backbone of the organization, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

About the HUGS Foundation

The HUGS Foundation supports international humanitarian surgical missions and philanthropic initiatives that provide life-changing medical care to underserved communities worldwide. The Foundation currently conducts approximately seven international missions annually and hosts two major fundraising events each year to support its work.

Responsibilities

Foundation Leadership & Operations

• Lead day-to-day operations of the HUGS Foundation, ensuring efficient execution of all initiatives and activities.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Foundation’s Board of Directors while also managing tactical execution and administrative oversight.
• Maintain operational timelines, project plans, mission calendars, and event workflows.
• Coordinate across internal stakeholders, volunteers, medical teams, vendors, donors, and international partners.
• Oversee organizational processes, documentation, and logistics related to missions and fundraising activities.
• Support Board Chair/CEO leadership by ensuring operational continuity and execution of Foundation priorities.
• Supervise and support administrative staff and volunteers involved in Foundation activities.

International Mission Planning & Logistics

• Coordinate and execute all logistical and operational aspects of approximately seven annual international medical missions.
• Manage international travel coordination for medical teams and volunteers.
• Source hotels, negotiate contracts, and oversee accommodations management.
• Coordinate with travel agencies and transportation providers.
• Manage mission timelines and country-specific requirements.
• Coordinate international correspondence with ministries of health, hospitals, and local partners.
• Oversee travel documentation, passports, medical credentials, licensing, and compliance paperwork.
• Coordinate medical equipment and supply transport, including international shipment logistics.
• Manage mission-related communications and detailed scheduling.
• Problem-solve and develop contingency plans for rapidly changing international conditions and travel challenges.
• The Foundation’s missions currently include locations throughout Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, Vietnam, Chile, and other international sites.

Fundraising & Development

• Lead operational planning and execution for the Foundation’s fundraising initiatives.
• Manage all logistics and planning for the Foundation’s premier winter fundraising gala.
• Coordinate venue logistics, auctions, sponsorships, volunteer management, donor communications, and event execution.
• Oversee auction procurement processes and event timelines.
• Coordinate and lead volunteers and event contributors.
• Lead planning and logistics for the Foundation’s annual high-profile summer concert event.
• Coordinate artist logistics, hospitality, sponsorships, vendors, catering, ticketing, and guest experience.
• Manage complex event execution details for a luxury donor-facing event environment.
• Assist with entertainment/vendor coordination and budget oversight.
• Coordinate annual donor appeals and fundraising communications.
• Support donor stewardship initiatives and relationship management activities.
• Maintain donor database integrity and fundraising records.
• Collaborate on strategies to expand donor engagement and philanthropic support.

Event & Volunteer Management

• Lead large-scale event planning and execution with exceptional attention to detail.
• Recruit, organize, and manage volunteers for fundraising events and mission support activities.
• Develop and maintain event planning systems, timelines, and operational playbooks.
• Ensure a polished, professional, and mission-driven experience for donors, sponsors, volunteers, and guests.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 7+ years of experience in nonprofit leadership, operations, event management, development, executive support, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success managing large, high-touch events with significant logistical complexity.
• Experience coordinating travel, scheduling, and operations involving multiple stakeholders and moving parts.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Experience managing timelines, vendors, contracts, and operational budgets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly dynamic environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and executive presence.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, adaptability, and resourcefulness.
• Comfortable managing ambiguity and shifting priorities with composure and humor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Nonprofit development or fundraising experience.
• International travel coordination or mission-based nonprofit experience.
• Experience working with donor databases and fundraising software platforms.
• Experience supporting executive leadership or board-level initiatives.
• Event production or hospitality experience.
• Experience coordinating volunteers and large community-based events.

Salary Range

• $95,000-$105,000

JK Executive Strategies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of JK Executive Strategies to provide equal opportunity in employment and conditions of employment to all individuals regardless of age, race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, veteran or military status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, predisposing genetic characteristics, genetic information, marital status, familial status, prior arrest, domestic violence victim status, non-job related convictions, participation in lawful activities outside of our workplace, or any other status protected by law.