President & CEO

United Way of the Plains’ mission is “To improve lives by harnessing the caring power of our community to advance the common good in south central Kansas.” Since 1922, we have brought together individuals and organizations to create real and lasting results. From strengthening local resilience to advancing health, youth opportunity, and financial security, United Way is mobilizing our community to action so all can thrive. We serve Sedgwick, Butler, Cowley, Sumner and surrounding counties in south central Kansas, covering approximately 800,000 people. We bring individuals and organizations together to meet the biggest needs in our community in innovative ways. We do this by forging unlikely partnerships, forming new solutions to old problems and mobilizing the best ideas and resources. But we don’t do it alone. We inspire others to join the fight. We enable individuals, groups and companies to make a difference – individually and collectively – through their time, talents and treasure.

United Way of the Plains goes beyond just funding programs. We conduct research and look for ways to address specific issues through coordinated efforts, called collective impact. We partner with nonprofits, government organizations, and businesses to address larger issues, such as homelessness, at-grade reading levels, and barriers to financial stability, including access to free tax filing services. We also help people find needed services through our 211 information line that covers most of the State of Kansas.

United Way of the Plains has a rich history dating back to 1922 when it began as the Wichita Community Chest, expanded its coverage area in 1957 as United Fund of Wichita & Sedgwick County, and expanded further in 1987 as United Way of the Plains. United Way of the Plains has a staff of 46, coordinates thousands of volunteers, and manages a total annual revenue of approximately $16 million. See more at:

Overview of Responsibilities

The President/CEO is the leader of the organization, establishing a vision for Collective Impact that is achieved through the efforts of a diverse team of high-performing leaders, staff, and volunteers alike. The President/CEO is the Chief Mobilizer; s/he leverages the power of relationships and networks, and works across private, public, and corporate sectors to improve conditions in the community. The President/CEO possesses a high level of broad business and management skills and is effective at generating resources and financial support for the organization. The President/CEO is dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good – creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies for broad investment and impact. The President/CEO is a steward of the United Way brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation of United Way. S/he is responsible for building trust in United Way and its relevance in the community. S/he values network and strives to leverage United Way’s breadth of community presence, relationships, and strategy.

Key Responsibilities/Essential Functions

The major responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

Collective Impact The President/CEO is responsible for the overall impact of this United Way on the community, with particular emphasis on increasing its capacity to drive the impact agenda. The President/CEO is expected to be an active member within the community. The President works closely with the Board to craft and adapt the strategy to achieve this increased impact, with an emphasis on fundraising to support the mission. S/he will establish and build relationships with the United Way of the Plains employees, Board of Directors, Volunteers, and Directors of other United Way agencies. In addition, s/he will develop working relationships with top leaders in the community, including those representing the highest levels in business, organized labor, government, and non-profit sectors.

Resource Development The President/CEO is charged to drive key results in fundraising; to identify, cultivate and solicit prospective donors and key leaders of prospective new corporate partners; to leverage personal and professional contacts and relationships into fundraising opportunities; to meet off-site with corporate leaders and leaders of organized labor and promote United Way of the Plains partnership using methods such as audio/visual presentations, promotional activities, providing informational materials or hosting events; and to promote a culture of fundraising in the organization, both at the staff and board level.

Strategic Management The President/CEO serves as the principal resource to the Board of Directors and its key committees and gives strong direction in policy formulation and interpretation. S/he partners with the Board of Directors and the Senior Leadership team to craft organizational goals and develops strategies to ensure that they are achieved. S/he ensures coordination and alignment of all United Way activities to strategic direction in the areas of community impact, resource development, and staff alignment.

Organization Management The President/CEO is accountable for building and leading high-performing teams, ensuring all teams are aligned and collaborating to achieve organizational results. S/he maintains accountability for the operational and fiscal integrity of the organization within policies set by the Board of Directors. The President/CEO assesses organizational capacity to implement strategies and identify gaps in systems and staffing; directly supervises senior leadership positions and establishes individual goals; works with the Chief Financial Officer to manage organizational spending, monitor budget compliance, and mitigate financial risks; and ensures that goals of inclusiveness and diversity among staff and volunteers are met.

Education/Experience Requirements

• Substantial leadership experience working in the nonprofit sector (United Way experience is desirable) and interacting with volunteers and diverse boards. Alternatively, extensive senior strategic leadership experience in the management of organizations of comparable size and mission.
• Expertise on issues relevant to the organization.
• Ability to command the confidence and respect of stakeholders.
• A demonstrated track record of the ability to build collaboration with the community at large.
• Graduate degree or equivalent in social work, social science, public or business administration preferred. A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree required. Minimum of seven (7) years of executive-level management experience in the human services field, along with knowledge of the United Way system.
• Experience in or across multiple sectors, including nonprofit, public, and corporate environments.
• Experience in developing partnerships, building teams, and conflict management.
• Experience in building revenue and increasing philanthropic support.

Must be able to perform essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Certain responsibilities are carried on outside the United Way office and during times outside of normal business hours. Driving is required, therefore, must have access to a vehicle and possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.

Core Competencies Required for This Position

• Mission-Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities. This drives their performance and professional motivations.
• Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
• Collaborator: Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement.
• Results-Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good; creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact.
• Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.
• Visionary: Confronts the complex realities of the environment and simultaneously maintains faith in a different and better future, providing purpose, direction, and motivation.
• Team-Builder: First ensures that the right people are in the right roles at the right times; fostering commitment, trust, and collaboration among multi-cultural leaders and stakeholders.
• Outward Turning: Understands the dynamics of local, regional, and national environments, and works on an agenda rooted in the community’s own perception of its needs and aspirations.
• Business Acumen: Possesses a high-level of broad business and management skills and is effective at generating financial support for the organization.
• Network-Oriented: Values the power of networks; striving to leverage United Way’s breadth of community presence, relationships, and strategy.

Salary & Benefit Package

BASE SALARY
The actual base salary will be dependent on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate. We anticipate a base salary range would begin at $280,000/year.

BENEFITS Cafeteria Plan: Health, Dental, Vision and FSA United Way of the Plains offers a cafeteria plan in which employee contributions of medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums; along with elections to a flexible spending account are made “pre-tax” from income and social security/medicare payroll taxes.

• Medical & Dental Insurance: Group coverage is provided with 70% of the group’s premium paid by United Way of the Plains, and 30% paid by the employees.
• Vision Insurance: Group vision insurance is provided through Surency Life & Health, with 100% of the premium paid by the employees.

Flexible Spending Accounts

• Health Care Reimbursement: Employee may elect to deduct pre-tax dollars at an amount established by the employee to be placed in a reserve pool available for reimbursement to the employee for qualifying out-of- pocket healthcare expenses.
• Dependent Care Reimbursement: Employee may elect to deduct pre-tax dollars at an amount established by the employee to be placed in a reserve pool available for reimbursement to the employee for qualified dependent care expenses.

Vacation Vacation is accrued at the rate of seven (7) hours per pay-period, or 168 hours per year.

Sick Leave Sick leave is accrued at the rate of four (4) hours per pay-period, or 96 hours per year.

Volunteerism Leave United Way of the Plains supports and encourages all employees to become involved in our community by lending voluntary support to programs to positively impact the quality of life in our community. Up to three days with full pay of their normal work schedule per calendar year to volunteer for the organization(s) of their choice.

Holidays United Way observes the following holidays with pay: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Additionally, employees are granted one personal discretionary day (“floating holiday”) per calendar year.

Retirement Plan

• Matching Thrift Plan (403B) United Way of the Plains offers a safe-harbor 403(b) thrift plan, in which eligible employees may receive an employer $1:$1 match on individual contributions (up to 6%), along with a non-elective employer contribution of 7%. Contributions may start the month following the first month of employment. There is no vesting period for employer contributions.
• 457(b) Plan Executives of United Way of the Plains have the option to also maximize individual retirement contributions above the IRS limits for 403(b) plans through a 457(b) plan, as a supplement to the regular 403(b) plan.

Group Term Life Insurance A $30,000 group term life insurance policy is provided effective the first of the month following your start date. Following one year of employment, additional term life insurance coverage in the amount of two times the base salary will be provided. Under both plans, 100% of the premiums are paid by United Way of the Plains.

Long-Term Disability Insurance Long-term disability insurance is provided at no cost to the employee, after completing one full year of employment.

Cell Phone Allowance In recognition that cell phones are an everyday part of life, including work – United Way of the Plains will pay $50/month as a non-taxable allowance for cell phone costs.

Every day, our neighbors are working hard to overcome barriers and get ahead. Together, we connect people to the opportunities they need to reach their potential and make our community a place where everyone can thrive. United is the way we build a stronger future for all.