Job Title: Executive Director, Chicago Chapter
Department: Chapter Impact
Location: Chicago, IL (remote/virtual office)
Reports to: Vice President of Chapter Impact and Outposts
Classification: Exempt
Position type: Full-Time Employee
Pay Band: $100,000 - $150,000
Blue Star Families is a growing non-profit (Military Service Organization (MSO with a history of delivering innovative solutions. We're the team that senior DoD leaders seek out when they want ground truth on issues facing our military families. Our team members are motivated individuals that help each other do remarkable things for military families to bridge the civilian-military divide every day. We deliver first-class solutions that transform the military experience for military family members. We operate in an agile arena where great minds come together to make life better for military members and their families. We focus on data-driven insights while understanding the value of spirited storytelling. And we do all this in a highly flexible, virtual environment with great benefits! Our diverse and inclusive environment fosters a sense of belonging among our team resulting in innovative and creative decision-making.
Are you ready to make a difference for the families of those who serve our great nation? We are the ideal match for the innovator, the out-of-the-box, strategic thinker who understands the value of social impact.
General Description
Reporting to the VP of Chapter Impact and Outposts, the Executive Director (ED) will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for the (location) Chapter's staff (to include volunteers), programs, budget, and execution of its mission. The ED will develop deep knowledge of core programs, operations, and the organization's strategic business goals. Duties include local board management, local VIP engagement, fundraising, storytelling, stewardship (virtuous circle), program/project management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), budgeting, volunteer management, partner development, membership engagement, marketing, and communications. To fulfill the mission, the ED will collaborate across the BSF enterprise, including operations, development, marketing, strategy, technology, and finance. The successful ED will create a sense of purpose in the community to welcome and support military families during and after their service and will bring creativity, positivity, and energy to sustaining the chapter's presence as a vital resource in the community. The ED will be responsible for fundraising and meeting yearly goals.
The Executive Director must reside in the community the chapter serves. Candidates must have resided in the designated Chapter community for a minimum of the past three years.
Key Job Functions
- Develop a chapter sustainability plan; expand local revenue-generating and fundraising activities to include additional staff members and ensure the chapter's long-term financial viability.
- Ability to secure six-figure gifts (does not include gifts in kind) from philanthropies, family foundations, corporate partners, and/or high-net-worth donors to sustain the chapter operations, including chapter staff payroll.
- Partner with the Development Team and Chapter Host Committee to source and cultivate leads, generate revenue, storyteller, and steward funders.
- Responsible for raising annual fundraising goals.
- Deepen and refine all aspects of communication, from digital/virtual presence to external relations, to create a stronger brand, grow membership and engagement, and secure repeat funding.
- Leverage external presence and relationships to garner new and innovative opportunities.
Leadership & Management:
- Develop the strategy for the delivery and excellence in implementing national programs, such as Welcome Week, Campaign for Inclusion, and annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey, at the local level.
- Regularly evaluate program components with the chapter program manager or director using BSF's rigorous program evaluation tools to measure consistent quality and successes that can be effectively communicated to the advisory board, funders, and other constituents.
- Partner with the National Programs and Applied Research team on data collection, initiative implementation, and outreach.
- Develop, maintain, and steward a strong, diverse, engaged, strategic local Advisory Board to support local operations.
- Actively engage and energize Blue Star Families' "grasstops": board members, event committees, partnering organizations, and funders.
- Lead, coach, develop & retain a corps of volunteers to support program execution and build brand awareness.
Community Building:
- Develop a network of local organizations including corporate, government, military, and philanthropic to support efforts that build stronger military communities, increase military competency in the civilian community, and bridge the civil-military divide.
- Educate key community leaders using Blue Star Families' Annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey and other research results.
- Work with the program manager to seek opportunities to connect military families with resources and programs offered by community organizations and partners.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required experience, skills, background:
- Bachelors' degree in a related field or 7+ years experience in community relations and development.
- 5-10+ years of management experience.
- Reside in the local Chapter community for a minimum of 3+ years.
- Track record of effective fund-raising strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth.
- Unwavering commitment to Blue Star Families' mission, quality programs, and data-driven program evaluation.
- Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff/volunteers, manage, and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage to budget.
- Past success working with an Advisory Board with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships.
- Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills.
- An entrepreneurial spirit eager to engage with potential partners to build community-based solutions.
- An action-oriented, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning.
- Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
- Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.
- Limited out-of-town/overnight travel is required to attend meetings, trainings, events, etc. (less than 25% overnight travel).
- May be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays as necessary to carry out key job functions.
Desired Experience, Skills & Background:
- Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems; and familiarity with Salesforce a plus.
- Knowledge of Blue Star Families and the military family experience.
More About Blue Star Families:
Blue Star Families empowers military and Veteran families to thrive by connecting them with their civilian neighbors - both people and organizations - to create strong communities of mutual support. We believe we're all stronger when we take care of one another.
Our groundbreaking research is raising the nation's awareness of the unique challenges of military family life. With the help of neighbors across the country, Blue Star Families is overcoming the isolation and alienation of frequent moves, deployments, and reduced support from the government. Our innovative programs are solving specific challenges for military families, including fighting economic insecurity with resources that foster spouse career development, creating family strength with rich family programming, and providing critical peer support for caregivers, whose numbers are only increasing.
Blue Star Families is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
EEO Policy:
Blue Star Families is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Why Blue Star Families?
Virtual/remote nonprofit organization that moves with you (position specific)
Career growth opportunities
Excellent benefits (403(b) with matching, Flexible Spending, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Communications Allowance, and more)
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Leave for Active Duty Military Spouses
On-the-job professional development training
Front-line opportunity to positively impact the military experience
Competitive salaries
Workplace flexibility
