Job Type

Permanent, Full-Time, Exempt

Workplace Location

• Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas has offices in Austin and San Antonio that are open for use by all staff. This position will have the flexibility to work remotely/from home but will be expected to work in-office at least two days a week and some weeknights/weekends for in-person activities, such as event support, wish events, and team bonding activities.
• This role is based out of either our Austin Main Office (3600 Bee Caves Road, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78746) or San Antonio Regional Office (85 NE Loop 410, Suite 603, San Antonio, TX 78216).

Position Summary

Provides leadership to assure the organization’s culture, systems, and procedures supports overall mission delivery planning and implementation. Leads staff and Governing Board volunteers to institutionalize a culture of philanthropy and mission-centered activities throughout the organization. Works closely with the Senior Leadership Team to accelerate mission delivery and wish-related strategies focused on maximizing wish family experiences, staff management, volunteer engagement, and successfully granting wishes across the chapter territory. Works closely with Development and Operations departments to ensure growth and maintenance of appropriate systems for chapter-wide mission delivery, cross-department collaboration, and timely reporting as needed. Maintains accountability and compliance standards for the entire mission department in both Chapter offices.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead the Mission department with a clear vision and thoughtful approach while demonstrating the ability to create solid strategies and goals to achieve the Chapter’s mission-related objectives.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive plan for the Mission department that is filled with both inspiration and efficiency to outline the goals and benchmarks for each team member.
• Works with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to develop, monitor, and adhere to the Chapter mission budget to ensure fiscal responsibility while granting the maximum number of wishes possible annually.
• In partnership with the Chief Development Officer (CDO), maximizes collaboration with the revenue team on wish granting and fundraising opportunities across the Chapter. 
• Lead and oversee all mission staff including recruiting, hiring, supporting, training, coaching, annual goal setting and assessment, and lead the Mission department to tackle the challenges and opportunities to move mission delivery efforts forward. 
• Manage the organization’s compliance with Chapter and National Performance Standards for all mission-related activities. 
• Ensure that wishes are inspiring, balanced, and equitable to reach all eligible children in chapter territory.
• Guide and monitor the use of data infrastructure to ensure all files, contacts, and wish management steps are entered and processed appropriately in the Salesforce Wish and Volunteer Center database.
• Responsible for creating a cadence of the team’s work and reporting on the work of the department to ensure metrics and goals are being met so that annual goals are achieved or exceeded.
• Oversee medical outreach activities to increase wish referrals for sustainable mission delivery growth annually.
• Oversee the volunteer program and wish alumni engagement activities to support the work of the mission team.
• Serve as a collaborative member of the Senior Leadership Team by participating in establishing chapter goals, policies, and a culture of collaboration to achieve the organization’s mission. 
• Ensure that all wishes are assigned, implemented, and evaluated in a systematic and cost-efficient manner. Monitor and proactively manage the average cash and in-kind costs of a wish to ensure compliance with fiscal year budget. Coordinate the cultivation and solicitation process of an aggressive in-kind donation program.
• Serve as the Mission Delivery leader and point person for the Governing Board, Regional Councils, and mission-related committees, reporting at meetings and developing proposals on any recommended policy changes.
• Serve as the chapter’s lead for national mission delivery partnerships and initiatives, ensuring active participation, cross-chapter collaboration, and consistent implementation of national resources, tools, and best practices to maintain alignment with Make-A-Wish program standards.
• Adhere to all Make-A-Wish America performance standards and chapter internal controls, policies, and procedures.

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Build Strong Teams: Builds trust at all levels of the organization through a balance of character, knowledge, cultural competency, and connectedness. Assumes best intentions by colleagues. Invests in, challenges, and actively coaches the team and helps develop the individual and full team potential. Communicates proactively, giving real-time, and formal feedback. Actively listens, observes, and asks probing questions. 
• Drives Results: Balances vision with execution. Develops smart strategies, written plans, and adjusts accordingly. Keeps a sharp focus and is action-orientated themselves. Has a clear understanding of what needs to be accomplished and actively supports their team, including helping clarify, simplify, and prioritize. 
• Accountable: Takes active ownership of their department and our Chapter’s outcomes. Holds their team and others accountable. Gives real-time feedback and asks clarifying questions. Is unafraid to address and resolve challenging situations that impede progress. Insists on excellence at all levels. 
• Emotional Intelligence: Navigates people and situations effectively to achieve the best possible outcomes. Communicates effectively and clearly with others. Manages conflict productively. Responds proportionately. Has appropriate situational and strong self-awareness. Open to feedback, keeps things in perspective, and strives for self-improvement.
• Problem-Solver: Is a proactive problem-solver. Uses smart problem-solving techniques and collaborates with other teams and departments. Displays concentrated attention and does not stop until the problem is solved.
• Cultivates Innovation: Has the courage to embrace innovation and challenges the status quo. Willing to take meaningful risks and gives team permission to make mistakes to encourage growth. Freely praises and rewards displays of innovation by a member of their team. 
• Public Speaker: Confident and clearly deliver mission stories and program impact when presenting in board meetings, wish engagements, and internal/external events. 

Benefits

• Full individual insurance premium coverage for Medical, Dental and Vision care. Optional employee-paid family coverage.
• Health Savings Account options with monthly employer contributions.
• Employer-paid life insurance policy and STD/LTD policies.
• Simple IRA Retirement Savings Plan with 3% employer matching.
• 2 personal days off (PD), birthday day off, 15 accrued paid time off days (PTO), Quarterly Wellness days off, 13 additional paid holidays annually; PTO increases with tenure.
• Monthly business mileage reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Annual Spanish bilingual stipend available upon successful completion of language proficiency skills test.
• Discounts and special offers with entertainment and travel vendors.

About Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring the power of wishing to every eligible child because each step of the wish journey can help children build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, serving children in every community in the United States and in nearly 50 countries worldwide. Together, generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 30,000 volunteers across the U.S. unite to deliver hope to wish kids and their families when they need it most. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 500,000 wishes worldwide; more than 340,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. The Central & South Texas chapter was founded in 1985 and has since granted more than 5,000 wishes in its 40-county territory. To learn more, please visit www.wish.org/cstx.

Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas Belonging and CommUNITY Statement

As a nonprofit whose mission is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, we are committed to ensuring every child, family member, volunteer, staff member, intern, and supporter that interacts with us can be their true and authentic self, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, faith, religion, age, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We serve a diverse group of children and families, and we strive to make sure each feels seen, heard, and understood—not only through our own actions but by filling our organization with people from all walks of life. We not only welcome differences, we celebrate them. Every person involved in wish granting has a part to play to promote inclusion. We understand that there will always be work to be done, and we will continue to create an environment of belonging and commUNITY so that we can equitably grant the wish of every eligible child.

• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of successful work experience in mission delivery with a preference for additional experience at the management and senior leadership level.
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively in a dynamic environment while keeping the CEO appropriately aware of issues, problems, opportunities, and progress. 
• Able to provide management, leadership, and direction consistent with Make-A-Wish core values and business practices. 
• A management style that demonstrates cultural competency, promotes teamwork, enhances creativity and motivation, facilitates communications, and builds consensus.
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment managing multiple priorities and deliverables simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability in clear and effective written and oral communication. 
• Excellent planning, organizational skills, and customer service skills. 
• Sharp technology skills, efficient and effective reporting and project management skills, quick learner, and experience with Salesforce database is a plus. 
• Ability to speak Spanish would be an asset but not a requirement.
• Commitment to and a passion for the mission of Make-A-Wish.
• Must have reliable mode of transportation to travel across chapter territory for department or overall organization needs regularly.
• Ability to deal with sensitive information with a high level of trust and confidentiality. 
• Proficiency in all Microsoft computer programs, including Outlook, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.