Director, Wish Relations

Role Overview

• Manage and support the team in their partnership with chapters, ensuring key goals, support and strategies are aligned with clearly defined deliverables.
• Serve as a trusted mission program advisor to chapter CEOs and mission leaders to engage in strategy conversations and support leaders on high change periods.
• Implement a defined shared service model to support chapter wish granting and provide strategic consultation to mission leaders and program staff.
• Develop annual strategies to continue to leverage the power of the network and chapter talent through chapter-to-chapter collaboration and support.
• Evaluate and allocate strategic resource investments with measured ROI.
• Facilitate cross chapter workgroups and forums to share best practices, address common challenges, and disseminate scalable tools and resources.
• Serve as a key liaison between chapters and Chapter & Mission Advancement teams, elevating chapter needs, innovations, concerns, and emerging trends to inform enterprise decision making.
• In collaboration with VP and Sr. Director for Mission Advancement sources, develops, curates, and maintains templates, tools, and best practices for enterprise-wide use, ensuring clarity, consistency, and applicability across chapters.
• Support chapters in implementing wish related components of local and enterprise strategic plans.
• Support chapters in achieving KPIs related to wish journey and wish experience. Analyze mission data, dashboards, and operational trends to elevate insights, identify gaps, and recommend improvements.
• Builds and maintains strong, trust-based relationships with chapter leaders to ensure alignment with enterprise strategy and mission priorities.
• Partner in content creation for national conferences, Board and CEO trainings, meetings, and summits to strengthen the network and our mission.
• Partner with CRLs, Mission, Volunteer Engagement and Chapter Operations Support teams to activate resources for distressed chapters.
• Participate in the development and delivery of training for chapter mission staff, including onboarding, coaching, and professional development resources.
• Support chapters in adhering to wish standards, compliance requirements, safety guidelines, and documentation expectations.
• Promote a culture of excellence, learning, collaboration, and innovation across chapters and national partners.
• Responsible for hiring, performance management, training, supervising, and all aspects of coaching staff reporting to this position.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required, nonprofit management, business or related field preferred.
• 7+ years of leadership experience in a federated non-profit organization required and Make-A-Wish experience preferred.
• Excellent knowledge of nonprofit resources and best practices in the areas of program delivery, volunteer recruitment, training of Boards and staff, community development, budgeting/financial management, operations, finance, and nonprofit regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, research, and data analysis, change management, program delivery, business planning and board/committee support.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications required, including demonstrated expertise in Word and Excel.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit package, effective day 1: Medical, Vision*, Dental*, Wellness
• Competitive compensation with annual incentive potential
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account Options
• Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Make-A-Wish America
• Short Term Disability*, Long Term Disability* and Life Insurance
• Additional Insurance Plans: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance through Figo
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with 5% match after one year of service
• Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• The organization will send a laptop, 24” monitor, and a docking station/adaptor to new hires
• Up to 15 PTO days
• 10 Sick Days
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 2 Volunteer Days after one year of service
• 2 Personal Days accrued annually
• Parental Leave
• Employee Awards and Recognition Programs
• Individual and Leadership Development
• Discounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie tickets