Director, Continuum of Care

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Director, Continuum of Care (CoC) reports to the Vice President, Community Impact of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County (United Way) and provides leadership for Milwaukee’s CoC, oversight of United Way’s homelessness key initiative, and alignment with United Way’s strategic plan. The Director, CoC aligns CoC strategy with Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) regulations and community priorities. The position serves as the public face of the CoC, fostering strong relationships with HUD, other CoC’s, local government, funders, and advocacy partners. The Director, CoC oversees planning, budgeting, and performance management across all CoC functions and ensures the CoC governance structure is transparent, inclusive, and accountable. The position leads high-level system improvement efforts focused on data-driven and equitable outcomes. This position is grant-funded.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Planning, Management, & Administration of CoC

• Serve as the director of the Milwaukee Continuum of Care and lead the process for strategic planning, fundraising, impact, and sustainability.

• Lead the development and implementation of the CoC’s strategic plan by providing vision and guiding community efforts and ensuring alignment with HUD regulations and community priorities.

• Lead annual CoC Planning Grant from HUD to support CoC staff and eligible activities, including building an annual budget, monitoring invoices, and submitting annual close out and performance reports to HUD in partnership with the United Way finance team.

• Lead city-wide engagement for the initiative, securing additional funding opportunities, new partners, and national recognition of efforts.

• Lead high-level system improvement and coordination efforts focused on data-driven and equitable outcomes.

• Oversee performance management across all CoC functions.

• Oversee priority initiatives for the CoC, including supporting CoC funded projects.

• Provide oversight and final approval of annual HUD submissions (NOFO, LSA, SPM, PIT/HIC).

• Serve as community expert on HUD CoC policies, program guidelines, and priorities.

• Actively participate in federal HUD technical assistance efforts and provide guidance to CoC member organizations.

• Build national partnerships with other CoC communities.

Community Outreach & Partnership Development

• Serve as the public face and spokesperson of the CoC for all media contacts.

• Serve as the local liaison between Milwaukee CoC and HUD.

• Build and grow relationships with local government, funders, and advocacy partners.

• Work in collaboration with Director, Public Policy to identify and support aligned policy opportunities.

Management and United Way Strategic Alignment

• Manage CoC staff direct reports providing guidance, coaching, and support. Develop onboarding, training, and professional development plans.

• Work closely with cross-departmental managers and CoC staff to ensure alignment and adherence to CoC eligible activities and performance.

• Integrate and align the CoC and United Way’s strategies to maximize impact and further United Way’s strategic plan.

• Lead homelessness-related strategic priorities to ensure alignment with United Way’s strategic plan in support of the CoC and key initiative.

Key Initiative Oversight

• Manage and direct the work of Safe & Stable Homes Impact Manager, providing guidance, coaching, and support. Develop onboarding, training, and professional development plans.

• Support Impact Manager, Safe & Stable homes to design, develop, coordinate, and implement the key initiative, related goals, budgets, and policy objectives.

• Advise Vice President, Community Impact and United Way leadership about relevant Safe & Stable Homes developments, opportunities, emerging community needs, and the impact on United Way’s priorities.

Fundraising support

• Work closely with our Resource Development team and Grant Writer to identify and secure supplemental funding opportunities.

DIRECT REPORTS: CoC Compliance Manager, CoC Coordinator, Impact Manager, Safe & Stable Homes

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, public policy, human services, social work, public health, or related field required. Masters preferred.

• 8-10 years demonstrated experience administering or operating Continuum of Care projects, or equivalent combination of experience administering or operating other Federal, State, or Local Assistance Programs.

• Knowledge of federal homelessness and housing programs, regulations, governance, and best practices regarding homelessness and system-level approaches to ending homelessness.

• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams.

• Demonstrated strategic planning skills, grant writing, financial management, data analysis, and public speaking.

• Experience with government grant administration and grant processes.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborations and work with diverse community stakeholders.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to work in a complex environment using technical and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to communicate and work effectively with volunteers and others in the community representing a broad range of interests and backgrounds.

• Demonstrated analytical abilities.

• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Good understanding of group dynamics and group facilitation skills.

• Experience in working with diverse populations.

• Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively present information to senior management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

• Demonstrated ability to establish good working relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including staff members, volunteers, contributors, nonprofit representatives, alternate federations, and vendors.

• Demonstrated independent decision-making skills and ability to assess and plan for effects.

• Ability to independently complete complex work and apply sound judgment in response to evolving issues.

• Experience in working with common software applications, such as Microsoft Word, Excel or other similar programs.
• Experience or knowledge of computer-based outcome reporting systems.

CORE COMPETENCIES 

• Mission-Focused. The top priority for all United Way professionals is to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities. This drives their performance and professional motivation.

• Relationship-Oriented. United Way professionals understand that people come before process and are astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.

• Collaborator. United Way professionals understand the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement.

• Results-Driven. United Way professionals are 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. United Way professionals are stewards of the brand and understand their role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.

LANGUAGE SKILLS 

Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills. Ability to read and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, or technical procedures; write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals; effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, other employees, and the general public; communicate and work effectively with volunteers and others in the community representing a broad range of interests and backgrounds; respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands at UWGMWC are representative of what is needed to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard, reach, stoop and occasionally kneel.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.

• Light to moderate lifting is required (such as loading paper into a paper tray).

• Regular, predictable attendance is required; including overtime as business demands dictate.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Moderate noise (business office with computers, phone, printers and light traffic).

• Ability to work in a confined area.
• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES 

It is the policy of UWGMWC to comply with all relevant and applicable provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended. UWGMWC will not discriminate against any qualified applicant with respect to any terms, privileges or conditions of employment based upon an individual’s physical or mental disability. UWGMWC will also make reasonable accommodation whenever and wherever possible for all employees or applicants with disabilities provided that the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform the duties and assignments required by the job, and provided that any accommodation does not require significant difficulty or expense. UWGMWC’s policy of non-discrimination applies to all personnel and employment practices including, but not limited to, job application procedures, hiring, advancement, termination, compensation, job training and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

It is the policy of UWGMWC to provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, veteran status or military service, or other non-merit factor or other legally protected characteristic. This applies to all recruiting, hiring, placement, training, promotion, compensation, transfers and other employment-related programs and personnel actions.

BELONGING & INCLUSION STATEMENT:Belonging & Inclusion is a core value at United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. We strive every day to enhance the culture of belonging and are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment. We believe this allows us to attract, retain the best possible colleagues to use their full gifts to serve our community. We are looking for other great colleagues who are excited about this important work.

This job description indicates the general nature and work level performed by employees within this position. It is not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of all duties and qualifications required. The duties and/or requirements of this position may be modified, added, or deleted at any time. Other duties may be assigned.