Executive Director
Full Time
As our Executive Director prepares to retire and pass the baton, the Volunteer Center of Washington County is seeking a thoughtful, forward-looking leader to guide our next chapter—someone who will honor the strong foundation they have built while helping us imagine and achieve what is possible next. This is a meaningful moment for our organization and for the community relationships, partnerships, and programs that have flourished under their leadership. At the Volunteer Center, community is not a buzzword. It is our reason for being. We connect people, organizations, ideas, resources, and opportunities so that individuals feel supported and local communities can thrive. We are the connector in a landscape that can too often feel isolated. Our next Executive Director will be a relationship-centered leader with the vision, judgment, and practical follow-through to guide the organization’s next chapter. This person will work closely with our Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, donors, partners, and community members to sustain a trusted legacy and build an even stronger future. If you are a thoughtful, experienced leader who believes that strong communities are built through genuine relationships—not just good intentions—we would love to hear from you.
Job Description
The Opportunity
The Executive Director serves as the organization’s chief executive and community ambassador. This leader will steward the mission, strengthen relationships, advance strategic priorities, and ensure that our nonprofit has the financial, operational, and organizational foundation to continue making a meaningful impact throughout Washington County.
This is an onsite opportunity to lead an organization with over forty years of established goodwill, valued partnerships, and a clear purpose—while bringing fresh perspective, new energy, and sound leadership to the work ahead.
The next Executive Director does not need to arrive with all the answers. They do need to be ready to listen well, build trust, make thoughtful decisions, and help people move from “this matters” to “let’s make it happen.”
What you will lead
- Champion the Volunteer Center’s mission, values, and role in the community.
- Partner with the Board of Directors to advance strategic priorities, support effective governance, and ensure strong organizational stewardship.
- Build, sustain, and deepen relationships with community partners, donors, funders, volunteers, businesses, public-sector leaders, and the people served by the organization.
- Lead core programs, including The Hub, which allows us to connect with our communities and serves as a significant source of our revenue. With nearly 80 volunteers helping us run The Hub each year, it’s critical that our leader empowers the current staff and volunteers, while overseeing this unique operating model to ensure continued success.
- Provide visionary, accountable, and an empowering approach to leadership for staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
- Guide the team’s fundraising and resource-development efforts including individual giving, grants, sponsorships, partnerships, and special events.
- Ensure responsible financial oversight, sound budgeting, and long-term organizational sustainability.
- Lead organizational planning and oversee program development, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as a visible and trusted spokesperson for the organization in the community.
- As a servant leader, foster a workplace culture that is collaborative, inclusive, mission-centered, and grounded in mutual respect.
- Balance big-picture strategy with the day-to-day realities that keep a community organization strong. Yes, that sometimes means a board presentation in the early morning, solving unexpected maintenance issues before lunch, and setting up for an event in the evening.
Why join us
This is not simply an opportunity to lead an organization. It is an opportunity to make significant positive impacts in our local Washington County community.
You will inherit an organization built on relationships, trust, and a commitment to helping people find their way to support, opportunity, and one another. You will be supported by a Board that is invested in a thoughtful transition, a small but mighty team, a dedicated group of volunteers, and by a generous community that understands the value of the work.
At the Volunteer Center, we value:
- Authenticity over polished corporate language.
- Warmth without losing professionalism.
- Clear expectations, shared ownership, and empowered people.
- Thoughtful decisions paired with action.
- Community relationships that are nurtured for the long term.
- Enough humor to remember that meaningful work can also be fun.
Compensation and benefits:
Salary range $65k. Benefits include Simple IRA Retirement contribution, 10 paid holidays, PTO, flexible scheduling, and a positive and supportive work environment.
This is not a remote position. Only apply if you’re able to work at our offices located in West Bend, Wisconsin. You must have a valid drivers license and willing to drive your own vehicle to visit local donors, business partners, nonprofit partners, community events, and more.
Job Requirements
Who you are
You are a leader who is as comfortable building a relationship with a new donor over coffee as you are presenting a strategic plan to a boardroom. You understand that trust is earned through transparency, consistency, follow-through, and genuine passion for people.
You bring a mix of strategic thinking, operational discipline, and community instinct. You can see the forest, the trees, and the person who needs help finding the trailhead. You’re willing to go the extra mile and it’s the work we do and the impact we make that motivates you.
You may be a strong fit if you are:
- A mission-driven leader who believes in the power of connected communities.
- An authentic communicator who listens well and communicates with clarity, warmth, and credibility.
- A relationship builder who can engage comfortably with a wide range of people, perspectives, and partners.
- A strategic thinker who can translate vision into priorities, plans, and measurable progress.
- A financially responsible leader with experience in budgets, fundraising, resource development, or nonprofit financial oversight.
- A confident and collaborative partner to a board of directors and stakeholders.
- An empowering manager who develops people and invites shared ownership.
- Comfortable making sound decisions amid competing priorities and incomplete information.
- Resourceful, adaptable, and willing to roll up your sleeves when the moment calls for it.
- Someone with enough humility to honor the organization’s history and enough confidence to lead its future.
Experience and qualifications
We recognize that leadership experience is built in many ways. Candidates may come from nonprofit, public-sector, business, education, health, community-development, philanthropic, or other mission-driven settings.
We are especially interested in candidates with demonstrated experience in several of the following areas:
- Senior leadership, executive leadership, or substantial management responsibility.
- Nonprofit management, community engagement, volunteer leadership, or partnership development.
- Fundraising, grant development, donor engagement, sponsorship development, or revenue generation.
- Financial management, budgeting, business planning, and organizational sustainability.
- Board partnership, governance, committee engagement, or work with volunteer leaders.
- Strategic planning, program development, organizational growth, or change leadership.
- Staff supervision, team development, and organizational culture-building.
- Public speaking, advocacy, communications, or community representation.
- Direct knowledge of Washington County, its needs, assets, and key stakeholders.
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education, leadership experience, and demonstrated success.
Apply Now
"*" indicates required fields