New

Impact Manager, Early Childhood Literacy

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
$65,000 - Hybrid schedule, on-site presence required.
United States, Wisconsin, Milwaukee
225 West Vine Street (Show on map)
Jun 26, 2026
Job Title: Impact Manager, Early Childhood Literacy (Union) Status: Full-Time Department: Community Impact Grade: 28 Date Prepared: 6-12-2026 FLSA Status: Exempt SUMMARY This position directs all work within a Key Initiative with a focus on early childhood literacy. This position is responsible for creating and sustaining community impact using partnership development and outcomes funding as key methods. The impact manager understands local communities and develops and maintains effective relationships with community stakeholders and partners to address United Way priorities. The impact manager identifies and researches early childhood literacy trends to drive United Way funding priorities, informs Community Impact investment strategies and directions, develops, directs, and oversees a Key Initiative focused on early childhood literacy, attracts additional financial resources by leveraging United Way investments and demonstrating measurable community impact. RESPONSIBILITIES Include the following, but are not limited to: Develop & direct Key Initiative Lead the development and implementation of United Way's Key Initiative strategies and aligned programmatic funding focused on addressing early childhood literacy. This position reports to the Director of Key Initiatives. Lead the development of the key initiative using the Key Initiative Development Process. Identify needs, assets, partners, resources, and innovative approaches to achieve intended key initiative goals, in partnership with leadership, volunteers, and community partners. Establish and engage an Advisory Council of subject matter experts in partnership with United Way serving as the backbone organization for the key initiative, guiding the vision and strategy. Utilize a collective impact model to establish a common agenda, shared measurements, mutually reinforcing activities, and provide continuous communication. Establish strong collaborative partnerships with funded organizations and community partners, provide support, guidance, and build an inclusive effort. Develop funding priorities for Key Initiative to maximize potential for community impact. Identify policy and system-level changes that will afford long-term, equitable solutions, in partnership with the Advisory Council, aligned donor network, and Director of Public Policy. Refine outcomes and indicators and identify sources and data collection methods for both quantitative and qualitative measures, with Director of Data and Measurement. Lead the implementation of all strategies of the key initiative while keeping pace with our community-wide goals. Develop reports of program outcomes for use with board, community education, and public relations. Represent United Way on various committees and community workgroups aligned with Key Initiative. Serve as lead spokesperson for Key Initiative in support of systems level change, advocacy, and fundraising. Represent United Way at press conferences and media interviews, as necessary. Present to and engage workplaces, donor affinity groups, and any other institutions or entities as relevant about the critical importance of the key initiative. Develop and support Volunteer Engagement activities related to Key Initiative, in partnership with the Volunteer Engagement team. Support fundraising efforts and donor network engagement aligned with the key initiative, in partnership with Resource Development. Direct and facilitate competitive grant process including management of an application review committee. Conduct annual site visits and grantee convenings, including an annual initiative summit with best practice training. Evaluate grantee year end reports, providing feedback and guidance to grantees when needed. GRANT SUPPORT Work with grant team to ensure that Community Impact language and data is included in applications. Provide writing and editing support to grant-lead and identify potential opportunities for additional funding for Key Initiatives and related strategies. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This job has minimal supervisory responsibilities (i.e., periodic oversight of interns). EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS Master of education, early childhood education, social work, public health, or other related graduate degree required. Four to six years of experience in human services, with early childhood literacy or education preferred. Background in using outcomes in program development, operation, or evaluation. Program and project management experience that includes planning, administration, and implementation. Understanding of community needs and strategies to promote community impact. Good understanding of group dynamics and group facilitation skills. Ability to communicate and work effectively with volunteers and others in the community representing a broad range of interests and backgrounds. Experience in working with diverse populations. Evidence of ability to develop and engage with collaborative efforts. Demonstrated success in problem anticipation and resolution. Ability to work well independently and within a team including staff and volunteers. 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, and nonprofit representatives. Ability to present ideas and proposals in a clear, concise, motivational manner, both in writing and verbally. Ability to recommend and implement policy/procedural changes and recordkeeping skills. Experince working with computerized software, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or other similar programs. Experience or knowledge of computer-based outcome reporting systems. Demonstrated capacity to handle financial development opportunities related to Initiative investment portfolio. 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. REASONING ABILITY Knowledge of research design and methods, and experience in analyzing statistical information. Ability to prioritize and balance competing demands. Ability to staff volunteer committees. Demonstrated independent decision-making skills and ability to assess and plan for effects. Position requires significant interaction with community partners and access to confidential information. 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 up to 10lbs. Regular, predictable attendance is required including additional 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.