Wish Creation Manager

WHO WE ARE

At Make-A-Wish Illinois®, we are more than a great place to work:  our work is life-changing.  Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.  Nearly 40 years ago, the inspiration for Make-A-Wish began with one little boy’s wish to be a police officer.  Today, together with our volunteers, donors, staff and supporters, Make-A-Wish Illinois has granted more than 17,000 life-changing wishes and transformed countless lives.  We typically serve over 700 children per year with the goal to double our impact across our communities.  The diversity of our team of staff and volunteers, and our board, are of critical importance for us as it positions us to reach every child eligible for a wish with an equitable, high quality and impactful wish experience.

The Illinois chapter of Make-A-Wish is one of the largest chapters in the Make-A-Wish enterprise.  It has a reputation for being an innovator and often is a collaborator on national opportunities, co-creating solutions for all chapters to adopt.

THE ROLE

Title: Wish Creation Manager

Reports to: Vice President of Mission Delivery

Department: Mission

Position Description: The Wish Creation Manager role manages Wish Coordinators to successfully design, coordinate, and grant tailored experiences for our wish children and their families. The Wish Creation Manager oversees the creation of memorable, unique experiences for each child while, upholding the operational policies and procedural guidelines established by Make-A-Wish ® America and Make-A-Wish® Illinois. This role works cross-functionally with members of Chapter staff, volunteers, and partners to efficiently leverage resources necessary to create impactful wish experiences.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Leads a team of Wish Coordinators responsible for arranging safe and memorable travel wish experiences as well as

locally fulfilled wishes for children and families

• Achieves wish goals through accurate forecasting and resource management

• Liaises with other chapters and Make-A-Wish America on wishes for children traveling to Illinois

• Cultivates and manages wish vendor relationships, including nursing agencies for travel and local resources

• Manages in-kind resources to maximize in-kind support, including airline miles and local vendors

• Approves wish concepts and budgets

• Funds spending cards electronically for wish families

• Oversees the monthly closeout of travel and local wishes in accordance with local and national policies

• Trains new team members, including staff, interns, and volunteers

• Serves as primary backup on all wishes as needed, including after-hour and emergency calls on a rotating basis

• Collaborates with other chapter staff on cross-departmental initiatives

• Update all appropriate information into the Chapter’s Salesforce database systems

• Maintain electronic files, ensuring that all paperwork is gathered and stored within the appropriate location before the wish is fulfilled

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

·      • Bachelor’s degree required

Experience & Skills

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in traveling planning, case management, and/or related field
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in management-level roles is preferred
• Proven track record of working with volunteers through professional and/or volunteer roles
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and constituent relationship management databases
• (Salesforce preferred)
• Demonstrated record of strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with solid ability to build relationships

Additional Attributes

• Ability to think critically and creatively problem solve as complex situations arise
• Ability to budget and forecast progress towards goals
• Ability to calmly handle high-pressure situations and coach others to navigate pressure situations
• Ability to focus on the tasks and details relevant to the position and the organization, while also switching quickly between tasks
• Ability to organize, meet deadlines, and delegate appropriately
• Ability to cope with and embrace change, risk, and uncertainty
• Ability to exercise excellent independent judgment and take ownership of decisions
• Ability to think on a broad, systems-level relative to the scope of the position
• Ability to work independently and self-manage to achieve goals while being a strong team player
• Ability to develop strong relationships within a collaborative setting that values diverse opinions; enthusiasm for helping drive change as MAWI becomes a more data-driven organization

Hiring Range: $65,000 - $70,000

Work Schedule and Location: Hybrid Schedule – (Wednesday & Thursday) in-person at the corporate office (200 W. Monroe, Suite 1801, Chicago, IL 60606) and (Monday/Tuesday/Friday) are remote. Business needs may dictate occasional need to adjust the hybrid schedule and team member is expected to be able to accommodate the organization’s physical presence needs as part of their hybrid work agreement.

Time Off:

• 15 PTO days

• 8 Sick Days

• 8 Paid Holidays + 3 Floating Holidays

• 1 Employee Appreciation Day per year

• 4 Professional Development Days for continuous learning and growth

• 1 Make-A-Wish Volunteer Day per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefit package: Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical, Vision, Dental, and Wellness

• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Options

• Medical Leave Bank

• Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, and AD&D Insurance

• Additional Insurance Plans: Accident and Pet Insurance through SPOT Pet

• Additional Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Commuter Benefits

• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with 25% match on 1st 6% of contributions

• Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

• Milestone Benefit Program

• Discounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie tickets

HOW TO APPLY

We know interviewing can be challenging, so our goal is to make it as positive of an experience as we can, which includes keeping you informed across the process.

Here’s what you can expect if invited to participate in the interview process:

1) 30-minute Human Resources phone screen

2) 60-minute virtual Hiring Manager interview

3) 60-minute onsite/in-person panel interview with team members

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Make-A-Wish Illinois is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.