Executive Director - BCBSM Foundation

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan seeks a seasoned leader to direct the BCBSM Foundation’s grant programs, staff and operations, guiding strategic planning and the investment portfolio in collaboration with Bricktown Capital.

The role partners with Enterprise to raise public awareness, design programs, and publish outcomes. It requires strong leadership, governance oversight, and the ability to drive measurable community impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of seven years of related experience, including leadership experience.
• Seven+ years in corporate philanthropy/nonprofit leadership or related social programs.
• Knowledge of community health care and public health impacting Michigan.
• Ability to set short- and long-range plans with measurable outcomes.
• Strong written, oral and presentation communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the BCBSM Foundation’s programs and investments.
• Ensure Foundation activities align with enterprise priorities and maximize community impact.
• Collaborate with internal units to enhance understanding among subscribers, constituents, and partners.
• Cultivate relationships with funders, nonprofits, academic institutions, and stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for statewide and national collaborations and co-funding.
• Represent the Foundation to internal and external stakeholders and governance bodies.
• Oversee Foundation governance, board communications, and reporting materials.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Grantmaking

Nonprofit leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Team leadership

Plan development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, social sciences, health care administration, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Direct and lead the BCBSM Foundation’s grant programs, staff and administrative operations, including strategic planning and oversight of the Foundation’s investment portfolio in collaboration with Bricktown Capital. Responsible for the development, implementation, evaluation, and overall direction of Foundation activities. Partner with Enterprise to increase public awareness of the Foundation’s work through programs, presentations, publications, networking, and other communications.

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the BCBSM Foundation, establishing priorities, goals, and initiatives that advance the Foundation's mission and align with BCBSM's strategic and Social Mission objectives.
• Ensure Foundation-funded programs and activities align with enterprise priorities, maximize community impact, and avoid duplication of efforts.
• Collaborate with customer-facing business units, Community Responsibility, Social Mission, Health Care Value, Commercial Markets, Government Markets, Blue Care Network, Corporate Communications and Customer Experience to ensure the Foundation is well understood by subscribers, constituents, and business partners.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with health care funders, community organizations, governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to advance the Foundation's mission and strategic goals.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to strengthen statewide and national collaborations, leveraging Foundation resources through partnerships, matching initiatives, and co-funding opportunities.
• Serve as the Foundation's primary representative and ambassador, promoting its mission, programs, and outcomes through engagement with internal and external stakeholders, public forums, and professional organizations.
• Serve as liaison to the Foundation's Board of Directors and committees, overseeing governance activities, meeting administration, Board communications, and the development of materials and recommendations to support informed decision-making.
• Direct all aspects of Foundation grant administration, including proposal review, funding recommendations, project monitoring, performance evaluation, and dissemination of outcomes and best practices.
• Partner with the Treasurer to oversee the annual budget and investment of the Foundation’s corpus and restricted balance, including oversight of investment managers and Bricktown Capital.
• Coordinate with BCBSM Accounting and Tax Staff to assure the timely completion of the monthly financial statements, the successful completion of the Annual Audit and annual reporting on restricted grants and preparation of the annual tax return and BCBSM Foundation Annual Report.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, reporting, and governance requirements, including submissions to state and federal agencies, regulatory bodies, and BCBSA.
• Lead, develop, and manage Foundation staff by establishing performance expectations, coaching team members, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing work environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business, social sciences, health care administration, or a related field required, master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of seven years of related experience, including leadership experience required.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in corporate philanthropy, nonprofit leadership or a related field focused on social programs, health care, health care research, or related initiatives.
• Knowledge of community health care, public health and social issues impacting Michigan communities.
• Demonstrated ability to establish short-term and long-range plans, objectives, and measurable outcomes.
• Strong written, oral and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to develop grantmaking and research strategies that advance the Foundation's mission.
• Ability to frame and structure complex problems, identify critical issues and drive effective solutions.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities and plan and implement programs effectively.
• Ability to effectively lead, coach and develop team members.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other grounds, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.
Candidates are hired on an "at will" basis. Nothing herein is intended to create a contract.

Job Info

• Job Identification 14667
• Job Category Public Affairs
• Legal Employer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mutual Insurance Company