Executive Director WSU-31470

Rush University Medical Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 96,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

Rush University Medical Center is seeking an Executive Director for the West Side United Chicago NFP. The role leads strategic direction, fundraising, and collaboration across health and community partners to sustain impact in Chicago’s West Side.

The Executive Director will guide financial stewardship, board relations, and program implementation for Thrive West Side and Live Healthy West Side initiatives, ensuring equity-driven outcomes and long-term sustainability.

Qualifications

• Experience in nonprofit management and community engagement.
• Strong fundraising and donor relations experience.
• Public speaking and marketing/communications skills.
• Strategic planning and cross-sector collaboration.
• Ability to lead diverse teams and manage stakeholders effectively.
• Commitment to equity and community-centered leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead West Side United Chicago NFP as its Executive Director, partnering with Members and Board to advance the mission.
• Oversee strategic planning, fundraising strategy, and financial stewardship.
• Develop and present reports to the Board, committees, and partners; monitor program status and outcomes.
• Manage Thrive West Side and Live Healthy West Side initiatives to improve economic mobility and health access.
• Direct marketing, communications, and external relations to strengthen visibility and funding.
• Supervise Senior Leadership and key contractors; ensure governance and audit readiness.

Skills

Fundraising

Public speaking

Strategic planning

Relationship management

Leadership

Equity & community engagement

Education

Master's degree

Job description

• Master's degree Required

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Hospital: Rush University Medical Center

Department: West Side United

Work Type: Full Time

Work Schedule: 8 Hr (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM)

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits).

Pay Range: $69.41 - $103.42 per hour

Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case. This role has a corresponding incentive plan based on multiple factors. incentive compensation and additional benefits can be found on our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits)

Summary

Under the general direction of the West Side United Chicago NFP Hospital Members—Cook County Health, Lurie Children's Hospital, Sinai Chicago, and UI Health—and the Board of Directors, the Executive Director has overall responsibility for leading West Side United Chicago NFP. The Executive Director provides the organizational leadership, financial stewardship, fundraising strategy, strategic direction, and senior team management necessary to advance the organization’s mission and sustain its impact. The Executive Director will have overall responsibility for the business and affairs of the collaborative and will serve as its chief executive and policy officer, consistent with the authority of the Members and Board of Directors.

The Executive Director will foster a culture of service, excellence, accountability, and collaboration that advances the fiscal and operational health, vitality, and long-term sustainability of West Side United Chicago NFP. In partnership with the senior leadership team and in consultation with the Members and Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide transparent, strategic, and innovative leadership grounded in a community-centered and proactive approach. The Executive Director will lead the implementation of Thrive West Side and Live Healthy West Side, advancing cross-sector strategies that address the social determinants of health and improve economic mobility, catalytic investment and development, and access to health care across Chicago’s West Side.

Other Information

Required Job Qualifications:

• Visionary, values-driven and principled leadership connected to the social impact sector and aligned to West Side United Chicago NFP’s mission, strategy and commitment to equity.
• Strong relationship development and management to ensure relationships with partners, donors, vendors and bureaucrats persist.
• Fundraising (institutional, major giving, individual and board development), and the ability to cultivate relationships and prospects over a long horizon and effectively close.
• Brand development, marketing, and strategic communications.
• Public speaking and public relations, particularly with an ability to have national reach and/or legitimacy as the face and voice of the organization.
• Strategy, influence and negotiation as connector, advisor, disruptor, and strategic risk-taker.
• Emotional intelligence, cultural competence, and diplomacy.
• Master's degree Required
• 15 years of experience with Nonprofit management and community engagement

Disclaimer

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a local and national health and wealth equity leader and convenor demonstrating the impact of collaborative impact models by representing and promoting the mission and vision of West Side United Chicago NFP, by building and maintaining multiple relationships with internal and external stakeholders, local and national funders, residents, community-based organizations, corporate partners.
• In partnership with the Members and Board of Directors, develops and oversees West Side United Chicago NFP’s strategic plan.
• Plans and presents at Board meetings, serves on committees, and reports on program status, accomplishments, challenges, and resource or governance needs.
• Responsible for the implementation and oversight of core Thrive West Side and Live Healthy West Side WSU initiatives, including those developed for economic mobility, catalytic investment and development and health access strategies to ensure program and operational excellence.
• Oversees the marketing, communications and public relations of the organization, including developing long and short-term marketing and communications plans and monitoring, analyzing and forecasting external relations performance to ensure the health and vitality of the organization, strategic business development, and needed policies, structure and systems are in place.
• Oversees Senior Leadership Team and core contractors/consultants (if applicable)
• In partnership with the Chief Operating Officer, Development Director, and Finance Director, reviews and tracks the organization’s financial position and performance; develops short- and long-term financial plans; monitors and forecasts results; and ensures that sound financial controls support organizational sustainability and strategic growth.
• In partnership with the Development Director serves as the organization’s chief fundraiser, ensuring balanced and fully funded annual budgets and the flow of diversified and multi-year funding that increases unrestricted and restricted revenue from major donors, corporations, foundations, and individuals.
• Lead annual audit efforts and ensure a clean audit.

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.