REACH Center Director

Madisonhealth; La Crosse (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The REACH Center Director at Couleecap provides strategic leadership and daily operational oversight for a multi‑agency resource hub in La Crosse, focused on housing, healthcare, and economic stability. This role drives partnerships, service expansion, and sustainable funding while promoting an inclusive, trauma‑informed environment for staff, partners, and community members.

Reporting to the Department Director, the Director leads 1–3 staff and volunteers, supervises operations, and guides

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or four to seven years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing decentralized operations and supervising staff.
• Ability to build collaborative partnerships with nonprofits and public entities.
• Experience working with low‑income or disadvantaged populations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily REACH Center operations, including policies, staffing, building safety, and coordination.
• Develop and maintain relationships with partner organizations to expand services.
• Coordinate community events and public engagement efforts.
• Monitor performance data and prepare reports for leadership and funders.
• Lead fundraising efforts and contribute to long‑term funding sustainability.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Partnership development

Data-driven decision making

Budget knowledge

Staff supervision

Grant writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

The REACH Center Director provides overall leadership and daily operational oversight for the REACH Center, a multi‑agency resource hub designed to support individuals and families with housing, healthcare, and economic stability needs. This role ensures the REACH Center is welcoming, effective, and responsive to community needs by fostering strong nonprofit and public partnerships, expanding services, promoting collaboration, and ensuring operational excellence and funding sustainability.

The REACH Center Director works under the general supervision of a Department Director while exercising significant initiative, sound judgment, creativity, and problem‑solving skills.

Key Responsibilities

All Couleecap employees are required to support and uphold Couleecap’s mission to fight poverty and create opportunities for economic and social mobility so that all people succeed in thriving communities as well as have the ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from all cultures or belief systems. The REACH Director provides leadership that fosters a welcoming, inclusive, and trauma‑informed environment for staff, partners, visitors, and community members

Operations & Administration

• Oversee daily REACH Center operations, including:
  - Policies and procedures
  - Staffing Schedules and hours of operation
  - Building safety and maintenance
  - Internal team coordination and cooperation
• Ensure operational efficiency, effectiveness, and continuous improvement.

Partnership Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with organizations and agencies housed in or partnering with the REACH Center.
• Actively identify and recruit new nonprofit and public partners to expand services available to center visitors.
• Promote collaboration, communication, and shared goals among partners.

Community Engagement & Events

• Coordinate and oversee events such as:
  - Community workshops and training sessions
  - Media events and outreach activities
  - Other programs designed to engage and benefit the community
• Serve as a liaison to the neighborhood and broader community
• Attend Neighborhood Association meetings and respond to community questions and concerns with professionalism and goodwill.

Communications & Public Relations

• Promote the REACH Center within the community.
• Serve as a media spokesperson when appropriate.
• Actively manage and oversee REACH Center website and social media platforms to ensure accurate, consistent messaging.

Performance Measurement & Reporting

• Ensure systems are in place to collect, track, and analyze performance data.
• Monitor outcomes and prepare reports for REACH leadership and funders.
• Use data to support planning, funding requests, and continuous improvement.
• Assist the REACH leadership team with fundraising efforts and grant writing.
• Support long‑term funding sustainability through data collection, partnership development, and community visibility.

Supervision & Team Development

• Supervise 1–3 employees, as well as interns and volunteers, in accordance with agency policies and applicable laws.
• Hiring recommendations and onboarding
• Training and coaching staff and volunteers
• Assigning and directing work
• Performance evaluations
• Addressing complaints and resolving issues
• Promote a healthy, collaborative, and respectful work environment.

Skills and Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or four to seven years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Preferred experience includes:
  - Managing complex, decentralized operations
  - Supervisory or people-management experience
  - Building collaborative partnerships
  - Working with low‑income or disadvantaged populations

Communication

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to write reports, articles, and public‑facing materials.
• Ability to present information effectively to leadership, boards, public groups, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to respond professionally to inquiries or complaints from the public, partners, or regulatory bodies.

Analytical & Reasoning

• Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, and draw sound conclusions.
• Ability to interpret laws, regulations, policies, and technical instructions.
• Comfort working with budgets, percentages, ratios, and performance data.

Leadership & Professional Skills

• Strong knowledge of general management practices and nonprofit operations.
• Trauma‑informed training preferred.
• Ability to adapt to change and lead change effectively.
• Strong judgment, reliability, and ability to perform in high‑stress or crisis situations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.

Physical Demands

• Frequently required to sit, talk, and hear.
• Occasional lifting or moving of up to 10 pounds.
• Work involves frequent interaction with individuals experiencing crisis, emotional distress, or requiring a trauma‑informed approach.
• Moderate noise level typical of a busy community resource center.