Program Coordinator/Senior Program Coordinator, Strategic Partnerships

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Program Coordinator, Strategic Partnerships provides cross-functional coordination for priority initiatives, reporting, public policy, strategic partnerships, and member learning. The role keeps work moving across staff, members, funders, volunteers and external partners by organizing information, coordinating communications, tracking deliverables, preparing materials and following through on commitments.

This position is designed to flex as organizational priorities evolve. Assignments may shift among programs and initiatives while remaining centered on strong project coordination, clear communication, accurate reporting, and dependable follow-through. The coordinator works within approved strategy, policy, budgets and partnership parameters and escalates decisions or commitments that require leadership authority.

ABOUT UNITED WAY OF WISCONSIN

United Way of Wisconsin works to improve lives and strengthen communities by mobilizing partners to close gaps and expand opportunities so everyone can thrive in Wisconsin. UWWi supports statewide initiatives, including 211 Wisconsin, and provides support and opportunities that strengthen local and independent United Ways, 211 regional contact centers and statewide partners.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting & Organizational Coordination

• Coordinate recurring 211 Wisconsin, organizational, grant, funder and other assigned reporting cycles.
• Gather quantitative and qualitative information from staff, members and partners and assemble clear draft reports, dashboards, presentations, and summaries.
• Maintain reporting calendars, source documentation, templates, deliverables, and deadlines.
• Review inputs for completeness and consistency, follow up on missing information and elevate issues requiring program or leadership review.

Strategic Partnership & Funder Coordination

• Coordinate deliverables for assigned strategic partnerships, grants and collaborative initiatives, including timelines, required materials, meetings, and follow-up.
• Serve as a coordination point between funders, UWWi staff, members and participating partners for routine communications, information requests, deadlines and approved deliverables.
• Track partner commitments, responsibilities, milestones and reporting requirements and communicate status to appropriate staff and leaders.
• Prepare and organize meeting materials, partner updates, presentations, and other communications within approved plans.
• Identify gaps, dependencies or emerging concerns and escalate changes in scope, funding, commitments or partner expectations to leadership.

Public Policy & Advocacy Coordination

• Track legislative, administrative and public policy developments related to established UWWi priorities and prepare factual summaries for leadership review.
• Coordinate advocacy calendars, meetings, learning opportunities, action items and stakeholder follow-through.
• Draft fact sheets, legislative materials, member updates, presentations, and other advocacy communications based on approved organizational positions.
• Support state and federal advocacy activities and coordinate approved communications and action alerts.
• Maintain public policy contacts and records and escalate proposed positions, sensitive matters, and significant external commitments.

Learning, Conference Program & Partnership Coordination

• Support conference themes, learning objectives, sessions and content development in partnership with staff, volunteers, and the Conference Planning Committee.
• Coordinate planning committees, speakers and content partners, including materials, communication, action tracking and follow-up.
• Identify prospective conference sponsors aligned with established sponsorship goals and coordinate outreach, materials, commitments and follow-up within approved sponsorship levels and terms.
• Maintain content, speaker and sponsor trackers and coordinate requirements with the Program Coordinator responsible for conference logistics.
• Gather feedback and compile information to support post-conference evaluation and future planning.

Cross-Functional Project Coordination

• Coordinate assigned organizational projects and emerging priorities using clear workplans, timelines, owners, and status tracking.
• Organize meetings, documentation, communications, and follow-up across workstreams.
• Maintain procedures, templates, and shared documentation for recurring work and identify practical opportunities to improve workflow.
• Surface risks, unresolved dependencies, and missed or changing commitments early so they can be addressed by the appropriate leader.
• Take on other coordination responsibilities consistent with the role as organizational priorities and funding evolve.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Three to five years of relevant professional experience in nonprofit programs, partnerships, reporting, public policy, associations, project coordination, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple projects, stakeholders, and deadlines.
• Strong professional writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Experience organizing and summarizing quantitative and qualitative information for reports or presentations.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain accurate records, and appropriately handle sensitive information.
• Ability to adapt as priorities change while maintaining dependable follow-through.
• Ability to travel within Wisconsin as required.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience with United Way, 211, human services, membership associations or statewide nonprofit organizations.
• Experience coordinating funder, grant, strategic partnership or member deliverables.
• Experience with public policy or advocacy activities.
• Experience working with volunteer committees, speakers, sponsors, or external partners.
• Experience supporting conference, learning or convening content.