211 Managing Director

About United Way of Salt Lake

For 120+ years, United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) has served and strengthened the greater Salt Lake community.

Since 2001, UWSL has worked to address the root causes of poverty by building partnerships with schools and communities that improve education outcomes. 

In 2011, UWSL narrowed its focus - connecting people to basic-needs services through 211 and improving education outcomes from cradle to career through Promise Partnership Utah. UWSL, Promise Partnership Utah, and 211 Utah are part of the Utah’s Promise organization.

UWSL is dedicated to creating lasting social change by tackling some of the most challenging issues in the community, such as poverty, poor health, and educational disparities. UWSL’s goal is to ensure that every child and family can reach their full potential through education, financial stability, and healthy lives.

Our workplace is fast-paced, friendly, adaptive, and grounded in our core values: relationships, continuous improvement, results, and equity.

About 211

Since 2011, United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) has led 211 Utah, a statewide program dedicated to helping residents meet basic needs and access the support necessary to overcome poverty and build long-term stability. As Utah’s most comprehensive connection point to local services, 211Utah is powered by a dedicated team of compassionate, highly trained professionals including Service Navigators and leaders providing subject matter, technological, data & reporting, and operations support to service navigation. Through strong partnerships with organizations across the state, 211 delivers confidential, timely, effective connections to essential health and human services for those seeking support. At its core, 211 Utah is committed to ensuring that 100% of Utah’s children and families have the opportunity to thrive. Each year, 211 Utah helps more than 40,000 Utahns navigate complex systems and access the services they need.

The Opportunity

The Managing Director of 211 provides visionary leadership to position 211 Utah as a vital connector within Utah’s social services landscape, serving as a statewide hub for service navigation and systems transformation.

The Managing Director leads the 211 Utah evolution, advancing innovative practices that increase impact and equity for all Utahns. This role is responsible for setting and executing a strategic direction that reimagines how individuals access support, leveraging multiple channels, including phone, web, app, text, chat, and in-person engagement. The Managing Director leads a talented team of 23, including five direct reports, and serves on UWSL’s Leadership Team, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer.

The Managing Director oversees the development and continuous improvement of a comprehensive and accurate resource database, while leading outreach and cross-sector partnership initiatives that strengthen the entire health and human services ecosystem. A key focus of the role is to enhance system-level collaboration and alignment, enabling more seamless, equitable access to services regardless of where or how individuals enter the social support landscape. The Managing Director plays a critical role in resource development, cultivating relationships and securing funding to realize an ambitious vision for 211’s future impact.

Who Are YOU?

The successful candidate is a visionary and dynamic leader ready and energized to serve as the Managing Director of the 211 Utah partnership. This is a unique opportunity for a systems thinker and experienced changemaker to lead a bold transformation already underway, shifting from a traditional call center to a modern, people-centered service navigation hub that helps Utahns access the resources they need, when they need them most.

We are looking for someone who is both entrepreneurial and strategic, able to think on their feet, solve complex problems in real time, and deliver results. This leader will inspire trust, drive innovation, and guide the 211 team into the future while honoring the strong foundation built over the last 14 years.

This candidate with a strong executive mindset, pairs intentional leadership with a deep commitment to community impact, turning vision into meaningful action. They understand the power of technology and data to create closed-loop referral systems that ensure all community members are connected to the resources they need. They know how to build and steward powerful partnerships and are a skilled communicator—equally comfortable in one-on-one meetings or presenting to large, diverse audiences.

As a key ambassador for both United Way of Salt Lake and the 211 program, the Managing Director will play a pivotal role in shaping how individuals and families across our state experience social support - helping to transform systems and lives.

Role & Responsibilities

Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Provide strategic leadership to align 211’s work with what matters most to Utahns.
• Champion 211’s evolution from a referral service to a statewide service navigation system.
• Serve as a key member of UWSL’s leadership team, contributing to overall organizational goals. Inspire, support, and lead high-performing outreach, operations, and resource teams.
• Drive a culture of innovation, collaboration, and impact. Empower staff to execute on priorities while continuously improving systems and services. Oversee the implementation of grants, contracts, and partnership agreements.
• Maintain a strong understanding of call center technology, digital platforms, and referral systems. Ensure effective, seamless experiences across phone, chat, text, web, and in-person navigation.

Partnership & Community Engagement

• Facilitate strategic, multi-sector collaborations that drive systems-level change.
• Build and sustain relationships with service providers, civic leaders, and community stakeholders.
• Lead and support partner engagement for 211 and UWSL initiatives.
• Equip partners with data and insights to guide planning and resource allocation.
• Provide staff support and strategic direction to the 211 Steering Council.

Strategic Execution & Impact

• Align 211’s budget with strategic priorities and ensure effective implementation.
• Set and advance clear goals, strategies, and performance measures in collaboration with partners.
• Balance visionary thinking with operational excellence. Keep sight of long-term goals and emerging opportunities while ensuring flawless execution of current priorities.
• Use data to generate insights, drive decision-making, and measure community impact.

Resource Development & Advocacy

• Identify local and national funding opportunities that align with 211’s mission. Collaborate with the marketing and development teams to craft compelling proposals and reports.
• Lead storytelling and content strategies to elevate 211’s visibility and influence. Engage in public policy efforts and legislative advocacy on behalf of 211. Support donor cultivation and relationship-building efforts.

Emergency Response

• Provide leadership and operational support during emergencies 
• Ensure 211 remains a trusted, responsive resource for the community in times of crisis.

Additional Skillset & Attributes

• 10+ years of nonprofit or social service experience; 7+ years of leadership experience.
• Strategic leader with the ability to envision the big picture while effectively managing the details that drive execution and follow-through.
• Ability to lead by example, foster a strong team culture, and mentor others toward growth and excellence.
• Proven skills in planning and change management, with the ability to inspire and lead teams within an evolving service delivery model.
• Compassionate and approachable, fostering collaboration, empowerment, and professional growth.
• Experience managing innovative resource databases and using data to foster cross-sector collaboration and equitable access to social services.
• Demonstrated professionalism to build and sustain trusted, collaborative relationships with community partners.
• Strong written communication and presentation skills to clearly convey and align mission, vision, and values with prospects, existing partners, government officials, and donors.
• Master's degree (or equivalent work experience) in public health, social work, human services, business, public policy, public administration, or a related field
• Proven ability to unite varied partner perspectives from across regions into unified, collaborative strategies.
• Genuine commitment to UWSL’s mission, approach, and Equity roadmap, demonstrated through active participation in shared learning initiatives.
• High emotional intelligence, humility, and integrity.

Compensation & Benefits

• The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $105,000 - $125,000. UWSL provides a wide range of benefits, including:
• Competitive medical, dental, vision insurance
• 6% retirement match
• Life, accidental death, long-term, and short-term disability insurance options Flexible Spending Account
• HSA contribution that doesn't require a match
• Free on-site gym & bike storage
• Paid parking or public transportation subsidy
• Two weeks paid office closure (between Christmas and NYE and the week of July 4th)
• Generous PTO
• Paid parental leave
• Onsite coffee shop & café
• Paid time to volunteer