Chief Administrative Officer

Chief Administration Officer

Volunteers of America Minnesota and Wisconsin

 

Ballinger | Leafblad is honored to partner with Volunteers of America – Minnesota and Wisconsin (VOA MN/WI) in the search for its next Chief Administration Officer. VOA MN/WI strengthens communities across the region by integrating housing, health, and human services, guided by a vision where all lives are uplifted. Reporting to the President & CEO and serving on the Executive Leadership Team, the Chief Administration Officer leads the organization’s administrative functions, including Human Resources, Compliance, Risk Management, Data & Evaluation, and Information Systems and Technology, building aligned systems that support effective programs, a healthy workplace, and long-term organizational sustainability

 

OVERVIEW

 

Serving more than 22,000 people annually across 110 communities, VOA MN/WI has been a trusted nonprofit provider of health and human services for over a century— dedicated to uplifting individuals and families in need.

 

VOA MN/WI offers programs in housing, health, education, food, treatment, and support. With a team of over 500 staff and the support of dedicated volunteers, the organization works to close gaps in access to essential services, fostering resilience and well-being for people of all ages and backgrounds. The organization is led by a President and Chief Executive Officer who reports to an independent board of directors and has an operating budget of approximately $40 million.

 

National

 

Volunteers of America (VOA) is one of the nation’s largest and most respected social service organizations, serving over 1.5 million people annually across more than 400 communities in 46 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. VOA operates through twenty-nine local affiliates, each individually incorporated and governed by local boards of directors, chartered to carry out the organization's mission in their respective geographic areas. At the national level, VOA is a unique ministry of service, driven by compassion and a commitment to provide services to people of all backgrounds.

 

VISION & IMPACT: We close the gap between people and possibility with services that span housing, health, education, food, treatment, and support.

 

MISSION & APPROACH: Our mission is to help people build hope, resilience, and well-being through the integration of health, housing, and human services

 

VALUES

 

• Compassion: See, hear, and stand with those whom we walk alongside.

• Integrity: Act in congruency, ensuring our actions match our words.

• Perseverance: Tap into passion and purpose to overcome challenges.

 

SERVICES & PROGRAMS

 

VOA MN/WI builds healthy communities through the integration of health, housing, and human services to help people and communities build hope, resilience, and well-being. By co-creating whole-person solutions across the community-based continuum of care and opportunity, VOA MN/WI fosters safe and stable homes, healthy minds and bodies, access and opportunities, and community belonging and social connectedness.

 

• 70+ programs and services We braid resources across sectors to offer comprehensive, integrated support for complex needs.

• 114,472+ hours of service

• 20,000+ individuals and families served in health, behavioral health, education, housing, disability services, older adults, and community justice.

 

Culture

 

Staff throughout Volunteers of America - Minnesota and Wisconsin are committed and passionate about the mission of the organization. The following comments are examples of this commitment:

 

• “At VOA, we're about social justice and spirituality.”

• “In our culture, all are welcome; that includes clients and fellow staff members. I feel welcomed wherever I go in the organization.”

• “I love that our services are broad and complex. There is a reach to our work that I feel good about.”

• “We're a high performing organization. We do good and we achieve results.”

 

CHIEF ADMINISTRATION OFFICER

 

A NEW ROLE FOR A NEW MOMENT

 

With the arrival of President & CEO Karina Forrest-Perkins, Volunteers of America - Minnesota and Wisconsin is taking a thoughtful look at how the organization is structured to support its mission. The creation of the new Chief Administration Officer role reflects a deliberate shift toward clearer ownership, stronger systems, and more sustainable ways of working. This role is designed to bring cohesion to functions that have developed over time and to help the organization move from vision to consistent execution. As part of a broader period of change and growth, the CAO will help shape how VOA MN/WI builds the internal capacity needed to support its people, strengthen impact, and prepare for the future.

 

POSITION SUMMARY

 

The Chief Administration Officer (CAO) provides visionary and operational leadership across the organization’s administrative infrastructure ensuring strong, integrated systems that advance program excellence, organizational effectiveness, and staff wellbeing. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the CAO oversees the functions of Human Resources, Compliance, Risk Management, Data & Evaluation, and Information Systems and Technology.

 

As a strategic partner on the Executive Leadership Team, the CAO ensures that the organization’s administrative systems are both mission-aligned and future-ready serving as a builder of systems and a leader of people who champions a healthy, equitable, and highperforming workplace culture. This role is central to strengthening enterprise-wide infrastructure that enables leaders and staff to focus on mission delivery while supporting longterm sustainability and growth.

 

KEY LEADERSHIP QUALITIES NEEDED

 

Systems Integrator: Sees across people, process, data, and technology and brings alignment to work that has lived in silos. Builds systems that support the mission without adding unnecessary complexity.

 

People-Centered Change Leader: Leads change with clarity and care, understanding how structure and accountability affect staff experience. Builds trust while guiding teams through meaningful shifts.

 

Strategic Builder: Comfortable creating what does not yet exist. Translates vision into practical systems that can grow and evolve with the organization.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

 

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

 

• Serve as a thought partner to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team in shaping and implementing organizational strategy, growth, and change management.

• Integrate cross-departmental systems that align administrative, financial, and programmatic priorities to improve outcomes and operational efficiency.

• Lead organization-wide collaborations focused on data-driven decision-making, digital transformation, and workforce wellbeing.

• Provide enterprise-level leadership to centralize and align administrative functions that have historically been decentralized.

• Serve as a visible ambassador for organizational values, advancing a whole person concept of wellbeing across all functions.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AND SYSTEMS OVERSIGHT

 

• Provide executive oversight for all administrative divisions including Human Resources, Compliance & Risk Management, Data & Evaluation, and Information Systems & Technology.

• Provide leadership for talent strategy, employee engagement, compensation, benefits, and professional development initiatives all while prioritizing the engagement and wellbeing of staff teams.

• Ensure regulatory compliance, ethical practice, and proactive risk mitigation across all service areas.

• Oversee performance measurement, outcomes tracking, and the translation of data into actionable insights for leadership and program teams.

• Lead the design and execution of a centralized data and evaluation framework to streamline reporting, improve analytics capabilities, and drive evidence-based organizational strategies.

• Collaborate with Mission Advancement and Program Teams to enhance the organization’s impact narrative, transitioning from reporting outputs to leveraging data driven insights that demonstrate our ability to understand, articulate, and communicate human centered outcomes.

• Direct IT governance, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and user support ensuring secure and efficient technology environments.

• Collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team on business continuity planning, cyber risk insurance, and organizational security frameworks.

• Lead continuous improvement efforts that streamline administrative processes, reduce duplication, and enhance service quality.

 

LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE

 

• Champion staff wellbeing and psychological safety as key organizational priorities.

• Navigates complexity with humility and vision, listening deeply, valuing diverse perspectives, and fostering collaboration while maintaining a clear, future-focused strategy that inspires confidence and drives meaningful change.

• Foster a cultureof accountability, compassion, and collaboration across administrative teams.

• Support a cultural shift from scarcity-driven operations toward sustainable, well-resourced systems that allow staff and leaders to do their best work overtime.

• Mentor and develop a diverse team promoting inclusive leadership and career growth.

• Model transparent, strengths-based leadership rooted in ethics, trust, and communication.

 

GOVERNANCE AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

 

• Provide expert guidance to the CEO, the Board of Directors, and the Executive team on compliance, data integrity, and operational risk.

• Serve as liaison with external partners, legal counsel, and IT vendors to ensure best practices and organizational protection.

• Represent the organization with professionalism and strategic insight in partnerships, collaborative initiatives, and sector associations.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION

 

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in administrative, operations, or systems management roles—preferably in nonprofit or mission-driven environments.

• Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and cross-functional integration initiatives.

• Proven success in building high-performing teams, organizational cultures, and modernized infrastructure through technology, process redesign, and people strategy.

• Experience overseeing talent strategy, workforce planning, and organizational design.

• Legal or compliance background.

• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or similar certification is a plus.

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, or related field preferred.

 

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

 

• Deep knowledge of HR, compliance, data governance, and IT frameworks

• Strategic thinker with strong systems orientation and operational acumen.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate at all levels.

• Commitment to a whole person concept for staff wellbeing. 3Leads with humility while also motivating others to adjust, improve, and innovate.

• Adept at translating complexity into clear priorities and achievable plans.

 

Approach to spiritual care focuses on:

 

• Honoring inherent dignity: Embracing the body-mind-spirit connection.

• Listening with care: Creating space for stories and struggles.

• Offering a non-judgmental presence: Providing unconditional support.

• Witnessing resilience: Celebrating the strength found in life’s challenges.

• Encouraging transformation: Supporting healing and growth in every journey.

 

Compensation & Benefits

 

The salary range for this position is: $165,000 - $185,000.

 

Total compensation includes participation in group employee benefit plans covering medical, dental, and vision insurance, company-paid life and disability coverage, retirement savings opportunities, performance-based incentive compensation, and accrued paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

 

WHERE THE WORK HAPPENS

 

While the role is hybrid (3 days in office), consistent in-person engagement is an important expectation given the scope and relational nature of the work. Flexibility in scheduling and travel availability are required.

 

Headquarters

 

7625 Metro Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

To Apply

 

All applicants must apply online here. To apply, a resume and cover letter are required for consideration.

 

We strive for a transparent and supportive process, starting with an initial review of applications, followed by exploratory conversations with qualified candidates, in-depth interviews, and open communication throughout. There will be an immediate and ongoing review of candidates, so we encourage and appreciate early applications.

 

All inquiries will be handled with strict confidentiality, subject to standard recruiting practices and any applicable legal disclosure obligations.

 

For more details or questions, inquiries may also be directed to Jamie Millard, jamie@ballingerleafblad.com.

 

Applications will be accepted through February 20, 2026, or until the position is filled. Review of materials begins immediately. We encourage early application.