Manager, Free Tax Prep
Posted
GENERAL FUNCTION:
The Free Tax Prep (FTP) manager will lead the implementation and ongoing management of United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s Free Tax Prep initiative to help families connect with services to build stronger financial stability. The Manager is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing volunteer recruitment, partner relationship management, and training; coordinating outreach and marketing; initiative evaluation, outcomes, and reporting; and provision of tax preparation services. The individual will collaborate with staff from across the organization and partners from across the UWGC community to leverage resources to help connect residents with tax preparation services and adjacent financial empowerment services.
The FTP role is responsible for bringing more than $11 million in resources to Greater Cincinnati families and helping them save more than $2 million in local tax services. United Way’s Free Tax Prep initiative is one of United Way’s signature community programs leveraging community relationships, volunteers, and public supports to help family economic mobility while leading program improvements and innovation around this key asset building initiative. It is funded, in part, by the IRS as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and is powered by more than 400 volunteers through strategic partnerships with community, corporate and non-profit organizations.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
Program Leadership & Continuous Improvement
- Monitor program performance and identify opportunities to improve service delivery, operational effectiveness, participant experience, and community impact
- Monitor emerging trends, policy changes, tax law updates, and best practices related to VITA, financial empowerment, and economic mobility.
- Serve as UWGC's primary subject matter expert on Free Tax Prep, VITA, and related financial stability initiatives.
Volunteer Recruitment, Leadership, and Training
- Oversee the volunteer lifecycle including recruitment, onboarding, training, placement, engagement, recognition, and retention.
- Manage volunteer management systems, including Mobilize and Salesforce CRM, ensuring accurate tracking and reporting.
- Develop and oversee training programs for volunteers, site coordinators, and volunteer leaders.
- Create and maintain standard operating procedures and best practices related to volunteer engagement and management.
- Foster leadership development and succession planning among key volunteers and site coordinators.
Marketing & Community Outreach
- Partner with the Marketing team to develop annual outreach and awareness strategies.
- Lead community engagement efforts to increase utilization of Free Tax Prep services among eligible residents.
- Represent UWGC at community meetings, presentations, events, and outreach opportunities.
- Support the development and distribution of marketing materials, educational resources, and public awareness campaigns.
Community Partnerships & External Relations
- Develop, cultivate, and steward strategic relationships with corporate, nonprofit, educational, government, and community partners.
- Maintain and strengthen existing partnerships and identify potential partnership or service-delivery opportunities aligned with established program priorities.
- Serve as UWGC's representative within local, state, and national networks related to tax assistance, financial empowerment, and economic mobility.
- Negotiate and manage partnership agreements, contracts, and performance expectations.
- Collaborate with external stakeholders to advance shared goals and maximize community impact.
Program Operations & Quality Assurance
- Lead and oversee Free Tax Prep operations throughout the region.
- Ensure compliance with all IRS, grant, UWGC, and regulatory requirements.
- Support site coordinators and partner organizations to ensure high-quality service delivery and positive participant experiences.
- Monitor operational performance and implement improvements that enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and client outcomes.
- Lead planning and execution for tax season operations, training events, volunteer deployment, and resource distribution.
Evaluation, Outcomes, and Performance Management
- Establish, monitor, and report on key performance indicators, program outcomes, and impact measures.
- Analyze trends and outcomes data to identify opportunities to improve program performance, service quality, operational effectiveness, and participant outcomes.
- Prepare reports and presentations for senior leadership, funders, community stakeholders, and governing bodies.
- Ensure timely and accurate completion of all required IRS and grant reporting requirements.
Resource Development & Financial Stewardship
- Partner with Development and Grants staff to support funding opportunities from public and private sources by providing program expertise, data, budgets, outcomes, and other information
- Support grant writing, proposal development, grant management, and reporting activities.
- Manage the program budget and ensure effective stewardship of organizational resources.
- Participate in donor engagement activities and communicate program impact to funders and stakeholders.
Organizational Leadership
- Collaborate across UWGC departments to advance organizational goals and strengthen economic mobility efforts.
- Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to staff, volunteers, site coordinators, and partners.
- Lead cross-functional projects and initiatives related to Free Tax Prep operations and established organizational priorities.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, equity, and continuous improvement.
JOB RELATIONSHIPS WITH:
Community Impact staff; Development staff; Marketing staff; Volunteer Engagement staff; key community-based organizations; corporate partners; educational institutions; financial institutions; city and county staff and elected officials; IRS SPEC and Grant Office personnel; United Way Worldwide; technology vendors; AARP and statewide VITA partners; site coordinators; volunteers; funders; and other community stakeholders.
SUPERVIOSORY REPONSIBITLIES:
Supervises Associate, Free Tax Prep and all seasonal staff.
Encourages staff innovation and continuous improvement, recognizes contributions and accomplishments, and fosters a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and professional growth.
OTHER DUTIES:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in program management, community impact, human services, financial empowerment, tax preparation, or related fields.
- Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs or initiatives with measurable outcomes.
- Experience building and managing community partnerships and collaborative initiatives.
- Experience supervising staff and/or leading cross-functional teams preferred.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing budgets, grants, contracts, and program resources.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presentations, facilitation, and executive-level communications.
- Strong analytical skills with demonstrated ability to interpret, utilize, and communicate data effectively.
- Experience with CRM, volunteer management systems, reporting platforms, and technology-driven solutions.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Current IRS certification as a tax preparer and site coordinator or ability to obtain certification within one month of employment.
- Knowledge of federal regulations, tax law, volunteer management, and program evaluation methodologies preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to influence and build consensus among diverse stakeholders without direct authority.
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, project management, and leadership skills.
DESIRED COMPETENCIES:
Program Leadership; Communication Skills; Relationship Building; Community Partnership Development; Organizational Planning and Facilitation; Leadership and Team Development; Achievement Orientation; Data-Informed Decision Making; Financial Stewardship; Continuous Improvement; Technology Proficiency; Equity and Inclusion.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Office environment with little exposure to dust, noise, temperature, and the like. Remote work permitted in accordance with UWGC policies.
- Ability to lift 20 pounds.
- Frequent local travel within the regional area, including evenings and weekends (particularly during the tax season January – April).
- Reliable personal transportation required.
- Extended viewing of computer monitor.
SALARY:
$56,000 plus a competitive benefits package (Final offer based on level of experience)
BENEFITS:
- Generous paid time off including vacation, personal, sick, and holiday time
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 403b plan with company match
- Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program and access to other free health programs
- Community volunteer opportunities
- Professional development and training opportunities