Chief Executive Officer

About the role

WRTP | BIG STEP is seeking an accomplished, strategic, collaborative, and mission-driven Chief Executive Officer to lead an organization with a fifty-year history of connecting employers, labor, education, government, philanthropy, and communities to expand access to family-supporting careers and strengthen Wisconsin’s workforce. This is an opportunity for a leader who can build on a strong foundation while bringing clarity, alignment, and momentum to the organization’s next chapter.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for organizational strategy and execution
• Lead staff leadership, culture, and performance
• Ensure financial stewardship, budgeting, and sustainability
• Drive fundraising, grants, foundations, and revenue development
• Partner with the Board of Directors on governance
• Cultivate employer, labor, education, government, philanthropic, and community relationships
• Serve as a public representative and industry leader

The Leader

The ideal candidate will bring:

• 5–7+ years of progressive executive leadership experience in a complex, mission-driven environment
• A record of leading people and organizations through change, growth, or transition
• Strong financial, budgeting, and organizational management skills
• Experience with fundraising, grants, foundations, government funding, or revenue development
• Experience working effectively with a Board of Directors
• Exceptional communication, public speaking, and relationship-building skills
• The ability to navigate diverse perspectives and build common ground across stakeholders
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience; advanced degree preferred

Experience in workforce development, economic development, education, labor-management partnerships, skilled trades, manufacturing, public-sector workforce initiatives, philanthropy, or nonprofit leadership is strongly preferred.

Most importantly, WRTP | BIG STEP seeks a leader who combines strategic thinking with practical execution, executive presence with humility, and strong business judgment with a genuine passion for mission.

What Success Looks Like

• Clear strategic direction and organizational alignment
• A confident, engaged, and accountable team
• Strong financial sustainability and diversified revenue
• Expanded philanthropic, government, corporate, and strategic partnerships
• A strong Board/CEO partnership
• Measurable workforce and economic mobility impact
• Continued growth in WRTP | BIG STEP’s statewide and national influence

Location & Travel

Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Approximately 10–20% travel, primarily throughout Wisconsin, including Madison and other statewide locations, with periodic national travel, including Washington, D.C. Evening and occasional weekend commitments should be expected.

Benefits

• Health, vision, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Retirement contribution