Seeking an extraordinary professional to help grow our Wish Team by coordinating wishes for our wish children!

Wish Coordinator (Logistics and Travel Planning), SOUTHEAST Michigan (Based in Southfield)

Department: Wish Team

• Full time exempt with benefits qualification
• Salary commensurate with professional experience

Organizational Summary // Make-A-Wish Michigan (MAWMI):

Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. When a wish comes true, it creates strength, hope, and transformation in a child – and – in a community. In 2024, the MAWMI chapter is celebrating our 40th Anniversary and anticipates granting 500 wishes (a record for our chapter – increasing from 475). This position is part of a team of committed and experienced professionals who coordinate logistics to grant life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses.

Position Summary:

The Wish Coordinator (specializing in logistics and travel planning) is responsible for the management, planning and execution of wishes. Ensures accuracy, cost-effectiveness and timeliness standards are maintained for all wish arrangements for our wish families and is charged with adhering to the policies, guidelines and procedures established by the National Office and Make-A-Wish Michigan. The Wish Coordinator is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with community partners, medical professionals, and wish families and must be fiscally responsible by managing budgets for each separate wish experience, overseeing volunteers, and obtaining in-kind donations to offset final cash expenses.

The ideal candidate would have in depth knowledge into the travel industry specifically with booking flights, cars, and accommodations. These skills are preferred to come from professional settings, but could also come from personal experiences.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages, plans and executes a caseload of 70 - 100 wishes.
  • Responsible for all required wish paperwork; enters wish information into the database and monitors data quality; updates and keeps current wish database and equivalent files on each child to ensure compliance with National Standards and Chapter guidelines. Ensures that Foundation’s liability is minimized by obtaining appropriate signatures, releases and supervision for each wish granted.
  • Determines wish and manages process with volunteers and wish families. Manages and supports volunteers within the organization ensuring they are working within their position guidelines.
  • Manages relationships with health care professionals, volunteers, and family members to ensure each wish proceeds in the best interest of the child and in a timely manner.
  • Manages all specific aspects involved with the wish, including but not limited to transportation, accommodations, services, assisting chapters, medical equipment, liability forms, and itineraries.
• Provides 24-hour on-call coverage on pending wishes for crisis management.
• Effectively performs crisis communication and reflective listening techniques with wish families.
• Prepares and communicates all relative wish information to the volunteers, wish families, health care professionals and appropriate personnel in the community and related staff.
• Responsible for adhering to National policies, guidelines, and resources as they relate to the wish-granting program.
• Represents the Foundation at events; works as a liaison and support figure for wish families who are in attendance.
• Sets and attains annual goals, objectives, and long-range planning as directed by the Program Director and President & CEO.
• Manages and coordinates special projects as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in social work.
• Extensive knowledge in the travel industry such as experience booking travel, working with airlines, travel agent experience, or significant personal travel experience.
• Provide excellent customer service in a compassionate and caring manner, sensitive to the challenging circumstances, and represent the Foundation to external supporters and all wish families.
• Commitment to and a passion for the mission of Make-A-Wish Michigan.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

The Wish Coordinator must model integrity, work to inspire colleagues and contacts and strive to build a great team. The following additional skills and abilities are required:

• Detail-oriented and well organized.
• Highly professional demeanor, able to work successfully with a wide variety of constituents including donors, vendors, volunteers, and wish families.
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with wish families, senior management, staff and volunteers.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, ability to manage multiple priorities, and work in a deadline driven environment.
• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and compassionately manage family expectations.
• Confidentiality and personal integrity are essential.
• Proficient computer skills in Microsoft Office and database management, preference for familiarity with Salesforce.