Job Description

Date: November 2025


TITLE: Manager, Strategy & Innovation


RESPONSIBLE TO: Vice President, Innovation & Business Development


DIVISION/DEPT: Member Advancement


SUPERVISES: TBD


FLSA STATUS: Exempt

SUMMARY:

The Manager, Strategy & Innovation will play a crucial role in transforming how we work together in solving some of our most pressing issues. This position will collaboratively create, organize, and guide initiatives that align with Goodwill Industries International's long-term innovation and growth objectives while fostering a culture of creativity in direct support of Goodwill members.


This is a high-impact leadership role at one of the most impactful social enterprises in the world, offering the opportunity to drive meaningful innovation in resale, sustainability, and business transformation. This role will have the unique chance to help Goodwill organizations identify and adapt to major industry trends, ensuring they have access to cutting-edge solutions that strengthen their competitiveness and mission impact. If you are driven by the opportunity to build, test, and scale new models that enhance the Goodwill network's future success, this is the role for you.

BASIC FUNCTION:

This role will support the Goodwill network in identifying and adapting to major trends in retail, resale, sustainability and elsewhere that impact Goodwill's social enterprise model. (Examples: increasing global production of clothing, advances in AI and automation, emergence of textile recycling, etc.). While closely collaborating with the donated goods retail, sustainability, and development teams, this position will also play a role in operationalizing strategic engagements through pilot execution and innovation scaling. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in innovation strategy, consulting, business transformation, or retail partnerships, and will be energized by the opportunity to shape the future of Goodwill's work in collaboration with its network of local organizations.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Innovation & Pilot Leadership

Help identify emerging trends and innovative business innovations that could future-proof Goodwill's retail and mission work. Support the design, setup, and execution of high-impact pilots in retail, resale, and sustainability, to help Goodwill organizations test and learn new practices. Help lead the day-to-day transition of successful pilots into scalable, long-term solutions that strengthen Goodwill's ability to serve its mission and its members. Provide strategic insights and recommendations to Goodwill leadership based on pilot results and industry trends.

Project & Change Management

Oversee the day-to-day management of innovation projects, ensuring execution on time, within scope, and aligned to strategic priorities. Implement best-in-class project management frameworks to optimize pilot execution and scaling, working with the Performance Management Office, and aligned to GII's existing pilot management frameworks. Identify risks, remove barriers, and ensure rapid iteration and adaptation based on pilot learnings.

Strategic Planning & Initiative Support

Lead high priority strategic initiatives related to Goodwill's core retail, sustainability, and mission teams. As needed, support Goodwill's leadership team with market and competitive analysis, analysis of Member performance, Member engagement, etc.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal:

Daily contact with the Vice President of Innovation & Business Development, and senior members of the Member Advancement Team (COO, CSO, etc.); frequent collaboration with strategy, fundraising, retail, and sustainability teams.

GII Members:

Frequent engagement with local Goodwill organizations to support them (e.g., tailor innovation pilots to on-the-ground needs and challenges).

External:

Regular interaction with corporate partners, sustainability innovators, resale marketplace leaders, and other industry stakeholders.

Government & Policy:

Occasional engagement as needed for specific pilots.

SKILLS NEEDED:

Proven experience working on innovation and business transformation at scale. Strong strategy, consulting, or business development experience--ideally in a top-tier consulting firm, leading retail/resale organization, or corporate innovation unit. Excellent project leadership and execution skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously. Ability to build trust and credibility across executive leadership, external partners, and Goodwill members. Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills to align multiple groups toward common goals. High ethical standards and ability to drive impact at scale through partnerships and innovation. Strong IT proficiency in project management software, analytics tools, and business intelligence platforms. Understanding of resale, retail, sustainability, circular economy models, and/or digital marketplace trends is preferred, but not required. Ability to travel as required.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's degree

EXPERIENCE:

3-5+ years of experience in strategy, innovation, business transformation, preferably in consulting, retail, resale, social enterprise, or sustainability sectors. Demonstrated success in leading strategic initiatives.

DECISION MAKING:

Decisions related to innovation priorities, project budgets, and time management.

SUPERVISION:

Moderate with latitude given to the position in carrying out work assignments. Work is checked for accuracy and completeness.

PHYSICAL EFFORT:

Sedentary with lifting 10 pounds maximum and occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles or files. Walking and standing are required occasionally; long hours sitting at a desk and using a computer.

EMOTIONAL EFFORT:

Work environment usually hectic with periods of high stress. Must demonstrate a positive attitude in meeting daily challenges.

OUR VALUES

We believe everyone deserves an opportunity to thrive. Goodwill's mission grounds us and happens through each one of us. This aspiration applies to each GII team member as much as to the people we serve.


GII's organizational values guide all that we do; how we do our work and make decisions, and how we interact with each other, Goodwill members and all stakeholders.

Our mission happens through me (Passion)

We have a fire for our mission. We bring our energy, creativity and passion to all that we do. By contributing the best of what is within each of us, we inspire the same in our peers, and multiply Goodwill's impact.

Drive to make a difference (Impact)

We believe that our work must lead to a measurable difference in the lives of the people Goodwill serves. We are committed to performance excellence in all that we do. Our strategy focuses our work to achieve that impact, and we say no to things that do not align. of us, we inspire the same in our peers, and multiply Goodwill's impact.

You before me (Respect)

We treat all people with dignity, kindness, appreciation and respect. We are curious without judgment, and we actively listen to ensure mutual understanding. We give everyone a caring and safe place to share their opinions, their talents, and their questions. We build trust through direct, clear and transparent communication. We are open and humble.t do not align. of us, we inspire the same in our peers, and multiply Goodwill's impact.

Thriving begins at home (Well-being)

We respect the contributions and the needs of our individual team members equally, and we understand that each one of us needs different things at different times to thrive both in and out of the workplace. We strive to make genuine and continuous investments in one another and ourselves. As such, we adopt healthy, holistic approaches to our work. We proactively care for one another and ourselves by speaking up for what we need and supporting one another in achieving it.

Out of Many, One Goodwill (Advancing Our Mission Together)

We embrace all people and perspectives as we advance Goodwill's mission to help people reach their full potential through the power of work. We acknowledge historical inequities still exist and are intentional in breaking barriers. We are committed to being part of the solutions, leaning into courageous conversations, and providing inclusive spaces and equal opportunities for real change in all of our endeavors. Our diversified reflection shall shine as one Goodwill.

Be bold, learn and grow (Agility)

We are open, creative, innovative, agile and willing to take risks. We operate with a sense of urgency, without rushing for the sake of speed. While we do our best to make good decisions, we embrace failure for the learning it affords and adapt quickly to move ahead. We are one unified team that succeeds and stumbles and learns and grows together with humility and grace.