World Business Chicago seeking a Director of Civic Partnerships. This position supports the work of the Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs by spearheading coordinated implementation efforts to grow the economy for all residents and neighborhoods within the City of Chicago. Primarily a communications role, this staff member will work to empower local communities and strategic partners of the Plan to achieve their economic development goals. This position will report directly to the Executive Director of the Plan.
Primary Responsibilities
HR
- Promoting integrated and inclusive economic development strategic planning and implementation
- With cross-cutting focus on the 10 Strategies, manage ongoing support for external initiatives in economic inclusiveness
- Monitoring and aligning work of the Plan to the development and implementation of policies and actions related to issues connecting all residents to Chicago’s economy
- Planning, executing, and maintaining a variety of projects focusing on economic inclusiveness at the intersection of the private and public sectors by identifying gaps, barriers, opportunities in ecosystem of economic inclusiveness
- Also identifying ways to fill gaps by aiding external civic and private-sector partners by providing technical assistance on integrating economic inclusiveness concepts into their work
- Direct Plan Analysts to analyze current trends in economic inclusiveness
- Supporting the following areas:
- Targeted sectors with the highest potential for rapid, sustainable, quality job growth
- Unlocking the economic potential of underutilized assets and promoting new investments in targeted disinvested neighborhoods
- Public service delivery and business enabling environment reforms for all businesses in Chicagoland
- Neighborhood entrepreneurship by connecting existing entrepreneurship programs within region to key partners within targeted neighborhoods
- Growth and innovation of Small to Medium Sized Enterprise Firms (SMEs) by directing investment in and integrating SMEs into competitive supply chains in targeted disinvested neighborhoods and minority-owned businesses
- Workforce development programs creating new job opportunities for youth, women and minorities
Connecting, Collaborating, and Convening Strategic Partners
- Providing technical leadership for the design, formalization, and management of innovative, inclusive partnerships with key civic, business, neighborhood, and government partners
- Evaluating benefits and risks of new civic and public partnerships for external initiatives
- Screening efforts of WBC and the Plan with an economically inclusive lens and provide support to Team to position work as truly grow economy for all whenever possible
- Developing and implementing targeted outreach strategies that identify, cultivate, engage, and steward potential supporters of the Plan including civic and neighborhood organizations
- Promoting inclusive collaboration across municipalities, cantons, entities, and ethnic divides for economic efforts and solutions
- Organizing, attending, and representing the Plan at events providing value to top officials and organizations in the area
- Serve as a thought leader in focus area, develop outbound communications overviewing economic inclusive development in Chicago
- Track, report on, and optimize the performance of public-private partnerships and individual relationships of the Plan, including identifying issues as they arise, assessing possible solutions, and executing those solutions
- Help to socialize the Plan and its work towards economic inclusiveness by assisting in briefings with regional organizations and area civic leaders
- Connecting with targeted audiences by:
- Leading development and maintenance of strong relationships with civic partners connecting social, economic, spatial, and institutional inclusiveness work in Chicagoland
- Leading development and maintenance of strong relationships with neighborhood economic partners and civic partners working on economic solutions
- Supporting the work of the Executive Director to support private sector partners within the work of the Plan to grow the Chicagoland economy for all
- Identifying public organizations or agencies strategically positioned to accelerate the growth of the local economy for all and building capacity of these partners to take leadership roles for issues within spheres of economic inclusiveness
- Serve as a liaison to the City of Chicago and the work of Deputy Mayor/Chief Neighborhood Development Officer and Chief Resiliency Officer on economic inclusiveness
- Providing thought leadership, strategic insight, and clear communication (written and verbal) to Plan Team members on public-private partnership initiatives and assisting the Plan Team to build and maintain a pipeline of relationships with potential strategic civic partners
Skills & Competencies
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with a wide range of individuals within and outside of WBC
- Broad base of knowledge and skills related to building effective partnerships
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly communicate to all levels of management
- Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload in order to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment
- Detail oriented with a high level of energy and a “can-do” attitude
- Entrepreneurial approach is a must, and experience working in a start-up environment with evolving priorities and processes preferred
- Strong interpersonal written/verbal communications skills
- A passion for civic engagement that makes a difference for the region’s future
- A good sense of diplomacy in dealing with confidential information
- Familiarity with the Chicago region is preferable
Qualifications
The ideal candidate has a minimum of 7-10 years of experience in a leadership role related to economic inclusiveness growth strategies and has distinctive project management skills. This position requires extensive communications experience and advanced project management and leadership experience specifically focusing on eliminating poverty and growing economic opportunity for all. The candidate should also have extensive experience working with senior (C-suite) leadership, possess excellent written and oral communication skills, and have relevant expertise and experience in inclusive economic growth strategies. Must have solid computer skills with the capability to master new software applications and technologies in database management including Salesforce.com and have advanced expertise required in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access. Must be willing to expand economic development core skills if not already in possession of formal training or knowledge. Relevant graduate degree or equivalent work experience preferred. College degree from an accredited institution.
Salary
Salary will be commensurate with experience. Competitive benefits package.
To Apply
If interested, please send a cover letter and resume by October 28, 2016 to:
Carrie Simmons
World Business Chicago
177 N. State St., Ste. 500
Chicago, Illinois, 60601
World Business Chicago
177 N. State St., Ste. 500
Chicago, Illinois, 60601
Due to the large volume of applications we receive, we cannot reply individually to each applicant. Once you have your application, please do not contact us unless we ask you for further information. World Business Chicago is an equal opportunity employer.