Director of Development and Partnerships

End Date
Jun 3, 2018

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) links the strengths of the cultural and business sectors to promote community growth and vitality through the arts. By enlisting business volunteers to provide essential assessment, training, consulting and board service, A&BC enhances management capacity of arts organizations while promoting a highly engaged form of business participation in the arts. 

A&BC is committed to inclusion and equity and strives to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of our volunteers and clients. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups including veterans, people with disabilities, or individuals who identify as a members of  ALAANA communities.  Members of these groups are encouraged (but are not required) to self-identify as such in their cover letters and asked to describe the unique perspective this identity provides for this role. 

Position Summary: As a new position, the Director will enhance the Arts & Business Council’s connection between the arts and business communities in Chicago. The Director is committed to executing strategic initiatives to package programs and cultivate clients that leads to greater revenue. This is accomplished through employee engagement programs, the development of emerging leaders, and fostering creativity in the workplace; and includes both stewardship and growth of existing relationships in addition to driving significant revenue from new partners.

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Reflect the vision and priorities communicated by the Executive Director.
  • Represent A&BC to business, government and philanthropic partners to expand programs and services within a wide range of sponsorship, custom projects and earned revenue ventures.
  • Generate proposals that are informed and sophisticated, and grow revenue, relationships and opportunities for A&BC.
  • Promote programs through innovative approaches that showcase A&BC.
  • Execute and evaluate programs by maintaining strong relationships with program staff. 
  • Up to 50% local travel will be required.

Core Competencies

  • Excellent account management skills with the proven ability to develop and grow high-yield relationships.
  • A high degree of initiative with the desire and ability to meet aggressive revenue goals.
  • Quick study to learn so as to inform the organization’s processes and protocols; products and services. 
  • Bring ideas on how to accomplish objectives and address challenges. 
  • Able to work independently and within a team, prioritize and manage multiple projects, work efficiently.
  • Project management skills/experience, problem solver skills/experience.
  • An entrepreneurial spirit and creative approach to strategy development.

Interpersonal and Communication

  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Listen and act. Experience needed: skills and evidence as listener and thoughtful participant in team setting; evidence of being methodical and decisive.
  • Ability to infuse creativity, innovation and insight into proposal development.
  • Superior organizational skills with high attention to detail.

Technical

  • Strong researching and prospecting skills.
  • Ability to research and convert research into materials and proposals.
  • Excellent computer skills including database management. 
  • Knowledge of Salesforce program a plus.

Desired Characteristics

  • A commitment to arts and culture.
  • Ability to thrive in a co-working space that is characterized by significant growth, diversity and constant change.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of representatives,      specifically within cultural and corporate contexts.
  • Ability to accept accountability with responsibility. 

Qualifications: A level of experience that demonstrates possession of the necessary knowledge and abilities for this position is required as noted:

  • A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree preferred.
  • A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience with demonstrated success in start-ups, fundraising, business development, sales, membership and/or customer service. This includes paid and unpaid / volunteer and community work.
  • Experience with the intersection of non-profit and corporate cultures.
  • Willingness to work within anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks and actively engage in ongoing learning about these frameworks.

Salary: Competitive based upon experience, with excellent benefits package. 

To apply, send cover letter and resume to:
info@artsbiz-chicago.org; Subject line: ‘DIRECTOR’

Arts & Business Council of Chicago
100 S. State Street Chicago, IL 60603 

Application deadline April 27, 2018