Executive Director - Chicago, IL

The Urban Alliance Foundation; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

The Urban Alliance Foundation in Chicago is seeking a Chicago Executive Director to lead strategic initiatives, grow partnerships, and oversee a large youth-serving program. This role reports to the CEO and requires strong leadership, fundraising, and community engagement to expand impact in the Chicago region.

You will direct a regional team, manage budgets, and collaborate with national peers to advance program outcomes, equity, and youth workforce development.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of leadership experience in youth, education, or workforce development.
• Demonstrated ability to build strategic relationships across diverse stakeholders.
• Track record of developing and implementing innovative, data-driven programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop regional sales and fundraising plans to secure revenue partnerships with employer partners.
• Lead Chicago team by supervising program directors and managers to meet deliverables and outcomes.
• Collaborate with Chief Development Officer on regional fundraising targets and annual budgets.
• Represent UA externally through public speaking, events, and a strong social media presence.

Skills

Regional knowledge

Fundraising strategy

Team leadership

Strategic partnerships

Public speaking

Job description

Job Details: Level: Management | Location: Chicago Office – Chicago, IL 60604 | Salary: $120,000–$145,000 per year

Position Summary

Urban Alliance (UA) believes that all young people deserve equal access to the paid work experiences, professional networks, and skills training needed to achieve economic mobility. As the Chicago Executive Director, you’ll have the opportunity to leverage your leadership, relationship building skills, and passion for youth development to help young people aspire, work, and succeed. This role is ideal for an individual who is highly adept at developing strategic relationships, wants to manage a program and team that serves hundreds of young people every year, and has a deep understanding of the needs, landscape, and key stakeholders of the Chicago area. This position currently directly reports to UA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

About Urban Alliance & the Chicago Region

For more than 25 years, Urban Alliance has provided thousands of young adults from historically excluded communities with the skills, social capital, and career exposure needed to overcome systemic barriers to equal employment and economic mobility. Urban Alliance is a bridge between young adults, employers, and schools that provides high school students with comprehensive soft skills and digital literacy training, paid internships with local employers, individualized mentoring and case management, and ongoing post-high school planning support. In Chicago, Urban Alliance has formed strong strategic partnerships with more than 100 corporate partners who host, guide, and develop interns within their organizations.

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraising and Relationship Management
  • Establish strategic relationships to develop and implement regional sales and fundraising plans that secure and grow revenue-generating partnerships with employer partners
  • Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer to establish fundraising and paid internship targets for the region
  • Collaborate with the national fund development team to solicit and secure grants from regional philanthropic organizations
  • Ensure accurate tracking of the fund development and paid internship pipeline via Salesforce
  • Represent the organization externally by participating in public speaking engagements, maintaining a robust social media presence, and regularly participating in and attending community events
  • Serve as a thought partner to youth workforce development peers in the field and collaborate with the national team on high-visibility publications and events
• Program Management
  • Assure that the organization makes consistent and timely progress in achieving its mission and target programmatic impact
  • Lead the Chicago team by directly supervising program directors and managers to ensure programmatic delivery meets key deliverables, outcomes, and targets
  • Collaborate with the Chief Operating to establish the annual budget and track and project expenses
• Team Management
  • Oversee the day-to-day operations of the region and ensure overall successful long-term operations
  • Manage program and alumni directors to ensure that all staff meet goals for the region
  • Facilitate strong working dynamics between the National and Chicago teams
  • Provide professional development for members of the Chicago team
  • Promote strong organizational health and culture throughout the region

Qualifications & Keys to Success

• Regional knowledge and experience: deep understanding of the challenges facing today’s young people, key stakeholders in the Chicago workforce development field, and the region’s philanthropic landscape
• Professional experience: at least 5 years of leadership experience in the youth, education, or workforce development field with a strong track record of developing and implementing strategic, innovative, and data-driven programming; demonstrated ability to work effectively across a diverse portfolio of programs and solve complex issues
• Leadership: thoughtful, collaborative, and empowering leader with strong management qualities and a history of building, leading, and retaining diverse teams; experience managing geographically disparate or remote teams
• Communication: excellent communicator with strong writing and speaking skills; capable of connecting with diverse stakeholders including youth, families, staff, business leaders, volunteers, senior government officials, community leaders, and funders; enjoys public speaking and advocacy for youth workforce development issues
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice: unwavering commitment to advancing racial equity, ensuring it is reflected throughout programs, recognizing the intersection of race and economics, and elevating and amplifying the voices of the young people served

Compensation and Benefit Package

The total compensation package for this position is between $120,000 and $145,000. In addition to paid time off between December 25th and January 1st, we provide 18 days of paid time off plus 10 paid federal holidays, birthday and diversity paid holidays. Additional days are provided to staff after three years. Our benefits include a comprehensive health plan with 90% individual healthcare coverage for employees, a 403(B) retirement plan with a 3% match, whole life insurance, pre-tax commuter benefits, and the option to work remotely up to two days per week and flexible hours when possible.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Urban Alliance is a racial and social justice organization committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Urban Alliance is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Applicants from all underrepresented groups, including people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and DACA recipients, are encouraged to apply.