President (Chicago Area/Springfield, IL)

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC); Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Associated Builders and Contractors – Illinois Chapter seeks a President/CEO to lead the association, ensuring compliance with laws and bylaws while maintaining fiscal balance. You will supervise staff, advance a member-driven vision, and coordinate programs, activities, and external relations.

The role reports to the Board of Directors and requires executive oversight of budgeting, staff leadership, and policy development in a non-profit construction industry context.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Management, Marketing, Labor Relations or other similar field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive leadership experience required with some experience in executing strategic business initiatives.
• Previous construction, engineering or architectural industry experience.
• Previous business/membership development experience using a variety of mediums (newsletters, websites, social media, etc.), particularly in a non-profit organization or association.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, hire, and select staff; define duties and performance standards; conduct reviews.
• Provide trained staff and assign duties with proper responsibility and authority.
• Terminate staff within policy guidelines and ensure continuity of operations.
• Develop annual chapter budget with the Treasurer and ensure income to balance the budget.
• Oversee external relations and government relations efforts and act as liaison to the board.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Public speaking

Budget management

Non-profit experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The President of Associated Builders & Contractors – Illinois Chapter serves as the chief executive of the association and exercises general responsibilities so that the association is operated in compliance with applicable laws, bylaws, and policies. This position insures and maintains fiscal balance while keeping the chapter board of directors fully informed. This person is responsible for providing leadership necessary to build consensus around member-driven vision and implement that vision by planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating the staff, programs and activities of the association. The President is responsible for the oversight of the association’s external relations and government relations efforts.

Direct Reports

• This position reports directly to the Board of Directors.

Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive of Association Staff

• Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, firing and selection of staff. Works with VP to obtain maximum utilization by clearly defining the duties, establishing performance standards, conducting performance reviews, and maintaining competitive salary and befit structures.
• Provide the association with a competently trained staff and assign staff to appropriate duties giving proper responsibility and authority where necessary to achieve the goals of the association.
• Terminate staff at his/her discretion within the confines of EEO and the Fair Labor Practice standards.
• Create and implement office policy and procedure in keeping with normal and accepted office practices and to provide continuity of operations.
• Maintain appropriate office facilities to assure adequate service to members and advise the board of directors of necessary need for major changes and/or additions.
• Provides cost effective training programs for the Vice President through personal leadership and assistance, education courses, and conferences

General Responsibilities

• Assure that all Association activities are carried out within the limits of the Chapter bylaws and conform to state and National ABC policy.
• Assure that the efforts expended on behalf of the association by him/her and other staff members are in the best interest of the general membership.
• Keep the Board of Directors fully appraised on all National policy positions, proposed and continuing programs, objectives and schedule of events.
• Keep the Board of Directors fully informed on the condition(s) of the association.
• Attend all board meetings, executive committee meetings, chapter committee meetings and chapter functions when possible
• Ensures that timely reports and minutes are prepared and presents them to the executive committee and board prior to each meeting
• Provides the board and executive committee with quarterly progress reports with reference to the Chapter annual strategic plan
• Visit members when feasible and maintain personal contacts with membership to the greatest degree possible.
• Perform such additional duties as are from time to time assigned by the Board of Directors
• Advise the Board of Directors of any apparent conflict which arises from the implementation of this job description
• Develop the annual chapter budget, in conjunction with the Vice President, for Board approval with the assistance of the Treasurer. Is responsible for ensuring the Chapter has adequate income through membership increase, membership retention, and non-dues income (including tuition and programming) to maintain the budget in balance and build chapter equity
• The President/CEO, as the Authorized Administrator, oversees the Executive Vice President’s ministerial duties related to the day-to-day operations of the Training Trust. This includes, but is not limited to, evaluating and managing service providers hired and approved by the Trustees. The position ensures all parties are acting in compliance with ERISA, DOL standards, and state and federal apprenticeship guidelines, and ensures that all financial and operational policies and procedures are followed by chapter staff and various service providers in accordance with the professional services agreement between the ABC Illinois and the ABC Illinois Apprenticeship & Training Trust. The role also works as a liaison between the ABC Chapter Board and the Apprenticeship Trust Board.

Leadership

• Recommends in conjunction with the nominating committee, upon request of the Board of Directors, candidates for board members and trustees
• Evaluate and develop members as future leaders of the association
• In cooperation with the Chapter Chairman, develop agendas for monthly board meetings
• Provide new board members and committee chairpersons a thorough orientation of chapter functions
• Plan necessary state leadership conferences in cooperation with the chair-elect
• Determine benefits to chapter and make recommendations as to chapter involvement in National ABC, as well as other business, professional and association program activities
• Develop strategies and manages activities that will result in achievement of annual membership growth goals
• Represent the chapter at all National meetings and national association business.

Legal and Labor Relations

• Understand basic concepts related to labor relations and be able to advise members on the same. Including, but not limited to, union organizing, union pressure on construction owners, jobsite control, union contracts and rates of pay, salting and union organizing.
• Understand basic concepts related to legal issues commonly faced by ABC of Illinois members. Including, but not limited to, construction delivery methods wage and benefit comparisons, employee reviews, hiring/firing, lien law, open records, public works contracts, competitive bidding process, and standardized bid documents.

Public Affairs

• Represent the Illinois Chapter and its member's interests to ABC National in daily affairs and at association events
• Represent the Illinois Chapter to the public
• Act as an advocate for Merit Shop and for the members of the association
• Have and develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of construction issues
• Maintain a professional and businesslike image and exercising sound judgment, loyalty, honesty and integrity in all ABC activities
• Work with appropriate parties on the coordination and evaluation of image campaign. Includes development of advertising copy, production of ads and placement of ads with print, broadcast or electronic media
• Develop and maintain relationships with key media representatives around the state. Write letters to the editor and Op-Ed articles on an as-needed basis. Work with other staff to education media on merit construction.
• Maintain effective internal and external relationships with all persons, groups and bodies which have a relationship with the Association.
• Determine the impact of legislation on members of the association and the construction community
• Develop and implement strategies to provide for the successful outcome legislative issues
• Develop and communicate association's positions to elected officials
• Provide oversight and leadership on PAC / conduit fundraising, disbursements and reporting
• Be responsible for management and effective use of contract lobbyist(s)
• Be responsible for Ethics Board reporting and compliance related to the association's lobbying efforts
• Conduct lobbying efforts in compliance with state lobby laws
• Act as Staff Liaison to chapter Legislative Committee
• Maintain relationships with other organizations to advance the policy objectives of the association

Government Relations - Regulatory Affairs

• Analyze administrative rules and determine their effect on association members and the construction industry
• Understand the administrative rules process and how best to effect that process
• Develop and implement strategies to provide for the successful outcome of administrative rule development

Government Relations - Political Affairs

• Be responsible for meeting political fundraising goals
• Distribution of political funds in accordance with association policy and applicable law
• Supervise administration of PAC and conduit accounts
• Conducting candidate survey's and candidate endorsements in accordance with association policy

Experience and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Management, Marketing, Labor Relations or other similar field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive leadership experience required with some experience in executing strategic business initiatives.
• Previous construction, engineering or architectural industry experience.
• Previous business/membership development experience using a variety of mediums (newsletters, websites, social media, etc.), particularly in a non-profit organization or association.
• As a merit shop advocate, has a solid understanding of the current construction industry environment.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability and willingness to travel to National Conferences throughout the year as well as between the two ABC Illinois offices (Chicago Region and Central IL Region) and across the state of Illinois to meet with members, prospects, and industry stakeholders.
• Innovative, visionary and critical thinker with proven ability to manage day-to-day operations.
• An inspiring and inclusive leadership style with experience in effectively developing teams.
• Understanding of nonprofit accounting, including development of budgets and review of financial statements
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills essential.
• A credible, confident, genuine, humble, positive yet persuasive professional
• Excellent professional writing skills
• Strong project management, detail and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with OSHA regulations and applicable labor law.
• It is the continuing policy of ABC to take affirmative action to assure equal opportunity for all current and prospective employees without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, personal appearance, marital status, familial status, family responsibility, pregnancy or other pregnancy-related conditions, childbirth, disability, military/veteran status, citizenship status, religion or political affiliation, past convictions or incarceration, prior psychiatric treatment, or any other status protected by federal or state law, local ordinance or Executive Orders. ABC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disability Specifications:

• ADA: ABC will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Physical Demands:

While performing the responsibilities of the Education & Safety Director, the employee is required to speak and listen. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel and operate a vehicle. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

• This position is performed in a typical office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to moving mechanical parts and vehicles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within the classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.