Executive Director, Corporate Program

POSITION: Executive Director, Corporate Program

DEPARTMENT: Programs

REPORTS TO: Vice President, Programs

SUMMARY

Focusing on critical topics such as the global economy, agriculture and food, manufacturing, and energy, the Corporate Program at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is the region’s premier resource supporting global corporate engagement through content and convening. The Council offers a unique, independent forum for Chicago area companies and executives to engage with business leaders, industry and academic experts, and policymakers, as well as to obtain business critical analysis and decision making insight.

The primary responsibility of the Executive Director is to provide overall leadership of the Corporate Program, serve existing corporate constituents, increase the business relevance of the Council, and attract new companies and executives to engage with the Council. The Executive Director will be responsible for the overall management of the Corporate Program, including identifying the themes and issues of business-critical importance to the Council’s corporate members and the business community at large, and developing and managing programmatic relationships with member and non-member companies.

The Executive Director works closely with other senior staff throughout the organization, in particular the Director, Corporate Relations, to ensure that the implementation of the Corporate Program proceeds seamlessly with existing corporate members and becomes a clearly defined and differentiated product with which to broaden the corporate membership base.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and manage The Chicago Council Corporate Program strategy
• Direct the execution of corporate activities and services, including events, information exchanges, materials, and communication; program formats have included high-level roundtable discussions, CEO/C-level executive-oriented events, symposia, sector-specific conferences, lecture series, annual lectures, and one-on-one meetings between key government officials and member corporate executives
• Supervise the Assistant Directors responsible for program execution and account management
• Spearhead corporate account management as it pertains to identifying themes of business-critical importance to existing corporate members and the business community at large
• Create network groups for corporate members and their associates based around program content
• Oversee the development of an external network of experts including corporate associates, academics, past speakers, and affiliates that may be called upon to provide expert advice to top corporate members
• Identify opportunities for strengthening existing corporate relationships through content, convening opportunities, and/or sponsorship
• Provide leadership, under the direction of the Vice President, in closely coordinating with other Programs staff, interns, and all relevant Council departments
• Build strong relationships with The Chicago Council Board of Directors and senior executives of member and non-member companies and professional firms
• Attend all corporate programs and events, and work actively to enhance member and potential member relationships through these events

QUALIFICATIONS

• 15-20 years’ experience in the private sector, including experience in corporate relationship management, project management, and personnel and resource management
• An MBA or related advanced degree
• A keen interest in international business and world events including most or all of the following: global economy, agrifood, manufacturing, and/or energy
• Must be an energetic self-starter, driven to implement the mandates of a new corporate strategy
• Must be decisive and resource conscious
• Must be a team player, able to build and maintain collegial working relationships with staff members at all levels
• Must have excellent skills in verbal and written communication

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, founded in 1922 as The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, is a leading independent, nonpartisan organization committed to influencing the discourse on global issues through contributions to opinion and policy formation, leadership dialogue, and public learning. The Chicago Council brings the world to Chicago by hosting public programs and private events featuring world leaders and experts with diverse views on a wide range of global topics. Through task forces, conferences, studies, and leadership dialogue, the Council brings Chicago’s ideas and opinions to the world. Learn more at www.thechicagocouncil.org.

TO APPLY

Please e-mail a cover letter and résumé as Word documents to hr@thechicagocouncil.org. You can also apply via the Council’s Web site at www.thechicagocouncil.org in the Career Opportunities section. EOE