Urban Juncture Foundation Director of Engagement + Partnerships Chicago, IL · Full time

Apply for Director of Engagement + Partnerships

Urban Juncture works with local partners and allies to reestablish community business ecosystems while collaborating with like-minded stakeholders to identify, highlight, and remove the root causes of disinvestment. Our "Build Bronzeville" initiative uses commerce to revitalize our historic community through five key actions: 1. Invest in local assets. Every community has unique, valuable, and deeply-rooted assets, including its people, culture, places, and enterprises that must form the foundation of any revitalization effort if it is to be successful. We work to identify, engage, and activate these assets. 2. Support innovation, growth & replication. Our communities have an abundance of talent and creativity but often lack access to the key resources required to move from concept to enterprise and from startup to profitability. We work to assemble and deliver resources to fill this gap while encouraging the innovation necessary to establish truly unique enterprises. 3. Build enterprise hubs in central locations. Our work prioritizes key commercial corridors suffering from decades of blight and neglect to build a positive brand of neighborhood revitalization. Achieving a critical mass of activity at central community locations is important to establishing a sustainable presence in neighborhood. 4. Reengage & reconnect. Historic disinvestment has resulted in local residents becoming disengaged and disconnected and has separated our neighborhoods from other urban communities and the vibrancy of the city as a whole. We work to rebuild social capital and to reengage and reconnect community at all levels. 5. Facilitate local control & ownership. Local ownership and control are critical to assuring the successful establishment and regeneration of an ecosystem. Community residents are the most familiar with the needs and assets of their neighborhoods and have a deeply vested interest in reinvesting in them for the long term.

Build Bronzeville is a unique collaboration between Urban Juncture Foundation and Urban Juncture, Inc., social enterprise startups focused on neighborhood-driven community revitalization. Build Bronzeville employs local, deeply-rooted culture, commerce, and talent to revitalize the CTA Green Line transit hubs on the 51st and 43rd Street retail corridors. Now celebrating its 20th year of service, Build Bronzeville will experience rapid growth over the next 3-5 years as it leverages broadened support to advance its Boxville®, Bronzeville Cookin’ and The Forum enterprise development platforms.

Urban Juncture Foundation seeks a full-time director who will work with a small team of colleagues to engage stakeholders and form partnerships in order to facilitate the growth of Build Bronzeville:

• Co-lead resource development initiatives
• Expand and manage our network of partners, patrons, and volunteers
• Build Bronzeville Internship program
• Support current community outreach efforts, including Bronzeville Fit (B-Fit), B is for Bronzeville, and Train of Thoughts
• Lead storytelling across Build Bronzeville and social media outreach
• Curate key placemaking events, particularly events that cut across Build
• Bronzeville initiatives, e.g., Block Party, Halloween Jam
• Manage Engage Bronzeville team members leading Bronzeville Community
• Garden, Green Line Farm, and Boxville Green House
• Support engagement efforts embedded in other Build Bronzeville initiatives
• Track engagement and resource development efforts.

The Director of Engagement & Partnerships will work closely with other Build Bronzeville leaders to advance our community revitalization objectives. A strong candidate will have several key skills and attributes:

• Rooted in Chicago's South Side communities, with strong connections to professional networks in Bronzeville & beyond
• Self starter, collaborative, flexible, detail-oriented
• Able to work effectively with people from a range of backgrounds and with diverse styles
• Strong project management skills; able to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and projects
• Excellent writing/storytelling skills
• Strong interpersonal & organizational
• Minimum of 15 years professional experience
• Sound judgment; values driven

Work is performed in an office environment as well as outdoors and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and move outdoor furniture. Must have the ability to sit and stand for prolonged periods of time and walk short distances. Must be able to lift up to 35 pounds at times. The scope of the position requires occasional evening and weekend work.

This is a year-round, full-time position with a salary range of $65,000 to $75,000. If you are a talented creative and entrepreneur who is looking for achallenging and rewarding community-based opportunity, we encourage you to apply for the Director position.

For full consideration, submit a resume with cover letter highlighting relevant experience and three professional references to [email protected] .

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person