Are you passionate about making a positive difference in your community? Do you have a passion for helping out new and current business owners expand their businesses? Do you enjoy working with diverse groups of people and building trusting relationships?
If you answered yes to these questions, then you might be the perfect fit for our SSA Manager position!
Who are we:
We are a team of passionate advocates, activists, and social champions. Our staff members are former business owners, individuals with decades of economic development experience, parents, children and residents of the South and Southwest Side.
We work in service of a multicultural, prosperous and economically vibrant Southwest Chicago, one rooted in social justice and racial equity. Together with the community, we strive to build generational, inclusive and sustainable wealth on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
Check out our website to learn more about GSDC and the team at www.greatersouthwest.org
Schedule: Hybrid up to 2 days remote. Monday to Friday, weekends as needed.
About the role:
Under the supervision of the Director of Real Estate and Community Development, the Special Service Area (SSA) Manager will ensure successful management of SSA administrative activities, including budgeting, facilitation of meetings, engagement with City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development, etc. The SSA workplan and budget is an important tool and strategy as GSDC strives to increase/improve wealth on the southwest side, make the southwest side a destination/hub, and increase financial health/stability of GSDC.
Responsibilities may include, but not limited to the following:
- Manage day-to-day operations of the SSA.
- Work with GSDC Leadership to prepare SSA annual work plan budget form and ordinance submission package to DPD.
- Approve Requests for Proposals for potential vendors prepared by SSA Administrative staff and as directed by supervisor and the SSA commission.
- Coordinate special events and other activities as approved by the SSA commission.
- Support SSA record keeping protocols and work with SSA Administrator to respond to DPD and commissioner requests for documentation.
- Works as an integral part of the Real Estate and Community Development Team, attending regular team meetings, cross training on programs and offerings, and supporting other team members as needed.
- Regularly review effectiveness of efforts against departmental and program goals. Works with the Director of Real Estate and Community Development to adjust strategy ensuring successful outputs.
- Responsible for ensuring that all work performed is in compliance with the company’s mission, vision and values. This includes participating in company events and other community-facing activities as required.
- Responsible for supervising team members, overseeing their performance, and managing aspects such as hiring, training, onboarding, professional development and retention.
- Responsible for leading monthly special service area meetings. Prepare and distribute meeting agendas, minutes, and relevant materials. Communicate updates and progress to stakeholders, aldermen, and commissioners.
- Responsible for coordinating and facilitating meetings with Senior Leadership and relevant local stakeholders, including aldermen and commissioners, to discuss community initiatives, projects, and policies.
- Handle conflicts or disagreements diplomatically, seeking win-win solutions that benefit the community and address concerns effectively.
- Other duties as assigned.
GSDC Team Support
- Contribute to all organizational events, helping as necessary with set up/take down, management, networking, various tasks, etc.
- Responsible for ensuring that all work performed is in compliance with the company’s mission, vision and values. This includes participation in company events and other community-facing activities as required
- Other duties as assigned.
Core Competencies
- Vision-focused - Resonates with vision and understands all are part of a broader goal of putting the community first and serving them well.
- Communication - Communicates well both verbally and in writing, creates accurate and punctual reports, delivers presentations, shares information and ideas with others, has strong, empathetic listening skills.
- Client Focus - Builds customer confidence, is committed to increasing customer satisfaction, sets achievable customer expectations, assumes responsibility for solving customer problems, ensures commitments to customers are met, solicits opinions and ideas from customers, responds to internal customers.
- Decision Making/Judgment - Recognizes problems and responds, systematically gathers information, sorts through complex issues, seeks input from others, addresses root cause of issues, makes timely decisions, can make difficult decisions, uses consensus, when possible, communicates decisions to others. Knows how to prioritize multiple tasks.
About you
To be successful in this role, you will need:
- Four-year college degree preferred, but not mandatory
- Experience with City of Chicago contract execution and Special Service Areas specifically, is preferred.
- Previous business owner experience is a plus.
- Ability to build professional relationships with community partners.
- Intermediate knowledge and experience working with computers, including word processing and data entry programs; spreadsheet experience a plus.
- Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
- Must be sensitive to diverse community needs and be able to engage with diverse populations, while using excellent interpersonal skills.
- Comfortable with community-based work (visiting business owner’s onsite, attending meetings/functions etc.) and office/administrative work.
- Able to effectively organize and present information in group settings, both formal and informal.
- Able to work effectively both independently and collaboratively. Self-starter.
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities and deadlines.
- Bilingual (spanish) is a plus.
- Strong connection to the southwest side of Chicago is preferred.
- Driver's License Required.
- References are required.
Physical Requirements
- Prolong periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
- Position requires travel between locations of the organization, business sites and or events.
- Variable outdoor exposure to noise, weather, and elements.
- Constant interactions with the public and employees.
- Flexible working hours: some evening and weekend availability required.
Position Classification
Salary-Exempt
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed
Application Question(s):
- Are you willing to undergo a background check, in accordance with local law and regulations? Yes or No
- What is your desired salary range?
Experience:
- community development: 4 years (Required)
- special service area: 4 years (Required)
- small business ownership: 3 years (Required)
- city of chicago contract: 3 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Chicago, IL 60629 (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL 60629