Director of Workforce Development

World Business Chicago (WBC) is a public-private, non-profit partnership that drives inclusive economic growth and job creation, supports business, and promotes Chicago as a leading global city.

Summary

The Director of Workforce Development leads public and private sector engagement to improve the workforce development climate within the Chicago area. WBC supports workforce development by engaging area corporate, civic, and local government leaders in identifying key workforce and human capital challenges for Chicago firms and will serve as the convener connecting WBC’s sector-based industry strategy with the appropriate workforce ecosystem partner and resources. The Director of Workforce Development is a full-time position that reports to the Executive Vice President of Business and Workforce Development.

Responsibilities:

• Expand the network of workforce partners to expand the awareness of workforce training programs and promote these solutions to sector-based companies
• Work with WBC marketing team and other marketing media resources to promote training programs (i.e., targeted outreach in schools, City wide-marketing campaigns) and help build awareness
• Convene stakeholders – businesses, workforce partners, non-profits, etc. – to increase collaboration and inform best practices and diversify partnership
• Support WBC trips by setting up profiles of Chicago’s job opportunities by reaching out to former Chicagoans
• Understand how technological adoption is going to impact WBC’s sectors and future of equitable job creation for Chicago

• Assist Business Development staff in supporting the City of Chicago’s business attraction, expansion, and retention as it pertains to workforce development
• Interview companies to identify workforce trends in Chicago – identify barriers and opportunities to demand-driven workforce development and hone in on strategic projects that can improve upon these findings

• Oversee reporting and other administrative duties necessary to ensure the efficient day-to-day operation of the Workforce Development Unit
• Responsible for the management of the department budget, grants and grant reporting

Skills and Experience

• Solid understanding of Chicago’s workforce development ecosystem
• Advanced training in group facilitation and development skills; including ability to advise group on technical concepts to consider, assisting group to navigate through difficult topics, and leading group to identifiable activity/outcomes/projects
• Advanced project management – including ability to support corporate executives and technical assistance providers in ongoing engagement of projects to produce deliverables
• Demonstrated experience building effective private, public, civic and philanthropic partnerships
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to address all levels of management
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize workload to meet changing or tight deadlines
• Experience working in a start-up environment with evolving priorities and processes preferred
• A good sense of diplomacy in dealing with confidential information

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate has a minimum of 5 years of experience in a leadership role related to demand-driven workforce development strategies within the field of economic development and has distinctive project management and analytical skills.
• Relevant graduate degree or equivalent work experience preferred
• The candidate should have extensive experience working with senior (C-suite) leadership.
• Must have solid computer skills with the capability to master new software applications and technologies in database management and have advanced expertise required in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access.
• WBC is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to diversity across the board. WBC’s success is underpinned by our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture.

If interested, please send resume and cover letter to HR@worldbusinesschicago.com