Title: Director of Strategy and Growth, Chicago, IL

Exemption Status: Exempt

Department: Windy City Harvest

Reports to: Vice President, Community Partnerships

Year-round, Full-time

Position Overview:

Windy City Harvest is the Chicago Botanic Garden's urban agriculture division working on initiatives to help build a local food system, healthier communities, and a greener economy. The director of strategy and growth plays a key role in driving innovation, introducing new programs, and ending or improving under-performing activities. The director of strategy and growth helps staff understand how activities contribute to a comprehensive view of the Chicago Botanic Garden that delivers impact on plants, people, and planet. They are responsible for developing business and annual strategy plans to support revenue and programmatic growth. The director of strategy and growth will assist the vice president of community partnerships in co-creating new visitor experiences at the Farm on Ogden and responding to emerging initiatives and partnership opportunities. Learn more about our programs: www.chicagobotanic.org/urbanagriculture

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Planning and executing innovative goals including sharing the vision, budget development, integrating efforts into existing teams, and evaluating outcomes.
• Developing business strategy for our products and services.
• Developing annual systems and monitoring progress of the strategic plan specific to Windy City Harvest goals.
• Collaborate with Windy City Harvest departments to build operational and financial plans for growth.
• Conduct market research and analysis to inform the creation of new or existing programs, partnerships, and revenue streams.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with existing and emerging supporters of our efforts.
• Ensure clear, consistent communication and project management with internal departments, particularly finance, development, strategy, and communications.
• Develop Windy City Harvest social media and marketing strategies for product and service visibility.
• Represent the Chicago Botanic Garden in the media and on local service boards.

Chicago Botanic Garden Values & Behaviors:

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• 3 or more years of experience in driving product revenue growth.
• Extensive experience with budget and pro forma development.
• A 360-degree business acumen spanning marketing and sales.
• Bilingual (Spanish and English).
• Ability to use an equity lens in strategy development and decision-making.
• Drive a culture of experimentation and data-driven decision-making, leveraging quantitative and qualitative insights to inform priorities and growth tactics.
• Experience with social media communication strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to commit to a collegial work environment including participatory decision-making and support of open feedback.
• Prior experience with donor relationships and promoting an organization or program to a diverse audience preferred.
• Past experience working with the south and west sides of Chicago preferred.

Physical Demands:

Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, participating in conference calls, and use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, and scanners. Working in many different types of weather during site visits.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.