Senior Manager of Community Conversations
Illinois Humanities
Status: Salaried, Full-Time Exempt
Reports to: Director of Statewide Programs
Location: Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois statewide
Background:
Illinois Humanities, the Illinois affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that foster reflection, spark conversation, build community, and strengthen civic engagement. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration.
We envision an Illinois where the humanities are central to making the state more just, creative, and connected.
Our Values:
- Center people’s experiences, histories, and cultures.
- Actively promote equity, uplift diversity, and ensure inclusion.
- Make and protect space for the exchange of challenging ideas, meaningful dialogue, and personal reflection.
- Intentional, partner-centered relationships that build social capital and strengthen social cohesion, particularly for underserved and historically disenfranchised communities.
Job Summary:
The Senior Manager of Community Conversations is responsible for overseeing and implementing programs that bring people together in facilitated conversations anchored by the humanities. In addition to serving as the program lead for a range of programming spanning a traveling speakers’ bureau, conversation series, and book groups, this position supports a select portfolio of strategic partnerships and community outreach. Monthly statewide travel is required.
General program management
- Coordinating and monitoring the program and schedule design, and goals for all conversation programs throughout the state.
- Recruiting, curating, and supporting speakers/performers and host sites to support community conversations about timely and important issues and ideas.
- Ensuring conversation programs and events meet intended deadlines and planned outcomes.
- Collaborating with the Teaching & Learning department to activate content, methodology, and framing across conversation programs.
- Serving as the liaison for a portfolio of program partners; supporting overall ecosystem-building goals.
- Identifying insights from metrics and sharing reports about impact with different departments; preparing quarterly reports on program activities.
Statewide discussion program management
- Curating and supporting a roster of speakers, performers, facilitators, and community-based, geographically diverse host sites.
- Supporting and coaching speakers, performers, and facilitators to ensure high-quality, inclusive, and community-responsive programs; developing support structures for speakers as needed, which may include office hours, community norms workshops, and virtual “coffee meet-ups".
- Creating and managing resources for host organizations, including guidelines, timelines, materials, and reporting tools.
- Monitoring and responding to speaker, host, and participant feedback and inquiries.
- Managing and maintaining regular communications with host organizations and creating written agreements with partner organizations to frame expectations and priorities for ongoing relationships in support of community goals.
Audience Development and Outreach
- Making data-informed recommendations about target audiences in support of annual and strategic priorities.
- Building upon existing and new organization-wide relationships in program locations in outreach efforts to drive number and diverse composition of events.
- Collaborating with the Communications department to assist in the development of internal and external communications about program events for marketing and PR purposes.
Administration
- Participating in institutional short- and medium-term planning.
- Developing and managing select program budgets.
- Work with administrative team to ensure appropriate contracting and timely payments.
- Developing and maintaining systems for archiving documentation and other program materials.
- Collecting and updating program descriptions for webpages and program collaterals in coordination with the Communications Department.
Qualifications:
- At least 5 years of experience in program design, development, and execution.
- Strong attention-to-detail, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work independently and manage complex, nuanced relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Exceptional time management, project management, and organizational skills.
- Expertise in facilitating community conversations and designing dialogue programs.
- Self-motivated and an independent problem-solver.
- Ability to work as part of a diverse, statewide team.
- Geographic and cultural familiarity with the state (desired).
- Bachelor’s degree required (master’s degree preferred).
- Proficient with Microsoft Office software. Experience in databases/CRMs, Asana, Foundant, Wufoo, Survey Monkey (or equivalent platforms).
Additional Details:
The skills and experience needed to be successful in this job exist on a spectrum. Highly qualified and desirable candidates may not meet 100% of the skills and experience included in this description. We encourage all who are interested in this position to apply. Additionally, we encourage people from all regions of the state of Illinois to apply for this position. While some required work throughout the year takes place in the Chicago area, regular work in our Chicago office is not a requirement for this position.
WHAT WE ARE OFFERING:
- The annual salary for this position is $75,000 – $82,000
- Full-time employees are eligible for employer-provided health coverage (multiple plans offered at 80% employer paid premium for the employee), 401(k) (including an employer contribution), and other benefits
- 12 Vacation Days, 3 Personal days, and 10 days of Sick Leave available to all full-time employees annually, with additional earned vacation after two and five years of employment
- Each full-time employee receives 11 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays annually
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Step one: All submissions will be reviewed, and the initial candidate pool will be formed after phone screenings. Not all submissions will make it into the candidate pool.
Step two: Candidates in the pool will take part in an interview with members of the Illinois Humanities Team via Zoom or in-person.
Step three: There will be additional rounds of interviews with the final candidates. Final candidates may be asked to provide additional information. Selection and placement of the final candidate will occur after these final rounds of interviews. Once the final candidate has accepted their offer of employment, all other applicants will be notified of their status. This posting will remain open until the job is filled.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Our Chicago Loop office is accessible. Work at off-site locations is required and those may not necessarily be fully accessible. Evening and weekend work is sometimes required. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. Employees are regularly required to talk, hear, see, and communicate effectively via computer. Illinois Humanities is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ qualified individuals based on individual merit. It does not discriminate against any individual with respect to the terms and conditions of employment based on that individual’s race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, housing status, or any other non-merit factor protected under state, local or federal laws. Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all personnel actions such as recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotions, training, transfer, termination, and opportunities for training. Illinois Humanities is committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team.
Illinois Humanities Chicago office is currently operating in a hybrid work environment with in-office days and optional remote workdays each week.
COVID-19 Vaccination Policy:
To support public health efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19, Illinois Humanities has adopted a policy that requires all staff receive a complete COVID-19 vaccine based on the CDC’s current definition, which is subject to change. Employees must submit a full Record of COVID-19 Vaccination or have a fully signed Reasonable Exception approval by date of hire.
Illinois Humanities is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ qualified individuals based on individual merit. It does not discriminate against any individual with respect to the terms and conditions of employment based on that individual’s race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, housing status, criminal record, or any other non-merit factor protected under state, local or federal laws. Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all personnel actions such as recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotions, training, transfer, termination, and opportunities for training. Illinois Humanities is committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team.
To Apply: Please upload a cover letter and resume on our "Work With Us" page or through the relevant job website. Applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled.