Tuesday, January 24th 2012

JOB OPENING: CIOGC

OVERVIEW

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) is the unifying federation and the leading advocate of Muslim community interests in greater Chicago and throughout the state of Illinois.   Representing over sixty Muslim organizations and more than 400,000 Muslims, the CIOGC has been a driving force for almost 20 years.   The Council brings together a diverse community, engages youth and empowers local communities.   The Council often serves as the first point of contact for organizations that wish to interact with Muslims.  The Council has strong relationships and works closely with a variety of government officials and agencies, social justice organizations, faith groups and other civic partners.  The CIOGC works tirelessly to establish better community relations through education, special events and other community services.

JOB SUMMARY

The Executive Director serves as the public spokesperson for the Council, and as such, must have an impeccable background and a commanding presence.  The candidate must be a dynamic and personable organizer with a strong familiarity with the American Muslim Community.   The position calls for effective fund-raising skills and excellent communication abilities, both at the podium and in the written word.   The importance of this position is significant and the Executive Director needs to be comfortable working with the diversity and size of this community.   The role of Executive Director will be both immensely challenging and personally rewarding.

The Executive Director will provide direction and leadership toward the achievement of the Council's vision, strategy, and long-range goals. The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the organization; establishes operating procedures (in compliance with local, state, and federal laws, and policies set by the Board); supervises the hiring and evaluation of all staff; motivates and directs our volunteers; and manages the organization's finances and resources.  The Executive Director works in partnership with the CIOGC Board of Directors and House of Representatives to enable the fulfillment of their governance function.  The Executive Director will report to the Board of Directors.   The primary place of business shall be at the Council's office in downtown Chicago.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide leadership and management to ensure that the Council is successfully pursuing its vision, professionally run, self-sufficient and financially secure
• Represent the Council to the larger community
• Support the Board and HR in the strategic planning process and develop an action plan on an annual basis
• Direct the implementation and evaluation of adopted programs and plans
• Manage human and financial resources
• Develop and implement written policies and procedures
• Recruit, lead, supervise and evaluate staff and volunteers

FUNDRAISING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Create and implement financial development campaigns and cultivate and diversify new sources of revenue
• Increase donor-base and contributions from individuals, organizations, foundations and government agencies
• Oversee fundraising planning and implementation and the administration of fundraising records and documentation
• Recommend a yearly budget for Board approval and prudently manage resources
• Develop and maintain contacts with key funding sources, coordinate fundraising and fund development activity within the public and private sectors

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PARTNER RELATIONS

• Represent and promote a positive image of the Council to other organizations, donors, government agencies and the community
• Develop plans for community outreach through coalition building
• Maintain existing relationships and develop new strategic relations
• Community organizing and program coordination
• Develop comprehensive knowledge of community organizing models and its techniques; translate these models into the Muslim community context
• Recruit and train community organizers to promote the Council's work
• Oversee the design, marketing, promotion, delivery and quality of the organization's core programs
• Ensure that Board meetings are properly organized and run
• Develop the Council's briefing reports for the monthly Board of Directors’ meetings, and quarterly House of Representatives' meetings
• Develop short-range objectives to achieve strategic goals
• Develop and implement a communications plan utilizing various media venues including print, online, and radio for the purpose of promoting Council programs

MEMBER RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT

• Develop and nurture relationships with member organizations and the Muslim community more broadly
• Assess and implement strategies aimed at building the effectiveness and strength of member organizations of the Council
• Grow membership to reflect the growth of the local Muslim community

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of five years' senior management experience working in a leadership role at nonprofit organizations
• In-depth knowledge of the nonprofit community and the American Muslim community
• Well-respected within the Muslim community, preferably with strong local connections within the nonprofit community in Chicago, especially masajid and social service organizations  (Candidates with similar backgrounds in other cities are invited to apply)
• Demonstrated leadership and management ability, including a working knowledge of fiscal management, including budgeting
• Demonstrated expertise in building coalitions and relationships with a diverse set of organizations and institutions, both within the Muslim community and more broadly
• Demonstrated proficiency in managing a diverse set of volunteer supporters.
• A teamwork orientation and strong ability to select, manage, and motivate staff
• Experience in philanthropy and planned giving
• A proven track record in securing private and government funding opportunities
• Hands-on experience in fundraising and business development
• Provide a strong voice in addressing social and Muslim-community related issues in media
• Demonstrated ability in public speaking, written and oral communications, and interpersonal relations
• Relevant graduate degree or equivalent experience required.

SALARY RANGE

Salary is commensurate based on experience.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Candidates are requested to send their detailed resumes (on a confidential basis) to:

Mazen Asbahi,

Chair, Personnel Committee,

Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago

masbahi@asbahilaw.com

Please send a copy to JoAnna Shumate, joanna@asbahilaw.com

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the Personnel Committee to begin the interview process. Resumes should include at least three references.

OVERVIEW

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) is the unifying federation and the leading advocate of Muslim community interests in greater Chicago and throughout the state of Illinois.   Representing over sixty Muslim organizations and more than 400,000 Muslims, the CIOGC has been a driving force for almost 20 years.   The Council brings together a diverse community, engages youth and empowers local communities.   The Council often serves as the first point of contact for organizations that wish to interact with Muslims.  The Council has strong relationships and works closely with a variety of government officials and agencies, social justice organizations, faith groups and other civic partners.  The CIOGC works tirelessly to establish better community relations through education, special events and other community services.

POSITION SUMMARY

CIOGC seeks a Communications Manager to oversee all aspects of this growing organization’s internal and external communications. This staff member would be based in our downtown Chicago, IL office and will coordinate communications activities across the organization and raise the visibility of its work within the community, the media, funders and the public. The Communications Manager will implement an integrated communications plan that includes leveraging the CIOGC website, social media, traditional media, and targeted outreach.

The ability to thrive in a fast paced environment and remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful and efficient, with a high level of professionalism is crucial to this role. Expertise in written and verbal communication skills, strong decision making ability and attention to detail are equally important.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Implement communications strategy to reach diverse audiences.
• Represent the Council in front of faith groups, civic partners and the media
• Write or edit content for the Council’s communications platforms, including blogs, social media, e-newsletters, website, donor communication and promotional materials.
• Manage the CIOGC and Chicago Crescent website and social media tools to ensure regular fresh content

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive stakeholder database for dissemination and outreach purposes that includes member organizations, community leaders, faith groups, thought leaders and civic partners
• Spearhead efforts to reach out to the media, including writing and sending press releases to key contacts via a media database, handling media-related inquiries and building relationships with key members of the industry
• Work closely with other Council staff to support programs, special projects and fundraising
• Track results of communications outreach efforts, including website statistics, social media and press coverage.
• Develop and maintain collaborative internal communications tools, such as a shared calendar and workspace.
• Liaison with CIOGC Board of Directors and House of Representatives including assisting the Executive Director with regular reports to the Board and supporting Board outreach.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Communications, Public Policy or other related field preferred.
• 3-5 years of communications, public relations, journalism or related experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to speak in front of a large audience
• Detail oriented, self-starter who is able to work independently and in a team environment
• Experience with website content management systems required.  Familiarity with graphic design and industry tools such as Word Press and Constant Contact is a plus.
• Extensive experience leveraging social media tools and experience with diverse communications channels such as mobile apps
• Familiarity with issues related to Muslims in the US and abroad, including major institutions, grassroots organizations, policy issues, etc.
• Travel required

Other Essential Skills

• Ability to work with deadlines and targets, and prioritize tasks under pressure
• Ability to work quickly, flexibly, effectively and positively in response to requests made on short notice
• Flexible and adaptable, comfortable with juggling a range of tasks in a fast-moving, dynamic environment, with colleagues and team members
• Pro-active, ability to work under own initiative without direction
• Willing to take on additional tasks as required and to learn new skills
• Willingness and ability to undertake training as needed in order to fulfill the changing requirements of the job
• Excellent  interpersonal skills

START-UP SALARY RANGE

Salary is commensurate based on experience.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Candidates are requested to send their detailed resumes (on a confidential basis) to:

Mazen Asbahi,

Chair, Personnel Committee,

Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago

masbahi@asbahilaw.com

Please send a copy to JoAnna Shumate, joanna@asbahilaw.com

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the Personnel Committee to begin the interview process. Resumes should include at least three references.