Celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2022, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs is where your world and the world meet. The Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that empowers more people to help shape our global future. Through content and engagement experiences that offer diverse, fact-based perspectives and in-depth analysis, we foster dialogue on the world’s most critical issues. We are committed to building an inclusive community of globally conscious people who want to actively participate in global affairs and gain the knowledge that can help them make a tangible impact – big or small – in the world.

As the Council enters its second century, we are embarking on an ambitious digital transformation and growing our Public Programs & Engagement team to reach and engage more people in Chicago and beyond.

The Role

The primary responsibility of the Officer, Programs, is to oversee 2-3 hybrid programs per month. Programs in this portfolio are visible applications of the Council’s goal of public engagement on global issues and strive to reach a wide in-person and digital audience both in Chicago and throughout the country.

The Officer position is a hybrid role and requires some in-person attendance at our Downtown Chicago location based on work activities and peak seasons. The position reports to the Director, Government & Diplomatic Programs.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Under the direction of the Director, serve as project manager for a portfolio of hybrid Council programs ranging from 2-3 a month, largely with US government officials and foreign dignitaries
  • Pitch content, identify and invite speakers, manage digital assets (website, and working within all Council scheduling and technical templates)
  • Drafting communications and invitations
  • Manage aspects of the communications strategies on portfolio projects: duties include developing content-focused social media materials, pull quotes following the program, and other digitally-focused initiatives aimed to increase event registrations, post-event views, and overall digital audience engagement
  • Manage and write program announcements and other written products, including web material, draft remarks, moderator questions, speaker biographies, etc.
  • Assisting with seminars, dinners, roundtables, and other programs
• Within the 2-3 projects a month capacity, work with the leadership team in developing new programmatic streams that will appeal to new, diverse audiences
• Think creatively about hybrid engagement products and incorporate engagement activities into audience experiences in the Council conference center
• Seek out partnerships for audience generation (including working with Marketing & Communications on media partnerships)
• Support ongoing initiatives related to programming through research, database tracking, and writing, as required
• Participates collaboratively with the Public Programs & Engagement team’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies
• Occasionally assist at the front desk in meeting/greeting Council constituents and answering or routing incoming calls
• Perform other projects as assigned, including collaborating with the Director on developing program strategy and fostering relationships with Chicago-based government officials and diplomats

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years experience managing multi-faceted, high-profile events or other related experience.
• Knowledge of and experience with global issues, international work, and/or study experience suggested.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with CRM systems (Salesforce) a plus.
• Familiarity with the production of digital content across multiple platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, blogs, and others.
• Keen attention to detail; excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively and professionally in a creative, fast-paced, intellectual team environment.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Should be committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment across teams and with the public.
• Ability to work in-person events, sometimes in the Council Conference Center or other offsite venues, requiring some evening and early morning hours.

Council Benefit Highlights 

There are many benefits to working at the Council, including a flexible remote/in-office work environment, half-day summer Fridays, paid parental leave, employer-subsidized medical/dental/vision insurance, generous paid time off, retirement match, mobile phone stipend, commuter accessible, fitness center membership, and more.