Current Openings

Director of Membership

The Role

Chicago Ideas is a platform for progress. We inspire, connect, and enable the curious and committed to build a more thriving, more joyous city for everyone. At Chicago Ideas, you’ll find accessible, high-quality experiences designed to inspire, and ways to find and activate your purpose within our community and beyond.

We are seeking a Director of Membership who will develop strategies to build the membership program by acquiring, renewing, upgrading, and stewarding memberships via: email, social media, website, and offline experiential channels as well as identifying  new acquisition opportunities to grow the individual giving pipeline of Chicago Ideas. This person will work closely with the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Manager of Marketing and Content.

You

You are organized, data-driven, curious, and collaborative. You excel at designing integrated strategies to grow the Chicago Ideas’ community. You are equal part direct marketer, project manager, and personal connector. You are as comfortable with self-direction and independent thinking as you are with collaboration. You are energized by the opportunity to connect with people and organizations, and you are passionate about Chicago Ideas and our mission. 

Additional responsibilities include: 

• Collaborate with Director of Strategic Partnerships, Manager of Marketing and Content and other team members to grow and meet Membership goals: new, renewal, and upgrade annual targets
• Analyze and fine tune Membership program to create valuable and streamlined membership levels and benefits
• Work with marketing team to develop a communications strategy for acquisition, retention, and renewal
• Collaborate with team to develop on-site stewardship and acquisition opportunities at year-round events
• Develop unique and meaningful Member events to enhance member engagement
• Create reports to consistently analyze and report out data for trends and results.  Make strategy recommendations based on data driven analytics.
• Attend events and act as an ambassador for Chicago Ideas and the Membership community.
• Demonstrate commitment to Chicago Ideas’ vision, mission and values.

Qualifications: 

• Minimum B.A. degree required.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience of fundraising and/or experience successfully working with either Membership or Annual Giving programs.
• Successful track record of assisting with implementing programs and strategies to acquire, renew, upgrade and steward members, donors and/or growing a community.
• A “people person” with exceptional verbal and written communication as well as analytical skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of development and implementation of data driven direct response strategies within either a membership and/or annual giving program.
• Possesses essential soft skills to build meaningful relationships with all different types of Chicago Ideas members
• Self-starter, detail-oriented, ability to meet stringent deadlines, and handle multiple priorities.
• Proven ability to build trust and effective relationships at all levels of the organization and externally
• A passion for Chicago Ideas’ mission and platform

Please send cover letter and resume to liz (at) chicagoideas (dot) com.

Programming Manager 

Reports to:

Editorial Director

The Role

Chicago Ideas is a platform for progress. We inspire, connect, and enable the curious and committed to build a more thriving, more joyous city for everyone. At Chicago Ideas, you’ll find accessible, high-quality experiences designed to inspire, while discovering ways to activate your purpose within our community and beyond.

We’re seeking a Programming Manager who is passionate about the development and execution of innovative, action-driven event programming. This position works closely with the Editorial Director and the Programming team to support the curation and delivery of all year-round and Chicago Ideas Week events.

You

You are curious, organized, detail-oriented, and collaborative. You excel at helping others be their best and are energized by helping those around you succeed. You approach new challenges with curiosity and excitement. You’re a high-energy, resourceful problem solver who is as comfortable with self-direction and independent thinking as you are with collaboration. 

You will be responsible for:

• Developing and maintaining relationships with publicists, agents, academics, and community sources for a broad base of speaker bookings 
• Contributing to the design of topics and stories for Chicago Ideas programs
• Conducting research to identify upcoming speakers and recommend themes/topics
• Scheduling and conducting curation calls to develop content for on-stage programs including prepping moderators, writing questions, and researching content for booked speakers
• Assist with speaker travel and logistics
• Assist with speaker files and data in Salesforce

Additional qualifications:

• 3-4 years programming and event experience
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• High energy, positive personality, flexibility, resourcefulness, and problem-solving acumen
• Wide ranging interest and experience presenting live events

Please send cover letter and resume to rina (at) chicagoideas (dot) com.