Associate Director, Civic Relations & Partnerships

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31

The Associate Director, Civic Relations and Partnerships supports strategic partnership initiatives, with the goals of driving museum attendance, cultivating a visitorship that represents the city of Chicago, advancing the museum’s awareness and reputation, and honoring and embracing the museum’s civic role. This role works in collaboration with the Director and others across the museum to maintain and cultivate relationships with relevant organizations and partners.

The Associate Director also contributes substantially to the museum’s efforts to be a more inclusive institution. In their work with partners, this role contributes to an annual strategic plan for audience development; and ensures that the museum is viewed as a civic leader and a welcoming place for all Chicagoans. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Partner cultivation and development: Maintains a partner portfolio, including elected officials, commercial, community, faith-based, and neighborhood organizations and leaders. Through ongoing relationship building with these organizations, presents, develops and executes an annual strategic plan for audience development for historically underserved areas of Chicago. Identifies and prioritizes targeted geographic areas where the museum can make the most impact, leverages key moments in the museum’s exhibition schedule, creates partnership priorities, and establishes metrics to measure efforts. Leads or co-leads strategic events targeting partners to support and amplify the museum’s key civic messages. Develops and executes a communications plan, regularly sharing museum access and impact messages with relevant audiences.

Audience development: Supports efforts to listen to the community, including research and external focus groups. Contributes to the strategic discussion to identify what problem we are trying to solve, and works with internal and external facilitators to structure the plan, recruits participants and takes part in the execution, compiles and distills findings, and presents and implements results to stakeholders.

Neighborhood engagement: Identify and prioritize festivals and neighborhood events for our participation and develop a sustainable plan for engagement. Attend relevant neighborhood meetings and events. Make connections between community leaders and relevant staff. Consult across External Affairs on attendance driving initiatives for BIPOC audiences, including recommendations and feedback on digital and social content, media placement, and press outreach.

Bachelor’s degree required

Five+ years of progressively responsible audience development experience with a proven track record of strategic partnership development.