Application Instructions
Click Apply to submit your online application. Please attach a resume and thoughtful cover letter on the "My Experience" page in the "Resume/CV" field.
Active City Year Staff members must login to Workday to apply internally.
Number of Positions: 1Work Location: 100% On-SitePosition Overview
Reporting to the Senior Vice President & Executive Director, the Managing Director of External Affairs & Engagement is responsible for advancing City Year Chicago's visibility, influence, strategic partnerships, and stakeholder engagement efforts. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, this leader will oversee external affairs functions including communications, marketing, media relations, government affairs, strategic partnerships, and signature events.The Managing Director serves as a primary ambassador for City Year Chicago, building meaningful relationships with civic, business, community, philanthropic, and government leaders while elevating awareness of the organization's impact. This role is responsible for expanding City Year Chicago's presence, strengthening engagement with key stakeholders, and leveraging external relationships to advance organizational priorities and mission outcomes.
-Starting salary range for this role is $135K to $145K .
-Anticipated start date for this role is fall 2026.
-This is a primarily in-person role with flexibility to periodically work remotely.
Job Description
Responsibilities
External Affairs Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement
Develop and execute a comprehensive external affairs strategy that advances City Year Chicago's visibility, influence, and stakeholder engagement.
Build and maintain strategic relationships with civic, business, education, community, philanthropic, and government leaders.
Serve as a primary spokesperson and ambassador for City Year Chicago across external audiences.
Represent the organization at key convenings, coalitions, and community events.
Partner with the Executive Director and Executive Leadership Team to advance organizational priorities through strategic external engagement.
Communications, Marketing & Brand Management
Lead City Year Chicago's communications, marketing, and brand strategy to ensure consistent messaging across all channels.
Oversee media relations, social media, website content, digital communications, and external storytelling efforts.
Develop messaging, presentations, talking points, reports, and communications for internal and external stakeholders.
Ensure organizational communications effectively elevate impact, drive engagement, and strengthen brand awareness.
Serve as the primary liaison with City Year Headquarters on communications and brand initiatives.
Government & Community Affairs
Lead engagement with elected officials, government agencies, and public affairs stakeholders.
Monitor policy developments and advise leadership on issues impacting City Year Chicago's work and priorities.
Cultivate partnerships with community organizations and civic leaders that advance educational equity and organizational impact.
Support the organization's advocacy, public engagement, and civic visibility strategies.
Signature Events & Strategic Engagement
Serve as the strategic and operational lead for the annual Ripples of Hope Gala and other key external engagement events.
Partner closely with the Managing Director of Development to align event execution with sponsorship and donor engagement objectives.
Lead cross-functional planning, stakeholder experience, communications, and event operations to ensure successful execution.
Develop strategies that leverage organizational events to strengthen relationships, elevate visibility, and deepen community engagement.
Organizational Leadership
Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and contribute to the development and implementation of City Year Chicago's strategic priorities.
Partner across departments to align external affairs initiatives with organizational goals.
Represent and model City Year's culture and values internally and externally.
Support site-wide initiatives, events, and cross-functional projects as needed.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree strongly preferred.
Minimum of 7-10 years of professional experience in external affairs, communications, public affairs, community engagement, marketing, partnerships, event management, or nonprofit leadership.
Demonstrated experience building and managing relationships with elected officials, civic leaders, community organizations, media, philanthropic partners, and corporate stakeholders.
Strong communications, writing, public speaking, and presentation skills.
Experience leading marketing, communications, public relations, or brand management initiatives.
Demonstrated success managing complex stakeholder engagement efforts and high-profile events.
Strong project management, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
Ability to analyze information, navigate complex environments, and translate organizational priorities into action.
Knowledge of Chicago's civic, educational, philanthropic, business, and political landscape.
Ability to work collaboratively across teams and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Flexibility to attend evening and weekend events as needed.
Deep understanding of and commitment to City Year's values.
Required Documents
A cover letter and resume must be submitted to be considered for this position. Preferred resume formats will depict not only a candidate’s responsibilities and job functions in previous work, but will include specific, quantitative results where applicable. Additional quantitative context around specific budget sizes, team sizes, or other work environment information will help City Year compare the scale of your work environment with our operations.
Compensation and Benefits
Full time employees are entitled to compensation commensurate with experience. Benefits for full time employees include health insurance with Flexible Spending Account, paid vacation, holidays, parental leave, 401K, and more. City Year is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse workforce.
Benefits
Full-time employees will be eligible for all benefits including vacation, sick days and organization holidays. You may participate in all benefit programs that City Year establishes and makes available to eligible employees, under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents that govern those programs. Currently, City Year offers medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment and disability coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and other benefits including 401(k) plan(s) pursuant to the terms and conditions of company policy and the 401(k) plan document. For more information, click here.
Employment at City Year is at-will.
City Year does not sponsor work authorization visas.
City Year Chicago, Illinois, USA Office
36 South Wabash Street, Chicago, Ilinois, United States, 60603
Similar Jobs
.png){kind=logo}
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
- Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
