Director, Community Relations Jobs

Chicago Fire Football Club is a Major League Soccer team that was founded in 1997 and is Chicago’s ambassador to the global sport of soccer. The Club returned to Soldier Field as well as opened a new 50,000 square foot office in the heart of the city. With tremendous growth and expansion, the Club is laying the foundation for an audacious and ambitious vision that will transform the brand and the success of the Club in the coming years.
Job Overview
Chicago Fire FC is seeking a Director of Community Relations to oversee all community and philanthropic programs, events and fundraisers to support all aspects of the department’s strategic direction and work collaboratively with the entire Chicago Fire organization.
Reports To
Vice President of Community Relations, Executive Director of Chicago Fire Foundation
Job Responsibilities

• Coordinate club wide service days
• Establish criteria for eligible partner organizations
• Assist with oversight of department finances and fundraising including budget management, forecasting, and expense tracking
• Oversee The Beacon Program
• Collaborate with the Community Football department to conceptualize and implement grassroots initiatives that prioritize integration into all of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods
• Develop communication, tools, and other resources needed to manage a high-level fundraising program
• Execute MLS WORKS Initiatives and theme nights in conjunction with league and other internal stakeholders as needed including Special Olympics, Soccer for All, etc.
• Create internal and external service platform
• Execute programming in-community and during Fire matches, which will require work hours outside of normal office hours
• Manage CFFC donation request program and maintain departmental website updates
• Develop programming priorities and infrastructure for implementation within Chicago’s neighborhoods
• Work with Marketing and Events team to develop annual calendar of outreach events and initiatives
• Produce periodic and season summaries and reports for internal purposes as well as write regular community impact newsletters and annual impact report
• Assist with administrative tasks and other departmental duties as needed
• Collaborate with Vice President of Community Relations and senior leadership team to determine and prioritize business strategies
• Supervise, develop, and mentor department staff
• Work with Head of Sporting Operations to manage all club wide appearances and autograph sessions for players, coaches, and staff
• Work with Business Strategy and Analytics department to create assessment tools for monitoring and evaluation of all outreach initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Ability to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings, including all home games (or other work events) that fall on nights, weekends, and/or holidays
• Demonstrates understanding and knowledge of database management and reporting tools
• Minimum three (3) years of managerial experience, successful track record managing staff to exceed goals and expectations required
• Strong knowledge of the Chicago market and community required
• Highly detailed-oriented and skilled in project management, specifically working on multiple projects that require cross-departmental teamwork to meet tight deadlines
• Bachelor’s Degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or similar field required
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to understand and speak Spanish a plus
• Must be fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Experience working in professional sports and community outreach/events desired
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in non-profit, sports, community relations, or program management experience required

Please note:

• CFFC is committed to providing equal employment opportunity and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, age, veteran or military status, disability, sexual orientation, sexual orientation or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
• Chicago Fire FC is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. Our diversity initiatives start with the recruitment and selection process; therefore, we’d like to welcome all diverse candidates to apply to opportunities within our Club.
• If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department at [email protected] to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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Job Questions

• Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
• Do you have experience fundraising for charitable organizations?
• Do you have experience working with program budgets?
• What is your desired salary range for this position?
• Do you have three or more years of managerial (supervision of at least one direct report) experience?
• Do you have seven or more years of non-profit, sports, community relations, or program management experience?
• Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status)?