Program Director, Process Improvement

World Business Chicago is a public-private, non-profit partnership that drives inclusive economic growth and job creation, supports business, and promotes Chicago as a leading global city.

Overview:

On Monday, December 11, 2023, Mayor Brandon Johnson signed Executive Order 2023-21 Streamlining City Development Processes. The Executive Order calls for fourteen relevant departments to work together to streamline city development processes, including building permits, design reviews, environmental reviews, financing, zoning, and more. It gives these departments 90 days to identify key barriers in their approval processes that lead to increased timelines, costs, and uncertainty. Departments must also identify solutions and an implementation plan.

The City currently has in place longstanding development-related administrative policies and processes, which significantly influence the types, kinds, and locations of developments built. These policies and processes were developed with the intent of advancing resident interests, public health, efficient urban layout, and high-quality design; however, the City recognizes that some of these policies and processes, although well-intentioned, can hinder the speed, cost, and location of development, and unnecessarily increase project costs and risks.

Responsibilities:

World Business Chicago is seeking a strong candidate who has the experience and vision to direct the reimagining, streamlining, and expediting of development processes. This role will work closely with the team at the City of Chicago.

Please Note: this is a grant-funded position, with an employment term from October 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025.

(1) Operations & Implementation (35%)

Work with City departments to ensure development projects are moving efficiently through the pipeline
Utilize functional and industry knowledge to identify the root causes of barriers within City processes that cause delays
Lead cross-functional teams focused on process improvement and optimization
Manage the development of short-term and long-term initiatives, including a project management schedule and budget
Serve as a liaison to facilitate documentation of existing and proposed procedures

(2) Project Pipeline Management (35%)

Manage a pipeline of priority projects, ensuring project to remain on track to meet its deadline.
Enables projects to get approvals quickly for every step of construction, from intake to closing to operations
Serve as an external liaison to development teams when issues arise

(3) Relationship Building & Co-Governance (20%)

Co-manage a task force of stakeholders; co-facilitate regular meetings
Build relationships and work cross-functionally across City departments and sectors
Act as a source of process expertise for direction, training, and guidance for City staff

(4) Data Collection & Analysis (10%)

In coordination with City Departments, identify key metrics to determine impact of recommended changes, articulate measurable outputs, outcomes, and impact
Manage the collection and analysis of data to inform strategies and tactics for increased equity
Issue a monthly internal report to monitor plan goals and foster accountability

Skills and Experience:

Advanced project management skills and ability to develop strategy to drive progress against goals
Experience in communication, analysis driven strategies, leadership skills
Demonstrated experience building effective private, public, civic partnerships
Excellent written and verbal communication skills to address all levels of management
Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize workload to meet changing or tight deadlines
Familiarity with how local and regional economies function
A good sense of diplomacy in dealing with confidential information

Qualifications

The ideal candidate has a minimum of 7 years of experience in program management and or process development
Bachelor’s degree preferred
Willingness to work in a hybrid work environment, with an expectation of at least 4 days spent in office/in field per week

WBC is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to diversity across the board.

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Program Director, Process Improvement