Strategic Objectives Project Lead

BASIC JOB FUNCTION:

The Project Lead position is part of the newly formed Strategic Initiatives department at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) - a community organization that fosters health, wellness, and healing in the inner-city. The Strategic Initiatives Department (SID) leads the organizations innovation and mission advancement opportunities such as Go Green On Racine (www.gogreenonracine.org), Go Green Community Fresh Market, The Regenerator, Weekend Warriors, Legal Clinic, and more. The Strategic Initiatives Project Lead will work with the Director of Strategic Initiatives to drive strategic projects from the ideation phase to fully operational, stable programs. The full department team will have complete responsibility for creation, management, and launch of initiatives.

A successful Project Lead will have excellent project management skills and the drive to champion initiatives through the incubation and institutionalizations phases on tight timelines while maintaining a high degree of cross organizational alignment and local connectivity. A Project Lead must have some development-related expertise with a strategy and innovation orientation and a knack for building and working with strong teams. While this role is focused on execution and implementation, a Project Lead may also be required to develop proposals, presentation materials, reports and other documents as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support projects through all phases of innovation, incubation and institutionalization (i.e. from initial idea stage through launch and stabilization);

• Advance and drive initiatives through their actual implementation;

• Develop written proposals, budgets, implementation plans, PowerPoints, and other necessary materials throughout the phase-cycle of Strategic Initiatives;

• Build and manage initiative teams with a range of internal and external contributors;

• Engage with key stakeholders including partner organizations, funders, government officials, residents and community leaders;

• Work in cohesion and alignment with the strategic objectives and staff members of other IMAN departments;

• Ideate solutions and have a strategic outlook towards addressing systemic issues through strategic initiatives.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 2 years working in a relevant position including but not limited to entrepreneurship, community organizing, social impact, management/strategy role;

• Deeply invested and committed to improving quality of life and solving systemic issues on Chicago’s South Side;

• Strong project management and execution skills;

• Technical skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Prezzi, etc.), financial acumen, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities;

• Personal characteristics: self-starter, hard-working, detail-oriented, organized, personable, approachable, and accountable;

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in business administration, urban planning, economics, finance, social impact, or another relevant field required;

• Master’s Degree in relevant field preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Must be based in Chicago;

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time;

• Ability to work for extended hours with a computer.

Inner-City Muslim Action Network is an equal employment opportunity employer dedicated to the fair and equal treatment of all of its employees without regard to age, gender, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, political or union affiliation, maternity status, parental status, military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.