Careers

Be part of an organization making a difference in McLean County.

The Chamber is dedicated to serving our members by connecting commerce and community. Our Rockstar team works hard to provide relevant, innovative, and vital content to our member businesses and organizations in order for them to succeed and grow. Each staff member not only lives into the Chamber’s mission, but exudes our four core values:

Member centric, community minded.

Intentional connections through exceptional experiences.

Contagious energy with a positive attitude.

Think it, plan it, get it done.

Life at the Chamber is fast paced, dynamic, and no two days are ever the same. If you are passionate about serving the business community, collaborating to lead change, and fostering commerce in McLean County, we'd love to chat!

The Advocacy and External Affairs Manager will plan, coordinate, and implement all advocacy efforts and initiatives to ensure the McLean County Chamber of Commerce carries the voice of business. Interaction and strong relationships with elected officials at all levels of government and their staffs is paramount as is identifying, understanding, and presenting recommendations concerning policy issues and making actionable recommendations typically aligned with the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda. This position is also responsible for the successful leadership and management of the CEO Council and will serve as the staff liaison to the Political Action Committee.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy, Government Relations, and Public Policy
- Assess, develop, and continuously improve the Chamber’s advocacy program of work, ensuring value to members and increasing the Chamber’s relevance in public policy discussions and decision making at all levels of government.
- Organize and manage the Chamber’s Business Council on Legislative Affairs, developing and growing a group of members that serve in an advisory capacity to shape the Chamber’s legislative agenda and guide action items.
- Facilitate the development and execution of the Chamber’s annual legislative agenda.
- Monitor the work of government entities, paying closest attention to local, to identify issues of relevance to Chamber members, and regularly attend meetings as deemed necessary by their agenda and issues to represent the Chamber and its members.
- Recommend the Chamber’s position and level of participation in public issues both proactively and as requests from outside groups arise, providing research on the issue reasons for recommendations.
- Develop and maintain relationships with area elected officials, administrators, and other key constituents, serving as a credible resource on business issues and providing proactive solutions.
- Oversee the production of the weekly Advocacy membership newsletter

Leadership within the Chamber and Community
- Assist with overall strategic direction of the Chamber and execution of strategic goals and initiatives
- Represent the Chamber on external committees and boards as deemed necessary and appropriate, and at meetings on the President/CEO’s behalf if necessary.
- Proactively attend and be visible at Chamber and key community events representing the Chamber and its mission/core values.
- Serve as the small business specialist developing relationships with key referral partners and understanding how to assist the needs of small business members with appropriate referrals.
- Assist with day-to-day activities as needed including but not limited to member meetings, calls, sponsorship solicitations, and Chamber event participation and engagement

Program Responsibilities
- Manage and facilitate the CEO Council as a Division of the Chamber and their related program of work.
- Serve as the liaison to the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee as a Subsidiary of the Chamber and its related program of work.
- Develop and implement the annual ‘State of’ Series in collaboration with the Chamber’s Event Manager and Marketing & Communication Manager

External relationships with Key Constituents
- US Chamber of Commerce
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce
- CIRCLE (or other similar Central Illinois business policy groups)
- McLean County Mayor’s Association

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversee Committee / Division / Subsidiary Volunteer administration

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree and/or 3-5 years of equivalent related experience in relevant field
A strong understanding of how government entities work
A General understanding of how private business entities work
Ability to clearly communicate thoughts, ideas, concerns, and research outcomes to various audiences verbally and in writing, both formally and informally
Experience working with elected officials and community leaders
Experience with program oversight and fiscal accountability
Experience with volunteer management and oversight
Experience with program budgeting and meeting financial goals for program
Experience in strategic planning and implementation

SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

Proficient in networking and customer service.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
Ability to problem solve and take initiative.
Proficient with time management and juggling multiple competing priorities.
Strong organizational skills and detail oriented.
Exhibit sound judgment and display willingness to make decisions.
Possess unquestioned integrity and ethical standard.
Display contagious energy with a positive attitude.
General understanding of budgeting concepts and proven fiscal oversight.
Demonstrate ability to lead a complex initiative (requiring knowledge of management principles and practices, volunteer management, public sector operations and fiscal management).
Demonstrate public relations skills and political acumen, and ability to synthesize input from a diverse variety of interests into a coherent strategic agenda.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Able to work with internal and external contacts at all levels.

EXPECTATIONS

Follow and exude the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Core Values
Understand and abide by the Chamber’s Policy Manual and Standard Operating Procedures.
Demonstrate professional/business attire
Maintain a neat and orderly workspace and common office areas.
Maintain a working knowledge of all Chamber programs, committees, and services.
Understand the value of membership/investment and can clearly articulate it.
Assist with membership recruitment, engagement, and retention (as a Chamber employee)
Attend and assist at assigned Chamber events as needed and effectively network to encourage member conversations and retention.
Participate actively in staff meetings, planning sessions and retreats.
Participate actively in teambuilding events, offsite visits, civic engagement, and staff socials.

COMMUNICATION

Possess excellent communication skills, including verbal, written and interpersonal.
Understand and utilize the Chamber’s style guide for all oral and written internal and external communication.
Review regularly Chamber social media and sponsored websites for updates and accuracy, especially in the areas of government and public policy.
Follow the Chamber actively on social media.
Maintain a current LinkedIn Account to be used on the “staff” page of the website.
Communicate consistently and exchange information with team members, effectively and with correct information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

Physical Demands
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time and be able to move about inside the office to access office equipment/storage.
- Operate a computer/PC and other office productivity equipment, such as a calculator, copy machine, printers and must have the ability to use hands to handle, control or feel objects or controls and reach with hands and arms.
- Able to lift to 10 pounds and occasionally move objects up to 40 pounds.
- Occasionally climb stairs, bend, squat, kneel, crouch, and reach above shoulders to access materials and/or documentation.
- Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus to compare and distinguish accounting and administrative data.
- Hearing ability to perceive the nature of sounds at a normal speaking level with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make discriminations in sound.
Work Environment
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly working in a typical interior/office work environment.
- This position involves extended work hours including early morning and evening meetings / events.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

TRAVEL

This position requires day travel within Bloomington/Normal and McLean County. May require travel which could include overnight stays. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license with access to reliable transportation.

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