Chief Impact Officer

Company: Metropolitan Planning Co
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 17, 2025

Job Description:

Position Description: Chief Impact OfficerABOUT MPCMPC is on a mission to transform policies and practices to advance racial and economic justice in our communities, infrastructure, and public systems. From our beginnings 90 years ago as a housing advocacy group, to our role now as a broadly influential policy force across the greater Chicago region, MPC's work is more critical than ever. As a generator of bold, game-changing policy ideas, a host for ambitious policy professionals to collaborate across disciplines, and a shaper of new, dynamic policy discourse, we aim to expand the aperture of the imagined future for Chicago and the region's suburbs. The recent national political turmoil, married with the long-standing consequences of entrenched racial, gender, and economic systems, make this an urgently important time for MPC's unique platform and a generational opportunity to set an affirmative, exciting course for the future.POSITION SUMMARYWe seek a Chief Impact Officer (CIO) who can join us at this critical juncture to lead this work and extend our influence and reach regionally, state-wide, and nationally. The CIO will report directly to the President and will have primary responsibility for delivering top-of-class programs grounded in MPC's expertise, values, and vision. The CIO will lead MPC's research, policy, technical assistance, and advocacy teams - offering strategic direction and identifying and pursuing new opportunities to further scale MPC's impact locally and nationally. The CIO will work across MPC policy teams, facilitating alignment and new strategic direction among issue domains and key functions of the organization (Development, Research, Communications, Operations, and Programs) in close partnership with the executive leadership team.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESProgrammatic Leadership

• Work closely with the President/CEO and senior leadership team to maximize the impact of existing projects through partnership development, quality assurance oversight (content, products, etc.), strategic planning, and priority-setting.
• Partner with the President/CEO and senior leadership team to deepen and expand MPC's local and national relationships and network.
• Co-create new projects and initiatives that draw on MPC's expertise, while testing new methods of programmatic delivery, revenue models, partnership structures, and subject matter, and cultivating opportunities for other MPC staff to lead new initiatives.
• Co-lead and continuously strengthen MPC's work planning and internal evaluation systems and practices.
• Coordinate activities across MPC program teams to maximize/balance staff capacity and proactively plan and execute on research and external engagement/advocacy components of programmatic work in close partnership with the Marketing/Communications and Development teams.Policy Development and Advocacy
  • Across program areas, lead the development of multi-year, external-facing policy change agendas and advocacy strategies to pursue those changes.
  • Lead and coordinate external affairs efforts to build sustained support for policy changes, and manage internal/external lobbying and advocacy efforts.
  • Coordinate research, communications, and policy development to support policy agendas.
  • Represent MPC to local and national government as well as philanthropic, businesses, and peer policy institutions, support and advise other MPC staff/surrogates in these roles.Talent Development and Culture
    • Provide mentoring, coaching, and support to staff to build their voice, skillset, network, and acumen, working with operations team to identify additional training or development opportunities.
    • Contribute to organization-wide efforts to strengthen talent management and career progression practices.
    • Partner with senior leadership team in MPC's culture building, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and team building efforts to live "Our Culture" and our values.
    • Partner in recruitment, selection, and performance management of program staff.Organizational Strategy, Positioning, and Advancement
      • Play a public-facing role, including as one of MPC's most visible principals: elevate the CIO's own voice and promote MPC's work, through testimony, meetings with government officials and other key stakeholders, media appearances, digital, conferences, etc.
      • Advise and coordinate with Development team on funder cultivation opportunities to invest in existing as well as new programmatic, policy, and research initiatives.
      • Align with the President, other senior staff, and Board on long-term strategic priorities and immediate term opportunities; help oversee execution and integration of those priorities across the organization, including recalibration of program staff capacity, work focus, and timelines.
      • Inform budgeting/forecasting for organization through articulation of programmatic and research needs to execute on work plan and pop-up priorities.QUALIFICATIONS
        • A master's degree in urban planning, public policy, public administration, or related discipline (e.g. J.D., MBA, Ph.D.) and/or extensive career in public policy.
        • A minimum of seven years of policy/programmatic leadership experience in the nonprofit, government, or philanthropy sectors, including at least 3 years in a senior management role.
        • Strong contextual knowledge of the Chicagoland policy ecosystem, its various communities and stakeholders (government, business, labor, research/academic, press), and the interconnected dynamics among them.
        • A deep network of peers locally and nationally in the policy/advocacy space.
        • Demonstrable experience leading through organizational change.
        • Proven track record of building and managing programs and projects from conception to completion in high-stakes environments.
        • Ability to listen, effectively communicate, and engender buy-in among peers, staff, board, funders, and partners.
        • Demonstrable EQ necessary for building, managing, and motivating teams.
        • Be a good human.Compensation and Benefits:The salary range for this position is $150,000 - $160,000. For the 2025 Benefit year, Metropolitan Planning Council's robust and competitive compensation package for new full-time employees includes covering approximately 80% of the employee premium for health benefits, 100% of the employee premium for dental benefits, and Disability and Life insurance. Additionally, MPC provides all full-time employees with a hybrid work environment, parental leave, up to five weeks of accrued vacation, transit benefits, a professional development stipend, and access to an onsite fitness center, among other benefits.EEOC and Diversity:MPC is an equal opportunity employer, and we stay true to our mission by celebrating the differences among us. We are committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion within our workplace and encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and of all ages to apply. We will not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or retaliation of any kind and we promote a climate of mutual respect for our employees.Application Deadline: May 2, 2025 - 4:00 pm CST
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Keywords: Metropolitan Planning Co, Janesville , Chief Impact Officer, Executive , Chicago, Wisconsin