THE ROLE
Pritzker Traubert Foundation is seeking a Director of Community Investment to lead the implementation of the Foundation's Community Investment portfolio, including the Chicago Prize initiative, and help advance place-based equitable economic opportunity in Chicago.
Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, the Director will evolve and strengthen the Foundation's neighborhood and community investment efforts. The Director will manage a rigorous, multi-stage challenge process from open call through diligence, Board approval, and grant deployment. The role requires the ability to assess and support complex community development and real estate projects, including projects involving layered capital stacks, public subsidy, multiple institutional partners, and significant execution risk. The Director will work closely with grantees, community leaders, funders, civic institutions, and public-sector leaders to support high-impact investments, strengthen partnerships, mobilize additional capital, and evolve the work of the portfolio in ways that are innovative and responsive.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate is deeply committed to expanding economic opportunity equitably. They bring strong process and project management expertise, and a demonstrated ability to manage complex real estate development initiatives with diverse stakeholders. They possess strong execution and program management skills coupled with creativity and innovative thinking to support community leaders in moving their projects forward, forming partnerships with other funders, building coalitions, and exploring more expansive ways of supporting community partners.
They are equally comfortable working with community organizations, developers, employers, educators, government agencies, philanthropic partners, and civic leaders.
They are highly collaborative, organized, and execution-oriented, with the ability to move between creative strategic thinking and day-to-day implementation. The successful candidate enjoys building workplans, coordinating stakeholders, managing competing priorities, and ensuring initiatives are delivered with excellence.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director will be responsible for the following:
Chicago Prize Management
- Managing the open call and diligence process of the Chicago Prize program, including work planning and implementation, stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, developing decision recommendations for the Foundation's Board, and eventual grant deployment.
- Managing day-to-day relationships with community partners, grantees, peer funders, consultants, and other stakeholders.
- Monitoring day-to-day progress across grants, including milestone monitoring and draw request review, and identifying opportunities to provide additional support with Foundation resources and/or collaborations
- Developing and managing relationships with funding partners, including cultivating prospective co-funders, coordinating shared diligence and decision-making processes, and managing partner engagement through grant deployment.
- Leading portfolio learning and evaluation efforts to assess outcomes, identify lessons, and inform future investments.
Portfolio Stewardship
- Identifying funding partners and building coalitions to support community partners and move projects forward.
- Identifying process refinements and potential for scaling existing partnerships and impact.
- Developing recommendations for investments, partnerships, and portfolio priorities for consideration by the Board.
- Supporting and building processes that can be replicated across portfolios.
- Staying informed about emerging trends, policies, and practices in community development, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and philanthropy.
- Identifying and supporting communication opportunities that elevate the work of grantees, partners, and the Foundation.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Minimum eight to ten years of relevant experience in community development/finance, economic development, philanthropy, real estate development, public policy, consulting, or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience evaluating, managing, financing, or supporting complex real estate and community development projects, including projects involving public subsidy and multiple sources of capital.
- Proven ability to cultivate funding partners, build cross-sector coalitions, and manage complex partnerships involving multiple funders and stakeholders.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity and expanding economic opportunity.
- Ability to work effectively in a small, entrepreneurial team environment.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in a client-facing advisory role and/or supporting complex decision-making with a Board of Directors
- Legal, policy, fundraising, and/or strategic communications experience related to economic development
- Interest and ability in using AI to manage processes and inform strategy/operations
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Base salary range of $160,000-$175,000, based on experience and qualifications, plus an annual bonus opportunity of up to 10%.
- Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
- Paid time off including vacation, personal, sick, and holiday leave.
- Retirement and additional benefits consistent with Foundation policies.
- Long-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance provided.
- Additional benefits include healthcare and dependent care FSAs, transit benefits, and a 401(k) plan, as well as access to an on-site gym.
- $10,000 annual discretionary giving benefit to approved nonprofit organizations (after the employee's first year).
