Job Description
Senior Associate, My Brother's Keeper Alliance
CHICAGO, IL
About the Obama Foundation
At the Obama Foundation, we are guided by a core belief: that ordinary people working together can change history. Our mission is to inspire those people to take action, empower them to change their world for the better, and connect them so they can achieve more together than they can alone.
We were founded by community organizers, so when we seek change, we do it by bringing people together.
That approach begins at home, on the South Side of Chicago, where we are building the Obama Presidential Center. The Center represents a historic opportunity for Chicago: a chance to build a world-class museum and public gathering space that celebrates our nation’s first African American President and First Lady, steps away from where he began his career, where she was raised, and where—together—they made their home.
But that approach extends to all our work, whether it’s holding leadership training sessions in communities throughout the U.S., bringing local leaders together in countries around the world, working to support the global education of girls, or ensuring young men of color have pathways to opportunity.
As President Obama has said, “we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together.” So join us.
For more information, please visit www.obama.org.
Purpose of the Role
The Senior Associate, MBK Alliance works with the local civic, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders to build outcomes-driven partnerships in the Chicago community, with a specific focus on expanding opportunity for boys and young men of color and other underserved youth.
The Senior Associate will work in close collaboration with the Foundation’s Public Engagement and MBK Alliance teams as well as external partners to design and implement a strategic plan that will ensure MBK Chicago, led by city and nonprofit leaders, is meeting its Local Action Plan goals to measure and track improvement in life outcomes for boys and young men of color.
The Senior Associate will also be responsible for designing and managing the Foundation’s efforts to increase access to evidence-based interventions for boys and young men of color in the neighborhoods surrounding the Obama Presidential Center. Reporting to the Deputy Director, Network Impact, the Senior Associate is a key member of the overarching MBK Alliance team, and will be expected to track and share best practices and lessons learned that could be beneficial across the MBK Network.
Core Job Responsibilities
Strategy Development: Iterate and refine the strategy to expand opportunity and reduce barriers for boys and young men of color in Chicago, ensuring the integration of clear, measurable and tangible goals, evidence-based approaches and high-performing, outcome-driven partners and collaborators.
Project Management: Develop timeline and project plan to successfully execute MBK Alliance’s Chicago strategy.
Portfolio Management: Serve as a key partner for Chicago MBK Impact and Seed Communities - and any other organizations being supported directly by MBK Alliance - working together to monitor grant agreements, implement action plans, connect resources and interventions, and achieve near-term impact focused on building safe and supportive communities, while leveraging partners and technical assistance providers to encourage continued momentum.
Partnership Management: Identify and engage cross-sector local partners and subject matter experts in strategy development, program implementation and storytelling. Staff Foundation leadership on city boards and task forces aligned with MBK Alliance’s mission.
Convenings and Events Management: Co-manage the design and implementation of regular convenings of the MBK Chicago Action Team, Chicago MBK Impact and Seed Communities and other organizations being supported by MBK Alliance, and other champions of the MBK Chicago.
Presentations: Develop and deliver presentations on MBK Alliance’s work in Chicago to internal and external stakeholders, donors/potential donors, industry leaders, local government, etc. Also support MBK Alliance and Foundation leadership in preparing for presentations about MBK Alliance’s work in Chicago.
Interns and Consultants: Provide day-to-day management, leadership and feedback to interns and consultants to ensure high-quality, on-time work product, and happy, impactful team members supported to do their best work for kids and communities.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Key Deliverables / Outcomes
Successful and sustainable MBK Impact and Seed Communities
Sustainability plans and local and national funder forums
Office hours, monthly roundups, MBKU participation
Annual Grantee meeting
Evaluation complete and published
Best practices and progress documented and disseminated
MBK Chicago Local Action Plan goals are on track on time
MBK Alliance Chicago five-year plan complete and in use
Regular 1:1 and group convenings of Impact and Seed Community organizations
Required Qualifications
5+ years experience in developing and executing social impact strategies and theories of change in Chicago, preferably with a nonprofit or other social-impact organization
Ability to develop concrete action items and develop and manage a work plan
Proficiency in developing and maintaining productive relationships both internally and externally as well as across sectors
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and build support from a variety of stakeholders
Thoroughly understands the Chicago social impact sector, youth violence and youth development and/or related issues, and is trusted by recognizably impactful leaders in the field
Demonstrated ability to contribute to a work climate where differences are valued and supported and is sensitive to cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating and working
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Foundation is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at careers@obama.org if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.