Associate Director

ChicagoFIRST is a nonprofit public-private partnership that provides critical firms a collaborative forum to strengthen operational resilience, emergency preparedness, and crisis coordination. We connect members with local, regional, state, and national public-sector partners; provide timely situational awareness; and convene trusted forums, exercises, and work groups focused on business continuity, cybersecurity, physical security, intelligence, and exercise development.

ChicagoFIRST is a nonprofit public-private partnership that provides critical firms a collaborative forum to strengthen operational resilience, emergency preparedness, and crisis coordination. We connect members with local, regional, state, and national public-sector partners; provide timely situational awareness; and convene trusted forums, exercises, and work groups focused on business continuity, cybersecurity, physical security, intelligence, and exercise development.

The Associate Director is a senior program and operations leader who supports the Executive Director in planning and delivering ChicagoFIRST's programs, member engagement, strategic partnerships, and crisis-coordination activities. The role translates organizational priorities into well-run meetings, exercises, information-sharing products, and partner initiatives. It also serves as a visible representative of ChicagoFIRST. ChicagoFIRST will provide you with a laptop computer, cell phone, and the associated software and equipment required to execute your duties as Associate Director.

• Program leadership:
  Plan and execute workgroup meetings, round tables, workshops, tabletop exercises, quarterly meetings, and other member programs, including agendas, speakers, materials, and in-person or virtual logistics.
• Member and partner engagement:
  Build trusted relationships with ChicagoFIRST members and public- and private-sector partners at the city, county, state, and national levels.
• Situational awareness:
  Monitor credible government and private-sector information streams; assess relevance; and coordinate clear, timely alerts and briefings for members.
• Crisis coordination:
  Represent ChicagoFIRST in the City of Chicago Emergency Operations Center or other coordination settings when activated and directed, including outside normal business hours.
• Public-private collaboration:
  Support the Chicago Public-Private Task Force and other strategic forums; facilitate member requests and connect organizations with appropriate partners and resources.
• Exercise and training development:
  Design and facilitate exercises, workshops, and professional-development opportunities that strengthen organizational preparedness and resilience.
• Content and knowledge management:
  Maintain the member resource library, event calendar, meeting records, and final deliverables using Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and approved information-sharing platforms.

• Bachelor's degree in emergency management, business continuity, public administration, homeland security, cybersecurity, risk management, communications, or a related field; an equivalent combination of relevant education and progressively responsible experience will be considered.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in emergency management, business continuity, operational resilience, cybersecurity, physical security, crisis management, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating programs, exercises, events, or cross-functional initiatives involving multiple organizations or stakeholder groups.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills, including the ability to translate complex or time-sensitive information for executive and practitioner audiences.
• Sound judgment, discretion, integrity, and the ability to manage sensitive information and trusted relationships.
• Strong organization and project-management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple deadlines and maintain accuracy in time-sensitive environments
• Ability to confidently present complex information, facilitate discussions, and lead interactive briefings, workshops, or exercises for large and diverse audiences, including senior executives and public-sector partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint, plus the ability to learn new collaboration and notification platforms.
• Will work in person in the…