Operations Manager

Who We Are

Civic Consulting Alliance’s vision is to be the cornerstone of a civic ecosystem that creates a more vibrant, equitable, and prosperous Chicago region for all. We get big things done for the Chicago region by bringing together our dedicated staff and the business community to provide pro bono expertise to government & civic leaders.

We achieve impact in four interconnected focus areas that are integral to achieving our vision, each with a distinct goal.

●     Economy: Systems to support a thriving economy that builds individual and community wealth in support of long-term regional vitality.

●     Education: Advance high-quality education and equitable access to opportunity for all students.

●     Health: Accessible healthcare that increases holistic well-being and allows all people to live longer, healthier lives.

●     Safety & Justice: Institutional reform and collaborative transformation to create safe and just communities for all.

Every dollar invested in our mission is multiplied fivefold, providing an average of $20 million in pro bono consulting services annually to the Chicago region. We are the best at what we do, and uniquely qualified and positioned with the trust, experience, and credibility needed to succeed. For more information visit: https://www.ccachicago.org/

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Operations Manager will be a vital member of Civic Consulting Alliance’s team, responsible for managing people and culture operations with a particular emphasis on talent acquisition, performance management and employee engagement. The Operations Manager will draw from industry best practices and help craft and execute policies and initiatives that align with Civic Consulting Alliance’s mission, values, and strategic vision.

The Operations Manager will join Civic Consulting Alliance at an exciting inflection point. In summer 2025, we will roll-out a Strategic Plan that includes commitment to a new culture vision and priorities to integrate with ongoing team- and culture-building activities. The Operations Manager and COO will lead the organization to implement these commitments and co-create the future of organizational culture and practices.

The below is a vision for the key components of the position; employees will also be asked to perform additional tasks that are not listed in the job description, as deemed necessary by CCA.

• Build a Stronger Team
• Own ongoing full-cycle recruitment activities from interns to management, working with team members, senior leaders, and recruiting partners to attract outstanding and diverse pools of candidates by (non-exhaustive):
• Strategy: Evaluate and continuously work to improve the recruitment process in order to provide an equitable, inclusive, and overall exceptional candidate experience
• Preparation: Support job descriptions, marketing, and applicant tracking system set-up/troubleshooting, as well as manage ongoing candidate communication
• Sourcing: Host hiring events (ex: intern events at college campuses), conduct proactive outreach to networks and individual candidates via email, LinkedIn and other methods
• Screening: Create resume review rubrics, review resumes, conduct screening interviews, and provide write-ups and recommendations on candidates
• Coordinate interviews and assessments: Schedule interviews, train interview committees, and create materials including interview scripts, assessment rubrics, candidate summaries and materials packets
• Hiring logistics: Manage offer processes as well as reference/background checks
• Onboarding: Strengthen and streamline onboarding activities to ensure that employees feel welcome and prepared to do their jobs
• Offboarding: Work with employees and their managers on offboarding items including transferring knowledge, duties, equipment and access, determining short and long-term coverage plans, recruiting for replacements (if applicable), and gathering feedback from exit interviews

• Grow a Stronger Team
• Manage Learning and Growth initiatives aligned with organizational mission, values, and strategic vision by (non-exhaustive):
• Provide training opportunities from onboarding to targeted professional development opportunities at all levels of staff
• Build and manage quality performance management processes, monitoring participation, and training supervisors on process and feedback techniques
• Leveraging external opportunities including connections with partners to provide staff learning and growth opportunities

• Build a Stronger Organizational Culture
• Strengthen and operationalize Civic Consulting Alliance’s Strategic Plan commitment to strengthening a culture that empowers greater collective impact - to achieve a vision to bring together and inspire teammates with diverse experiences who motivate each other to become more effective change agents         
• Employ a human-centered approach to staff communication including surveys, pulse checks, stay/exit interviews, and other feedback opportunities; provide transparency to staff on feedback trends, connectivity between feedback and organizational strategy, and updates on progress to affect change
• Develop and implement other staff engagement and belonging opportunities as guided by best practice and staff feedback
• Manage staff meeting operations in collaboration with COO
• Oversee staff-wide events in collaboration with COO
• Address employee relations issues in collaboration with COO

• How You Will Grow
• This key operations role provides exposure and knowledge of what it takes to run a nonprofit organization. Close collaboration with management and executive level leadership allows opportunities for you to be coached and engage in stretch assignments to help you grow. As a cornerstone of people operations, you will be a source for operating knowledge, building opportunities for you to coach teammates. You will benefit from the increasingly expanding suite of personal, professional, and leadership development resources to strengthen problem-solving and project management skills.
• You will build a professional network of partners, vendors, and affiliate organizations giving you internal and external visibility of owning people operations. These connections will not only support your personal and professional development but will help deepen your understanding of the partnership between public and private entities that help make Chicago a great place to live and work. 

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 4+ years of experience in a nonprofit, education, government, foundation, or corporate setting (exposure to consulting or similar setting is a plus)
• 2+ years of experience in human resources, with particular expertise in recruitment, performance management, and employee engagement
• Strong Microsoft Office and computer skills (experience with Lever or similar applicant tracking systems is a plus), and the ability to learn and apply new technical skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to present information in a variety of formats to all levels of staff 
• PHR, SHRM certification, or other human resources credentials or coursework is a plus

• Commitment to Civic Consulting Alliance’s core values:
• Prove change is possible - We believe the Chicago region can be more vibrant, equitable, and prosperous for all, and we raise our hand to work on challenges that stand in the way
• Serve with passion - We navigate as trusted partners through ambiguity and complexity, ground our decisions in data and lived experience, and hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity
• Grow together - We rely on each other, build mutual respect and sense of belonging, seek perspectives to complement the limits of our own experience, and welcome new ideas and healthy debate

• Best practice-focused: You have an understanding of human resources and DEIB best practices; you stay current with policies and trends via research, professional development and/or thought partnering with industry peers
• Grounded optimism: You possess a combination of hope and realism, understanding that there will be obstacles and setbacks in change management work, but will remain resilient and persistent until impact is reached
• Attention to detail: You double check that you have dotted your “i’s” and crossed your “t’s”
• Ability to navigate complexity: You have a demonstrated track record of achieving impact on complex projects involving stakeholders with competing priorities, and leading change management
• Professional integrity: You carry out your work with high standards and an ethical mindset, maintaining the utmost confidentiality with regard to personnel issues

• We offer competitive salary, career development, and comprehensive benefits* including:
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance beginning on employee start date
• 401(k); annual employer contribution of 5% after one year of employment
• Pre-tax programs for transit and flexible spending account (FSA) 
• Generous paid time off package including: 15 vacation, 8 sick, and 4 personal/swing days; federal holidays, week-long winter break, and early-close days before select holidays
• Supportive family planning benefits – FMLA and paid parental leave
• Group life and disability insurance, short-term disability, employee-assistance programs

• *Benefits subject to change 

Excited about the opportunity, but don’t meet all of the qualifications above? Please still apply! You may have the unique experience that is just right for this or another role.

Hybrid Work Environment 

As an organization, we believe that in-person work is critical to achieving our mission; it promotes stronger relationship building with our key stakeholders (clients, funders, and partners), creates closer connection and team-building with our colleagues, and provides broader opportunities for learning and growth. This shared belief underpins our expectation for in-person requirements. Staff are expected to work two or more (2+) in-person days, and up to three (3) remote days, per five-day work week. (On Tuesdays, all staff will work in the office. Teams will align on at least 1 additional day each week to work together in-person; additional days may be required.)

As a condition of employment at Civic Consulting Alliance, you are required to complete a COVID-19 vaccine primary series, and receive an additional booster shot. If you receive an invitation to interview, we can answer any questions you may have during the interview process. If an offer of employment is extended, new hires are expected to provide proof of vaccination prior to their start date.

What Applicants Should Expect

While the interview process may adjust as we go, we expect the process to include the following stages:

●        Application - Cover letter and resume

●        Phone screen 

●        Two in-person interviews with teammates, second including work sample

●        Reference checks

Apply here: https://jobs.lever.co/ccachicago

Priority submission date: April 18, 2025