Senior Associate (Consulting)

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

Consultants are leaders on client teams and within our organization. As a Senior Associate or Associate Principal, you are typically a mid-career level professional with a track record of success. Senior Associates and Associate Principals provide day-to-day management, coaching, and support to teams working on fast-paced client-facing projects in the four focus areas named above, while receiving support and strategic guidance from Civic Consulting Alliance leadership.

For the problem-solver who is passionate about contributing to a thriving Chicago region, Civic Consulting Alliance provides unique opportunities to: develop your understanding of government and of the Chicago region; to make systemic, cross-sector change; and to impact the lives of millions of people in the Chicago region. We are a fast-paced organization committed to our clients’ successes, so we are looking for curious and passionate leaders who take initiative. You will fast-track your professional development by: building connections across a broad network of civic leaders; and being part of a dynamic, supportive, and tight-knit team.

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 Civic Consulting Alliance.

• Deliver exceptional management consulting services to Civic Consulting Alliance’s clients by (non-exhaustive):
• Managing high-impact projects (often multiple, concurrent projects), working side-by-side with Civic Consulting Alliance colleagues, senior executives in government, and private sector leaders
• Developing scopes of work, work plans, and implementation for projects
• Nurturing client relationships
• Directing Civic Consulting Alliance staff and pro bono partner fellows
• Preparing and delivering recommendations to clients
• Driving and supporting implementation of client recommendations
• Deepening subject matter expertise in our focus areas and our consulting approach

• Collaboratively build our organizational culture and capabilities by (non-exhaustive):
• Coaching and developing colleagues while receiving mentorship from
• Civic Consulting Alliance senior leadership
• Contributing to and often managing organizational development priorities (e.g. in support of client development, funder cultivation and stewardship, partner engagement, and team culture)

• Bachelor’s degree and educational background in policy, business, education, social or data sciences, or related fields; graduate degree is a plus
• 7+ years work experience in government or nonprofit  organizations, with experience or exposure to consulting, and in one of our focus areas – economy, education, healthy, and safety and justice    
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and/or managing projects or complex workstreams with multiple stakeholders
• Strong functional knowledge of project management (e.g., scoping, workplanning, risk management)
• Experience coaching and giving formal feedback to supervisees
• Strong presentation and communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word / PowerPoint / Excel, familiarity with quantitative data analysis (e.g., Tableau / Power BI), and the ability to learn and apply new technical skills

• 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

• A deep desire to address critical community issues and help the Chicago region thrive
• Analytical problem-solver: You are willing to share creative hypotheses and drive team brainstorming sessions
• Relationship-builder: You have a track record of building strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders and a client-service orientation
• Ability to navigate complexity: You have a demonstrated ability to work with a variety of people in complex environments
• Self-motivator: You are self-motivating in nature, with an ability to multitask and handle ambiguity

• 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
• Employer-paid group life, long-term disability insurance, and short-term disability insurance; additional, voluntary life insurance

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. 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 (case and behavior interviews)         

●        Reference checks

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

Priority submission date: April 18, 2025