Director, Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC)
ICNC works to strengthen the companies in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor on Chicago's Nearwest Side Community. Please see www.industrialcouncil.com for information on ICNC’s mission and activities. In addition to representing and providing assistance to hundreds of companies in its community, ICNC owns and operates the Fulton-Carroll Center (FCC) incubator, which houses 125 small business tenants in its 410,000 square foot facility.
ICNC’s International Trade Center assists Illinois companies to begin exporting or increase their foreign sales. The ITC provides high-quality business advising and technical assistance services to new and emerging companies. The ITC director oversees the center’s operations and its relationship with the State of Illinois and reports to the ICNC’s executive director.
Activities and responsibilities:
Manage daily operations of the ITC, including provision of direct business assistance to companies (clients), management of other ITC staff, marketing the ITC and ICNC, and administrative and budgetary responsibilities.
Qualifications:
Please submit resume and cover letter to Nancy Kramer at nancy@industrialcouncil.com.
ICNC’s International Trade Center assists Illinois companies to begin exporting or increase their foreign sales. The ITC provides high-quality business advising and technical assistance services to new and emerging companies. The ITC director oversees the center’s operations and its relationship with the State of Illinois and reports to the ICNC’s executive director.
Activities and responsibilities:
Manage daily operations of the ITC, including provision of direct business assistance to companies (clients), management of other ITC staff, marketing the ITC and ICNC, and administrative and budgetary responsibilities.
- Evaluate companies’ export readiness and determine appropriate ITC service levels on a per-client basis
- Identify and analyze client export assistance needs, especially as related to the areas of management, operations, finance, and marketing
- Provide in-depth assistance to clients in the areas of international trade strategy, techniques, export processes, and international market opportunities
- Conduct market research (including foreign market selection, market analysis, and sales projections) necessary to assist clients in identifying the best foreign markets for their products
- Conceive, plan, and conduct international trade seminars that provide relevant, actionable information for companies in exporting
- Develop and maintain relationships with other resource and technical assistance providers, including attorneys, accountants, researchers, and others who can provide relevant assistance to clients
- Establish and maintain productive relationships with federal, state, and local government staff to assist clients and promote the ITC and ICNC
- Produce and deliver all required reporting information to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and participate in DCEO-sponsored trainings, conferences, and seminars
- Work with the ICNC executive director and other staff to see that the ITC and other ICNC programs benefit from shared resources, staff, programming, and information
Qualifications:
- At least three years’ experience with, or an in-depth knowledge of, international business, including global business management, international marketing, supply chain management, and international trade finance
- Experience working with governmental agencies and educational institutions
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or related area
- Working knowledge of at least one foreign language preferred
Please submit resume and cover letter to Nancy Kramer at nancy@industrialcouncil.com.
