Director, Illinois Small Business Development Center (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 Make City incubator, which houses more than 100 small business tenants in its 416,000 square foot facility, and is a founder of The Hatchery, a new food and beverage incubator in Garfield Park.
Position Activities and Responsibilities:
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, its relationship with the State of Illinois, manages 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. This is a full-time position and reports to the Executive Director. Primary responsibilities include:
Other activities will be assigned on an as-needed basis.
Qualifications:
Working Conditions:
Casual, 6,000 sq ft. office environment, shared with a full-time, part-time and intern staff of fourteen.
Work Schedule and Compensation:
How to Apply:
Please email letter of interest, current resume, and three professional references to:
ICNC
ITC Director Search Committee
[email protected]
The subject line must include the recruiting code ITCDIR.
No phone calls will be taken regarding this job announcement. For further information about the organization, please see our website at: www.industrialcouncil.com.
ICNC is an equal opportunity employer and provides a smoke-free, drug-free work place.
Position Activities and Responsibilities:
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, its relationship with the State of Illinois, manages 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. This is a full-time position and reports to the Executive Director. Primary responsibilities include:
- 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, logistics providers, consultants, 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. Ensure clients are aware of various export programs, grants, and trade missions for their respective industries
- 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
Other activities will be assigned on an as-needed basis.
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
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
- Bi-lingual English/Spanish is a plus
- Self-starter that is collaborative, energetic, creative, proactive, and responsible
- Able to work effectively under time pressure and/or deadlines and maintain a high level of confidentiality
Working Conditions:
Casual, 6,000 sq ft. office environment, shared with a full-time, part-time and intern staff of fourteen.
Work Schedule and Compensation:
- This is a full-time position; 40 hours per week; 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday
- Starting annual salary range is $50K-$65K; commensurate with experience
- Benefit incentives includes: One week paid vacation to start and participation in group health insurance plan, SIMPLE IRA, short and long term disability and life insurance; Training and career development opportunities available as annual budgets permit
How to Apply:
Please email letter of interest, current resume, and three professional references to:
ICNC
ITC Director Search Committee
[email protected]
The subject line must include the recruiting code ITCDIR.
No phone calls will be taken regarding this job announcement. For further information about the organization, please see our website at: www.industrialcouncil.com.
ICNC is an equal opportunity employer and provides a smoke-free, drug-free work place.