Wilmington Chamber of Commerce hiring Director of Programs and Initiatives position

About the Chamber of Commerce:
The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce serves a vibrant, coastal community that has been voted one of the Best Places to Live!  Our role in sustaining that accolade is to be the go-to-not-for-profit advocate and resource center for different audiences in the community:  business, citizens and visitors.
 
 
About the Role:
Are you the person your friends and co-workers turn to when they are looking for creative solutions?  Do you strive to deliver your best while holding yourself accountable?  Do you want to change the world, fail forward while learning from your mistakes, have fun with the work, and celebrate the wins?  This individual is dynamic and self-motivated but thrives in a position working with two key groups: our staff and our volunteers. This position is highly social so the right candidate will be high energy and enjoy actively engaging with all personalities. The Director of Programs and Initiatives will play a big role in our success. It is important that this individual embraces this responsibility by not only executing existing programs with excellence but creating new opportunities for engagement with the chamber.
 
The Director of Programs and Initiatives will also be responsible for organizing and implementing the current 10-month Leadership Wilmington program. Included in that is leading the class participants in the organization and implementation of the Work on Wilmington day of service. This job allows you to meet many young and new professionals in our community helping them to become better connected and aware of the ways they can contribute to the overall well-being of the region.

Purpose of Position:
Collaboratively plan large-scale events, seminars, and other experiences for members of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and the broader business community. Support the marketing and selling of sponsorship of events. Work with CEO and other staff on creative content, volunteer management, and implementing logistics. The position is under the general supervision of the CEO.

Examples of Programs:
·      Expo/Trade Shows
·      Business After Hours, Intentional Collisions, Wake Up Wilmington Networking Events
·      New Member Orientation
·      Committees- Public Policy, New Member Development
·      Councils - African American Business Council and Latin American Business Council
·      Volunteers including our Chamber Ambassadors
·      Member Seminars
·      Ribbon Cuttings
·      Annual Meeting, Small Business Summit, Elected Officials BBQ, Women’s Professional Development Program, Talent & Workforce Development Program, 40 Under 40 Awards, Regional Economic Scorecard, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program
·      Lead development of content, coordinate logistics, manage event budget, work with VP, Marketing & Communications to market and other staff team members to implement all chamber experiences.
·      Other new opportunities for engagement
 
Examples of Leadership Development Initiatives
·      Organize and implement the 10-month leadership program with 8 monthly all-day sessions focused on various segments of the community.
·      Organize and implement a two-day retreat to acclimate class members to the program and to each other.
·      Create orientation materials.
·      Organize any tours, meals and transportation needed.
·      A graduation ceremony that will recognize the class members’ accomplishments and inspire them to engage in volunteer leadership roles in the community. 
·      Engage Leadership Wilmington alumni from the previous class in the planning of the next class.
·      Lead the class members to organize and implement the Work on Wilmington community service event that completes 30+ projects at area non-profits and schools one Saturday morning every April.
·      Assist in the visioning that will lead to additional leadership development programs.
 
Why You Should Work for the Wilmington Chamber:
·      In June of 2018, the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce was named one of 13 Communications Excellence Grand Award winners by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
·      In April of 2018, the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) recognized the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce "Your Advocate" branding campaign with a Communication Excellence Award.
·      Program leaders of Leadership Wilmington and Work on Wilmington.
·      Strong and influential board of directors.
 
Our Team Vision & Values:
We have a team vision to be a pacesetter staff in the chamber world, respected for skillful advocacy that yields remarkable economic growth in our region, advancing our business community.
 
As a Chamber team, we value the following:
·      Get Results: Deliver our best in all we do, holding ourselves accountable for results.
·      Move Forward: Grow, innovate, and learn from failure. Lean into trends. Change the world.
·      Dynamic and Engaging Environment: Celebrate the wins and have fun. Be flexible and go all-in with energy and passion.
 
“I value honesty in all of my relationships.  Without transparent truth, relationships struggle to survive.  I value acceptance and inclusion.  Individuals on a team, no matter their background, should be treated with respect and kindness.  I value persistence and perseverance.  Not all things are easy nor are they meant to be.  There is a lot to learn on the journey.  I value kindness to others.  All living things deserve to be cared for, period.  I value respect.  People deserve to be admired for their abilities.  Even the smallest ones contribute to a team’s success.  I value achievement.  I feel fulfilled when something is done successfully, especially when it requires effort, skill and teamwork.  I value fun and humor.  I believe enjoying the day and laughing are good for our souls.” - Natalie English, President and CEO, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce on her leadership philosophy

“I feel so fortunate to be able to contribute to the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce team. We work hard, but we get results and have fun along the way. I love balancing the creative and strategic thinking this work requires. I feel consistently engaged and challenged every day. Natalie gives us all the autonomy to manage our work based on what works best for our members while being supported however we need it. I also love the opportunity to meet business leaders in our community, learn about their companies, work to understand their needs and focus on what we can do to help them grow their businesses.” - Megan Mullins, VP of Marketing and Communication
  
Qualifications of Position:
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
 
Experience & Abilities: Outgoing individual eager to join teams focused on making the Wilmington Community a better place to live and grow a business. Open minded, friendly, and willing to learn. Organizational, accounting and management skills, customer service, public relations, communication, and marketing skills are necessary for success. Ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships with coworkers, volunteers, and the business community.
 
Full-time, non-temporary
Salary and Benefits
Based out of our downtown Wilmington office, requires in-town travel.
 
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to info@wilmingtonchamber.org.