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Vice President of Operations - Aurora Regional Economic Alliance

MGT

Government

Aurora, IL

Salary Estimate: $125,000.00 - $149,999.00

Employment Type: Full Time

Work Place: Office

Experience Required: N/A

Education Required: 4 Year College

Job Description

Aurora, IL (population 180,530). Exciting opportunity to have a leadership role in the economic revitalization well underway in the City of Aurora. With over 5,000 new jobs created post-pandemic and more than $100M in new development investment underway, Aurora is positioned to reach new and exciting heights in the coming decade. Aurora is a river community and the second largest city in Illinois, located 40 miles west of Chicago. The City has long been a transportation hub with easy access to Interstate 88 (five interchanges), as well as two Metra stations (commuter line), a regional airport, four institutions of higher education, 14 business parks and a 130 mile plus fiber network.

The Aurora Regional Economic Alliance (“Alliance”) is a 501(c)(3) public/private economic development partnership dedicated to expanding economic opportunities in Aurora and developing a sustainable community for Aurora residents and businesses. The Alliance is a new organization championing the missions of four key civic organizations: the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, Invest Aurora, Aurora Downtown, and the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce. This consolidation represents a strategic move to create a more powerful and unified approach to economic development in the Aurora region.

This consolidation paves the way for new initiatives that will drive workforce development; empower small, minority, and women-owned businesses; and fuel innovation and entrepreneurship.

The role of the Vice President of Operations is to assist the CEO in leading key initiatives to optimize resources, streamline processes, and maintain a culture of high performance throughout the organization. The Vice President of Operations reports to the President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and can expect to work on the following:

Work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and other key leadership to develop and implement strategic plans, monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), and drive continuous improvement in all areas of business operations.
Provide recommendations for ensuring organizational alignment with the overall strategy, goals, and mission of the entities.
Collaborate with the CFO and CEO to ensure the financial health of the organization, including budgeting, forecasting, and managing operational expenditures. Assist with the preparation of quarterly reports and presentations to the City of Aurora.
Supervise Alliance staff and ensure employee priorities and tasks are completed in a timely manner and aligned with organizational agreements and strategic plans.
Facilitate seamless collaboration and communication between departments and organizations, acting as a key connector to ensure alignment, shared resources, and operational synergies.

Candidates for this unique opportunity must have proven experience in business operations and project management, a strong business acumen with a history of managing organizations, optimizing systems, driving profitability, and building a team-culture and high-performance teams. Start-up experience preferred. Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree along with significant experience managing organizations, budgets, staff, and working with internal and external stakeholders.

Starting salary range: $140,000 ̶ $160,000 DOQ with a competitive benefits package. Apply online at www.GovHRjobs.com with a resume, cover letter and contact information for five professional references. The position is open until filled with first reading of applications on March 24, 2025. Confidential inquiries are encouraged and should be directed to Maureen Barry, Senior Consultant, MGT, at 847-380-3240, x116.

The Aurora Regional Economic Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in our workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, disability, or veteran status.

Community Development