Manager of Business Strategy and Analysis

  • Full-time

Company Description

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public interest and education in architecture and design. The Chicago Architecture Foundation presents a comprehensive program of tours, exhibitions, lectures, special events, and adult and youth education activities, all designed to enhance the public’s awareness and appreciation of Chicago’s outstanding architectural legacy.

Job Description

Position Summary:  Responsible for developing new business opportunities for the Chicago Architecture Foundation.  This includes building revenue and attendance growth in the areas of CAF tours, retail, facilities, and other areas as needed.  Responsible for meeting and exceeding sales goals and overseeing the Specialty Sales areas of CAF which includes e-Commerce, Corporate Sales, and Education Book Sales.  Responsible for being a primary liaison to both professional and city networks and representing CAF in a professional manner.  

Core Responsibilities –

 

Business Development –

  • Responsible for creating the strategy to pursue and gain new business opportunities for tours, retail, facility rentals, and other areas of CAF as needed
  • Develop new and creative ways to obtain additional business from prospective and existing partnerships
  • Locates or proposes potential business deals by discovering and exploring opportunities
  • Lead the business development function in an effective, strategic, and proactive manner
  • Responsible for enhancing the reputation of the organization by accepting ownership  for accomplishing new and different requests
  • Partner with internal leaders and subject matter experts to create alignment with strategic goals which leads to the successful accomplishment of business development goals 
  • Oversees the e-Commerce and Specialty Sales area (Corporate and Ed Book Sales) and is integral in the strategy for meeting and achieving all weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual sales goals 
  • Oversees the creation and implementation of strong programs for concierge engagement and corporate sales
  • Integral in determining and establishing a proactive sales strategy for CAF by working with key internal partners including the Tour & Retail, Marketing, Programming, and Development Departments
  • Other duties as assigned

 

Analysis –

  • Reviews excess inventory levels in tour, retail, and programming product offerings and determines the strategy for greater sell-through
  • Identifies trendsetter ideas by researching tourism industry and related events, publications, and announcements
  • In partnership with the VP of Tours & Retail, primary lead for the contact and evaluation of new revenue and audience generated proposals that are presented to CAF
  • Design and maintain a business development dashboard
  • Responsible for the coordination and completion of the CAF competitive analysis conducted twice per year
  • Responsible for identifying customer trends in travel and preferred experiences to help identify new products or future business opportunities
  • Integral in the annual budgeting and forecasting process for Tour Retail Departments
  • Integral in maintaining and analyzing CAF’s five year business plan
  • Other duties as assigned

 

 

Partner and Vendor Relationships –

  • In partnership with the Director of Tours & Retail, a primary point person for established corporate and concierge partnerships
  • Develops and executes the strategy for engaging with third party ticketing vendors and daily deal websites and the management of these relationships
  • Primary liaison for the department/organization for professional networks important to CAF
  • Primary liaison for the department/organization for city networks such as Choose Chicago, GNMAA, and Chicago Loop Alliance

Qualifications

Skills and Attributes –

  • Strong business acumen with a strong understanding of finance
  • Strong analysis and quantitative skills
  • Self-motivated to meet sales goals and to inspire others to meet those goals
  • Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize multiple projects
  • Detail oriented, ability to prioritize and multi-task, good decision-making and communications skills, maintains calmness under high pressure
  • Experience creating reports, interpreting the data, and being able to provide recommendations based on the data is required
  • Ability to work successfully in team environments and has a collaborative attitude
  • Professional appearance and demeanor Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong technical skills and ability to learn new software
  • Strong Microsoft Office Skills including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word

 

Education and Experience Requirement –

  • Bachelor’s Degree Required; Finance or Business Management major preferred
  • Minimum of three years of business development experience with a proven record of achieving an increase in revenue and customer growth/retention
  • Experience with e-Commerce sales preferred, but not require
  • Experience positively representing an organization to existing and potential partners and professional networking groups
  • Experience working with all levels of an organization including CEO and Board Members preferred
  • Experience establishing sales goals and developing innovative ways of achieving those sales goals
  • Experience managing staff members and working collaboratively

 

Additional Information

Chicago Architecture Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.