Community Development Commission Jobs in Illinois

Position Summary: Fostering Local Engagement and Economic Vitality
The Village Media Community Lead believes that small businesses are the foundational engine of the local economy and that structural community support can improve the daily lives of residents. As Community Lead, you're an energetic, organized, and sales-driven professional who is recognized as an active contributor, within your community. You possess the commercial drive of a seasoned sales professional, the communication skills of a relationship manager, and the commitment of a community organizer.
At Village Media Ltd., our mission is to build digital town squares that integrate trusted local journalism with community platforms to support informed citizens, engaged neighborhoods, and thriving local commerce. Our five newest markets, Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, Peoria, and Springfield, each need a Community Lead to establish and lead the Village Media platforms, and serve as a local ambassador of the Village mission.
Primary Responsibilities: Commercial Growth with a Civic Purpose
As a Community Lead, you are the face of Village Media Ltd. in our community. This is a leadership position designed for someone who wants to do something meaningful. You are the bridge between our digital platform and the community's leaders, businesses and non-profits improving the daily lives of residents.
What you will do:

• Foster community vitality by partnering with local businesses and nonprofits to help them reach their goals through our innovative advertising and community-embedded services.
• Drive sales with purpose by identifying and converting new business opportunities that align with our mission of strengthening the local economy.
• Champion our CARES initiatives by actively participating in our community work, helping deliver "Random Acts of Kindness" and honoring local difference-makers through our "Community Builder Awards."
• Curate connection by organizing microevents and small gatherings to bring together key community stakeholders, fostering collaboration and local growth.
• Be the local face of our community by overseeing campaign delivery while acting as the primary point of contact for client care, ensuring every partner feels like a valued member.

The Kind of People We're Looking For
Village Media is beyond a traditional media company. We're a community impact organization. Our purpose is to help communities become stronger by keeping people informed, connected, and engaged.
That means we look for people who genuinely care about the places they serve. We need teammates who are curious, collaborative, adaptable, and energized by solving problems. You'll fit right in if you take initiative, embrace change, and are always willing to step outside your job description to help the team or the community succeed.
We're building something ambitious in the digital media space, so we value:
• Humility over ego
• Optimism over cynicism
• Ownership over "that's not my job"
We move quickly, support one another, and believe meaningful work comes from people who care deeply about both their colleagues and their neighbors. If you're excited by the opportunity to make a real difference where people live, you'll thrive here.
At Village Media, aptitude matters. Attitude matters more.
Candidates must possess:

• A proven track record in digital advertising sales, business development, relationship management, or community organizing.
• The ability to interact comfortably with diverse local stakeholders, including corporate executives, small business owners, academic administrators, and community volunteers.
• Excellent public presentation and organizational skills, with a demonstrated ability to execute professional events.
• A valid driver's license and reliable access to a personal vehicle to support active community engagement across the designated market.

Compensation and Logistics

• Work Arrangement: Remote/Work-from-Home, with a strict requirement of residing within the designated community. Open to non-resident candidates willing to relocate to the designated community.
• Compensation: Base Salary of $50,000 USD per annum, supplemented by an uncapped 10% commission on local advertising sales. This also includes a year-one guarantee of $1,000 per month drawn against commission, for a total minimum year-one compensation amount of $62,000.
• Schedule: Generally Monday through Friday, with required attendance in representing the platform with Village at occasional weekend festivals, evening business mixers, civic gatherings, or similar events.

To Apply: Tell Us Your Story
At Village, we are people with heart, grit, and deep roots in the communities we serve. Because our mission is entirely focused on genuine human connection, trust, and local vitality, we do things authentically.
We promise that no artificial intelligence (AI), automated keyword matching, or large language models (LLMs) are used in our resume and cover-letter selection process.
We honor your uniqueness and believe your real-world experiences create your character. Every application is evaluated by actual human beings who care deeply about the communities we serve, including our future colleagues.
If you are ready to be the face and heart of your community, please submit your application with the subject line: Community Lead - Peoria.
What to Include:
Your Resume; 2-page limit: Show us your professional journey, highlighting your achievements in sales, community organizing, relationship management, or any work that proves you possess the drive to get things done.
Your Story (In Lieu of a Traditional Cover Letter); 2-page limit: Tell us who you are beyond a list of bullet points. We want to read a story you are truly proud of. In your submission, please address the following:

• Why are you proud to live in your community?
• What is a local business or non-profit you absolutely love, and why?
• Share a meaningful moment from your life. This could be a time you had a positive, lasting impact in your neighborhood; a moment where you stepped up and played a pivotal leadership role; or a story about someone you deeply admire who embodies the spirit of a community caretaker.

About Village Media
Village Media is a leading digital media company dedicated to strengthening local communities through trusted journalism, technology, and civic engagement. Headquartered in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Village Media operates a growing network of local news publications and community platforms across Canada and the United States.
We are an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability or veteran status. We are committed to providing a working environment that honors the unique backgrounds and perspectives of every team member.
Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.