Chief Strategy Officer

All Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce employees uphold the following Core Values: Takes Initiative, Passionately Pursues, Excellence, Complete Accountability, Seeks Continuous Improvement, Fosters a Sense of Belongingness, Customer Service Oriented, Regionally Minded

Position Summary: The Chief Strategy Officer is responsible for executing the Chamber’s long-term strategy and annual work plan by seamlessly integrating the organization’s talents and resources. This position plays a vital role in assisting the chief executive officer with developing, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives. The CSO leads major initiatives and shapes the internal direction of the organization as a creative thinker, thought challenger, trouble shooter, and positive influencer. The CSO is an experienced executive with a strong understanding of the Chamber of Commerce industry, membership needs, and business trends. The position has the desire to act as well as advise.

Department: Operations

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Davenport

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Essential Duties: Essential job duties for this position include the following items. Other duties must be performed as assigned or required.

• Drives business model innovation and rethinks the Chamber’s value proposition

• Collaborates with senior management to devise effective short and long-term plans

• Drives decision-making that supports medium and long-term improvement

• Establishes and reviews key strategic priorities and translates them into a comprehensive strategic plan

• Monitors the execution of the strategic plan

• Facilitates and drives key strategic initiatives through inception phase

• Ensures departmental strategic planning projects reflect organizational strategic priorities

• Partners with institutional leadership, special committees, and consultants to support execution of key initiatives

• Develops new business opportunities by leveraging contacts, pursuing new product development, and improving project efficiency

• Builds teams of individuals charged with executing strategies

• Acts as a resource across the organization to increase broad cohesion for strategic plans

• Integrates the organization's strategy internally and externally so that all employees, partners, suppliers, and contractors understand the company-wide strategic plan and how it carries out the organization's overall goals

• Conducts annual and ongoing reviews for the Chamber’s department leads

• Leads the Chamber’s DEI strategy integration

• Develops strategies to support a positive workplace culture

• Perform other related duties as required

Supervisory Responsibilities: Approximately five direct reports

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, the individual in this position must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skills and ability required.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance, Marketing, or related field required

• 10 years of relevant work experience

• Exceptional creativity and problem-solving skills

• Must have a strong working knowledge of management strategies, financial accounting, human resource planning, customer relations, and implementation of new technologies

• Strong public speaking and communication skills, both verbally and in writing

• Must be able to multitask with research projects, data analysis, coordination with the executive team, and acting as the public face of the company in the absence of the company’s CEO

• Must be willing to challenge the standard thinking with new ideas, new approaches, and new solutions

• Strong decision-making and project management skills

• Ability to exercise independent judgment with minimal supervision

• Ability to assess situations and envision solutions that will meet the member needs

• Strong attention to detail

• Availability to work occasional non-traditional hours (early morning, evenings, weekends)

Equipment and Software Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook

• Must be able to operate standard office equipment, including telephone, calculator, computer, printer, typewriter, fax, and copier.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and be insurable

Language Skills:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations

• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals

• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public

Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

• Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Standing – Approximately greater than 1/3 of on-the-job time.

• Walking – Approximately greater than 1/3 of on-the-job time.

• Sitting – Approximately greater than 2/3 of on-the-job time.

• Use of hands to finger, handle or feel – Approximately greater than 2/3 of on-the-job time.

• Reaching with hands and arms – Approximately less than 1/3 of on-the-job time.

• Climbing or balancing – Approximately less than 1/3 of on-the-job time.

• Stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling – Approximately less than 1/3 of on-the-job time.

• Talking or hearing – Approximately greater than 2/3 of on-the-job time.

• Travel, some regional and state travel, with overnight trips

• Weight lifted/Force exerted – An average of approximately 25 pounds, less than 1/3 of on-the-job time, non-continuously

• Must have clear vision near and far, with or without corrective measures.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.

Environmental – There is little to no exposure to hazardous environmental conditions.

Noise – Moderate (i.e. typical office noise – computers, printers, phones, fax machines, etc.)