Managing Director, Chicago

POSITION TITLE: Managing Director - 500 Learner Campus

LOCATION: Chicago, IL

REPORTS TO: Regional Senior Vice President, Midwest

ABOUT PER SCHOLAS:

For nearly 30 years, Per Scholas has been on a mission to drive equity and opportunity in the ever-advancing technology landscape by unlocking the untapped potential of individuals, uplifting communities, and meeting the needs of employers through rigorous tech training. By teaming up with dynamic employer partners, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups, we're forging inclusive tech talent pipelines, fulfilling an ever-increasing need for skilled talent. With national remote training and campuses in 25 cities and counting, Per Scholas offers no-cost training programs in the most sought-after tech skills, spanning Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, Software Engineering, and more. To date, 30,000+ individuals have been trained through Per Scholas, propelling their professional trajectories into high-growth tech careers with salaries three times higher than their pre-training earnings. Learn more by visiting PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Position Summary
The Managing Director (MD) will oversee a Per Scholas campus serving approximately 500 learners by 2030.  This leader is responsible for driving the strategic and operational goals of the campus, focusing on building relationships and partnerships with funders, employers, and community organizations while delivering high-quality tech training that aligns with both local and national objectives. The MD will lead local fundraising initiatives to secure a target of $5 - $5.25 million by 2030, enhancing the visibility and impact of Per Scholas in the community. The MD ensures that Per Scholas’ mission is executed with excellence, cultivating local partnerships, supporting program growth, and contributing to the broader success of Per Scholas’ national vision.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Business Development (70%)

• Develop and lead Per Scholas local fundraising strategy in partnership with the Regional Senior Vice President and in collaboration with the National Development team.
• Lead fundraising initiatives to secure $5 - $5.25 million annually by 2030, inclusive of government, foundation, corporate, public, individual, and earned income).
• Increase awareness of Per Scholas’ brand and tech training in Chicago and the region.
• Partner with the National Development team to generate grant requests and reports.
• Develop and lead Per Scholas local employer outreach strategy in partnership with direct report Director of Talent Solutions, with additional support from the RSVP and the National Talent Solutions Team.
• In collaboration with the National Talent Solutions team, manage an employer-facing team to identify, cultivate, and secure new employer relationships with the goal of achieving job attainment fee-based revenue for your campus.
• Secure a pipeline of employer partners in the local community.
• Steward strategic business relationships including satellite campus partners 
• Expand and partner with a local advisory board of business and community leaders.
• Represent Per Scholas at regional meetings, conferences, panels, and media opportunities.

Team & Program Leadership (30%)

• Develop, lead, and implement Per Scholas local annual operating plan in partnership with the Training Support Team and Regional Senior Vice President.
• Serve as Per Scholas local primary liaison and point of contact with the training, finance, communications, development, and administration teams.
• Lead and develop a talented team of local staff (including four direct reports: Site Director, Director of Development, Director of Talent Solutions, and Director of External Affairs) and facilitate regular feedback, performance management, and professional development.
• Oversee program delivery for immersive courses via oversight of Site Director and Talent Solutions Director. Programmatic delivery includes recruitment and admissions, technical training delivery,and  job attainment support
• Follow local and national workforce, business, and tech industry trends to anticipate learner and employer needs.
• Ensure that all training goals are met or exceeded, including outcomes tracking and reporting, using Salesforce and other data platforms.
• Manage and inform the annual local operating budget.
• Ensure high-quality delivery of our tech training to Per Scholas adult-learners 
• Implement new training initiatives in response to local market demand.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience leading teams and managing program operations in nonprofit, education, or workforce development settings.
• Proven success in local fundraising and community engagement
• Proven ability to lead high-performing teams, coach staff, and drive results in a metrics-driven environment.
• Strong understanding of learner-centered program design, job readiness, and workforce development trends.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Comfortable representing the organization externally and building relationships with community and employer stakeholders.
• Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and learner success

LI# Onsite

For this role specifically, we are targeting a salary range between $145,000/year and $150,000/year. The difference in salary is typically determined by several factors, including the geography in which the selected candidate resides and alignment with qualifications and experience.