Organizational Overview
Sunshine Enterprises is a 501 3 nonprofit based in Chicago, IL. Sunshine Enterprises fosters economically viable communities through training, coaching, and connecting high-potential entrepreneurs. Sunshine Enterprises’ mission is to empower high-potential entrepreneurs living in under-resourced neighborhoods to grow their businesses and transform their communities. Sunshine Enterprises’ vision is to establish 5 neighborhood-based business hubs catalyzing free enterprise in Chicagoland’s under-resourced neighborhoods. Currently, we serve hundreds of unique entrepreneurs throughout the Chicagoland area in three geographic business hubs servicing neighborhoods such as Woodlawn, South Shore, West Evanston, Rogers Park, and North Lawndale. Each of these hubs has been strategically placed in areas suffering from a lack of jobs, marketplace resources, and growth opportunities. These hubs provide an economic stimulus to the communities by supporting local entrepreneurs. SE also has developed specialty hubs focused on the property developers, construction trades, arts, and tech industries, as well as Spanish language programming.
Sunshine Enterprises has grown substantially from serving 13 entrepreneurs in 2013 to serving 578 in 2023. The team has grown from two staff members to around 75 permanent staff, temporary staff, and contractors. The Managing Director of Operations role will significantly enhance the operations of the organization and the ability to serve both entrepreneurs and team members alike.
Position Summary
The Managing Director of Operations is a key member of the Sunshine Enterprises (SE) Leadership Team, responsible for overseeing daily operations to ensure efficiency and effectiveness across all departments while aligning with our mission and strategic goals. The Managing Director of Operations will manage the organization’s annual planning process and in-year plan tracking, facilitate strategy research, analysis, and updates, and will lead IT, Human Resources, Facilities Management, and other operations functions.
The Managing Director of Operations will organize and align strategic priorities with the Executive Director and members of the Leadership Team, making sure the organization is focused on the right things at the right time, and ensuring that our clients stay at the center of all our planning and decision making. Additionally, this role will lead initiatives to optimize processes, manage resources, and enhance organizational performance. The Managing Director of Operations will help shape internal leadership communications, so staff are informed and inspired and see how their day-to-day work connects to our mission and the organization.
Direct Reports: Sr. HR Generalist, Operations Coordinator (Part-time IT coordination), Operations and IT contractors, as needed.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic and Operational Leadership:
- Lead the organization’s management operating system, including strategic and operations planning and management.
- Lead the annual strategic planning/management process, ensuring alignment with the Executive Director, Leadership Team, and staff.
- Facilitate the development and management of work plans and maintain the organizational key metric scorecard.
- Partner with the Executive Director and Leadership Team to prepare for Board meetings and communications, and coordinate Board management.
- Oversee strategic initiatives and cross-functional, organization-wide projects/initiatives, engaging stakeholders, driving decisions, managing key milestones, and mapping out training requirements.
- Continue building the operations team by identifying key needs, recruiting, developing and leading operations staff.
IT Leadership:
- Supervise IT operations, including collaborating on the IT strategy and roadmap.
- Manage the relationship with managed service providers and contractors.
- Oversee IT project coordination and execute day-to-day IT-related tasks.
HR Leadership:
- Manage the Senior HR Generalist.
- Align HR strategies, including talent management, employee development, organizational development, and employee relations, with organizational goals.
- Foster a positive work culture and promote professional development.
Process Improvement:
- Work with the Leadership Team and Staff to analyze, document, and improve organizational processes, including standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Enhance operational efficiency through process improvement, tools, and technology.
Facilities Management:
- Liaise with landlords and manage office space, office access, and remote work policies.
- Support current feasibility studies and plan for future facilities management.
Other Duties:
- Manage vendor relationships and organizational subscriptions
- Lead risk management, identifying and assessing risks and mitigating actions across the business (e.g. insurance coverage, disaster recovery, etc.)
- Perform other operations-related duties as assigned.
Skills and Experience
- Proven ability to develop and implement strategic plans aligned with organizational goals.
- Excellent leadership and organizational abilities.
- Ability to ensure financial sustainability and accountability.
- Working knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, data analysis software packages, project management platforms, and other key organizational tools.
- Outstanding negotiation skills and excellent written and oral communication.
- Proven knowledge of performance evaluation metrics in a business setting.
- First-class people skills, strategic mindset, and emotional intelligence.
- Strong understanding of the local community and non-profit landscape.
- Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and environments.
- Ability to communicate effectively with diverse staff, volunteers, donors, and community members.
Minimum Education and Experience
- At least 7-10 years of experience in an operations role, with a minimum of five years in a management or leadership capacity.
