Director of Networks & Community Partnerships

About Enlace Chicago: 

Enlace Chicago convenes, organizes, and builds the capacity of stakeholders of Little Village to confront systemic inequities and barriers to economic and social access. For more than 35 years, Enlace Chicago has been a steadfast anchor in Little Village—championing opportunities, improving lives, and partnering for lasting change. We advance health, protect human rights, empower futures, build peace, and foster resilience for families across the community. Enlace leads multiple collaborative networks including the Little Village Neighborhood Network, Violence Prevention Collaborative, Little Village Youth Safety Network, Little Village Education Collaborative, Little Village Immigration Collaborative, and PAES (Promoviendo, Abogando y Educando por la Salud). These networks unite partners across schools, community-based organizations, health providers, elected officials, and resident leaders. Together, we work to create strong schools, healthy families, safe streets, and a thriving community rooted in dignity and justice. 

Position Overview: 

The Director of Networks & Community Partnerships is a senior leader responsible for driving collaboration, alignment, and collective impact across Enlace’s network coalitions. This person leads strategy, capacity-building, and partner coordination to advance the goals of the Little Village Quality of Life Plan and Neighborhood Network. 

The Director oversees all programmatic, administrative, and budgetary functions of the networks while ensuring meaningful community voice, strong partner engagement, transparent communications, and authentic collaboration across sectors. This position manages key network and Enlace collaboratives staff (including Violence Prevention Collaborative Manager and the Little Village Neighborhood Network Coordinator), supports cross-departmental initiatives, represents Enlace in the community and with funders, and ensures that systems, partnerships, and programs move forward with clarity, purpose, and accountability. 

The Director reports to the Executive Director on an interim basis.

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership & Coalition Management 

• Lead the overall vision, strategy, and execution of the Little Village Neighborhood Network and other Enlace collaboratives.
• Facilitate steering committees, coalition-wide meetings, and subcommittees to ensure alignment, transparent decision-making, and steady progress on collective goals. 
• Develop, implement, and monitor annual strategic plans and work plans, ensuring strong community leadership and partner participation. 
• Strengthen and expand partnerships that advance safe, healthy, thriving neighborhoods.

Partnership Development & Community Engagement 

• Build strong relationships with partners, schools, residents, and local institutions to ensure integrated, community-centered services. 
• Serve as a primary representative of Enlace and its networks to funders, public agencies, coalitions, and community stakeholders.
• Create meaningful volunteer and engagement opportunities for corporate, community, and institutional partners. 

Program & Operations Oversight 

• Oversee all administrative functions of the networks, including budgets, contracts, and internal/external communications. 
• Develop and manage competitive RFP processes; oversee subcontractor agreements, MOUs, reporting templates, and compliance expectations.
• Supervise and support staff including the Neighborhood Network Coordinator.
• Ensure smooth execution of programs, events, forums, and trainings—including space, translation, accessibility, outreach, and vendor management. 

Data, Reporting & Evaluation

• Partner with the Director of Data & Impact and Evaluation Manager to ensure timely and accurate data collection, quality assurance, and reporting.
• Maintain status trackers, dashboards, metrics, and quarterly updates to partners and funders.
• Prepare monthly, annual, and special reports that communicate outcomes, impact, and progress.
• Ensure compliance with all reporting requirements for grants, contracts, and partner agreements. 

Communications & Storytelling 

• Collaborate with Communications to create compelling bilingual materials that uplift the accomplishments and impact of the Neighborhood Network.
• Draft public updates, partner communications, presentations, community-facing materials, and decision packets for coalition processes. 

Cross-Departmental Leadership

• Work with Enlace’s leadership team to conceptualize and implement expanded programming aligned with community priorities.
• Ensure that network initiatives reinforce Enlace’s commitment to safety, health, education, immigration justice, and community resilience.

Core Competencies 

• Community- and equity-centered leadership.
• Relationship building & collaboration.
• Strategic thinking & follow-through.
• Facilitation & communication (bilingual strongly preferred).
• Data-informed decision-making.
• Problem solving & adaptability.
• Strong organizational and documentation habits.
• Ability to work independently and in fast-paced, multi-partner environments.

Qualifications

 Required 

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, public health, public administration, or related field 
• Minimum three years of supervisory experience.
• Experience in community-based or nonprofit coalition work, program oversight, and reporting;  some community organizing experience preferred. 
• Strong project management, facilitation, and partnership development skills. 
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, community leadership, and social justice. 
• Valid driver’s license, car insurance, and access to reliable transportation. 

Preferred 

• Bilingual English/Spanish. 
• Experience with collective impact, community networks, or multi sector partnership. 
• Comfort with data collection, spreadsheets/CRMs, and basic QA processes. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills across diverse audiences.

Compensation: The annually salary range for this position is between $90,000 and $100,000. Salary is commensurate with experience in addition to the generous benefits package listed below. 

Benefits: 

Health benefits. Enlace Chicago offers you and your family access to a low-cost comprehensive health care plan, which includes medical (Bluecross Blue Shield), dental (Guardian), and vision (VSP) coverage. Enlace Chicago also provides life insurance coverage and short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost to you with options of additional coverage. 

Retirement program. Enlace Chicago offers a voluntary 403(B) plan which begins at a 1% contribution. Enrollment is available after a 90-day grace period beginning on the first day of employment. An enrollment packet will be mailed to you. 

Paid time off. You will receive 96 hours of Upon Hire hours, which will be prorated depending on your start date. After your 3rd month, you will accrue 3.33 hours per pay period or a total of 6.66 per month. All vacation days are considered above and beyond the approved holiday schedule. Enlace has 12 paid holidays with a Holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s Day that will not be deducted from your PTO. 

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: At Enlace Chicago, we are deeply committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued. We believe that diverse perspectives are essential to addressing the complex social challenges we seek to solve, and we strive to create a culture that promotes belonging, respect, and opportunity for all. Our mission is rooted in uplifting the stories of those who have been historically marginalized, and we actively work to ensure that our programs, partnerships, and workplace reflect these values. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and encourage candidates who share our passion for social justice, equity, and inclusion to apply. 

Enlace Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. 

Deadline for submission: Open until filled.