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Executive Director - FORGE

    Do you want to be part of shaping the future of Topeka and Shawnee County? FORGE, Topeka and Shawnee County’s leading talent attraction and retention organization for young professionals, is seeking an Executive Director. The organization is responsible for a large piece of the community’s holistic economic development strategy, Momentum 2022. With strong support from the FORGE Leadership Team and the Greater Topeka Partnership, the Executive Director deploys innovative strategies to assist the community in building and retaining a talent pipeline better than the rest! This work is transformative and will be a catalyst for moving Topeka to the next level.

    FORGE provides unique and engaging opportunities for young professionals to network among peers, serve as a resource to local companies interested in growing their workforce, and market the quality of life and unique experiences available in the community. Forge’s dynamic volunteer leadership team consistently works to pursue new and innovative ways to help young talent experience everything Topeka and Shawnee County has to offer. The Executive Director works to identify strategies to help make our community the kind of place that talented young people wouldn’t dream of leaving.  

    Job Classification: Exempt, Full-Time

    Work Schedule: The Executive Director will attend all Forge events, committee meetings and sub-committee meetings, in addition to other program duties outlined below.

    Reporting Relationship: Chair of the Management Committee and the SVP, Economic Development of GO Topeka

    Primary Accountabilities:

    The Executive Director of Forge will work with the Chair and members of the Forge steering committee to direct, design and implement the young professionals’ program for the Topeka/Shawnee County community.  This position oversees event planning and execution, program strategy per Momentum 2022, program marketing and communications, volunteer coordination, program sponsorships and administrative duties related to the young professionals’ program.

    Major Duties:

    • Manages the business plan for the Forge program, with assistance from the Forge Steering Committee.
    • Ensures all details for committee meetings and Forge events and programs are complete, which includes following up with sponsoring firms, arranging meals, preparing audio-visual equipment and all other event details.
    • Collaborates with the Greater Topeka Partnership (“GTP”) Chairs Council and other team members in determining organizational goals and objectives.
    • Secures and tracks (with assistance from Forge members) sponsorships for operations and events, The Forge manager is responsible for recognizing those individuals and businesses that contribute to the program.
    • Maintains a database of Forge membership, in cooperation with the administrative assistant assigned to Forge, including event reservations, membership payments, name badges and other reports as necessary.
    • Communicates relevant information regarding Forge to Forge and GTP members, the media, the GTP Chairs Council, the GO Topeka board and GTP staff.
    • Collaborates with the Forge chair and Vice President of Communications to respond to media inquiries about the program. The Executive Director of Forge will also convey GTP policies and procedures to the Forge steering committee as appropriate
    • Oversees the budget and performance goals for the Forge program. Ensures performance goals are achieved on an ongoing basis.
    • Evaluates ongoing programs for effectiveness and relevance and explores possible future programming including internships and workforce development.
    • Demonstrates excellence in meeting and event planning through effective and efficient implementation of the young professionals’ program.
    • Performs additional duties as assigned.

    Qualifications:

    • Bachelor’s degree, preferably in communications, public relations or business, is preferred.
    • Five (5) years of relevant work experience is preferred.
    • Previous experience in meeting and event planning, communications and fundraising are required.
    • Strong computer and word processing skills, in particular Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Experience with Access is desired.
    • Ability to work both independently and in team settings.
    • Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with staff, the business community and business prospects.
    • Ability to work efficiently with attention to details and quality of work produced.
    • Ability to exercise good judgment in setting priorities and organization of work load.
    • Ability to work on a variety of tasks and to perform a variety of administrative duties, such as typing, database management, word processing and processing paperwork.

    Physical Demands:

    • Ability to stand and walk frequently.
    • Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
    • Ability to read computer screens and mail, email, talk on the phone.
    • Ability to unpack and move supplies up to thirty (30) lbs.
    • Ability to work some evenings and weekends and attend events as required.

    Work Environment:

    • Professional and deadline-oriented environment in an office setting.
    • Interaction with staff, members and the general public.

    Additional Duties:

    Additional duties and responsibilities may be added to this job description at any time.

    The job description does not state or imply that these are the only activities to be performed by the employee(s) holding this position.  Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related responsibilities as requested by their supervisor.

    If building the talent pipeline of Topeka and Shawnee County and helping our community grow is something you or someone you know is passionate about, visit www.HRPartnersks.com to apply.

    Post live until 01/10/2020