Director of Operations - 1871

Hiring Company:

1871 - http://www.1871.com/

Location:

222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212, Chicago, IL

About 1871

The story of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 isn’t really about the fire. It’s about what happened next: A remarkable moment when the most brilliant engineers, architects and inventors came together to build a new city. Their innovations – born of passion and practical ingenuity – shaped not just Chicago, but the modern world. What started 140 years ago continues to this day.

1871 exists to inspire, equip, and support founders in building great businesses. We deliver unfair advantages at scale to our founders. The team supports ~500 young companies made up of Chicago’s brightest digital designers, engineers and entrepreneurs shaping new technologies, disrupting old business models, and resetting the boundaries of what’s possible.

Come to a place where you can share ideas, make mistakes, partner with others, work hard, grow professionally and, with a little luck, change the world. If that sounds like you, join us.

The Role:

1871 is seeking a capable and passionate, multi-faceted individual to serve as Director of Operations. The Director of Operations is an enthusiastic, upbeat go-getter who enjoys a rapid paced start-up environment, is a proven people leader, likes getting things done on a daily basis and understands the need for flexibility. This is an outstanding opportunity for someone who believes in our mission, is excited about working to support entrepreneurs, and can thrive in a fast-paced, team environment. The Director of Operations reports to the Head of Member Experience. If this sounds like you, and you are eager to expand your career by immersing yourself in the #1 university affiliated incubator in the world, we look forward to hearing from you.

Responsibilities:

• Lead a four-person team including, the Facilities and Reception teams
• Oversee the daily operations of the 140,000 square foot coworking office space
• Serve as a strategic thought partner with the leaders of the other 1871 departments, and CEO – on operational and productivity related opportunities
• Responsible for procurement of office resources and supplies as well as inventory control
• Maintain relationships with building management and service departments
• Serve as a point person for all operational contracts (AV, IT, construction, security)
• Oversee all tenant moves in and out of the private office spaces and manages all tenant requests for space updates to the offices
• Responsible for maintaining the security systems of the space, including security cameras and key access
• Update and maintain policies regarding space management when necessary
• Manage all staffing and scheduling, including full time and temporary front desk and facilities, off-hours events staff, security, maintenance, and housekeeping
• Serve as the main point of contact for all operational items relating to Momentum - this includes space/supply needs, staffing needs, seating logistics, and more
• Serve as a strategic thought partner with the Events Team on operational and productivity related opportunities in relation to event needs, event spaces, and scheduling
• Oversee the management of all items, inventory, and state of each space – this includes AV items (cords, adapters, etc.), cleanliness, setups, and more
• Serve as the main point of contact for all large scale ordering needs (i.e. furniture, electronics, etc.)
• Brainstorm and curate productivity practices in order to mainstream processes throughout the organization
• Manage tenant leases and renewals

Requirements

• Strong experience leading others
• Four-Year Degree
• The ability to work well with a team and independently
• Excellent customer service ethic and high expectations for quality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Gmail/Google Docs, and quick to learn new technologies
• Excellent communicator, both written and verbal
• Embraces and drives change; drives continuous improvement in processes, systems and culture as needs are identified
• Is flexible and capable of multitasking and prioritizing a variety of projects and time sensitive requests
• Works efficiently under pressure and meets deadlines
• Exercises good judgment, respects colleagues, and works with integrity
• Ability to be hands-on when necessary
• Commitment to continual personal learning and development

1871/CEC is an equal employment opportunity employer with a strong focus on crafting an inclusive and diverse environment. We encourage individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply for this position.

Benefits