Manager, Development Operations

Job Title: Manager, Development Operations
Department: Social Impact and Outreach
Reports To: Executive Director, Chicago Blackhawks Foundation
Location: Chicago / United Center (100% In-Office, no re-location assistance provided)
Hours: Standard office hours are 9:00 am - 5:00 pm / Monday - Friday, however, this position will require regular non-traditional hours (evenings, weekends, holidays) based on the events schedule. Ability to work all Chicago Blackhawks home games and additional nights/weekends is required for this position.
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
# Direct Reports: No full-time direct reports, but this role directly manages part-time game day staff.
Compensation: The budgeted annual salary for this position is $70,000. This role is eligible to participate in the company's annual bonus program.


Role Summary:

The Manager, Development Operations mobilizes and leverages Chicago Blackhawks Foundation (CBF) / Chicago Blackhawks (CBH) assets across the organization to significantly increase the Foundation’s financial resources. The Manager serves as the primary project manager to implement our fundraising strategy, operationalizing our in-arena programs as well as planning and executing our events and campaigns.

Primary Responsibilities:

Fundraising Programs (In Arena):

• Develop and execute annual plan for in-arena programs including raffles, silent auction and mystery pucks.

• Manage fundraising vendor relationships associated with raffles, silent auction and online donations.

• Manage all part-time staff (50/50 sellers) including working with Human Resources for recruitment; and overseeing their training and game night responsibilities.

Fundraising Events & Campaigns

• Act as lead project manager for the Foundation’s fundraising events;

• Coordinate internal cross-departmental working group; as well as vendor relationships.

• Execute key components of fundraising events as determined by working group during planning and development of events;

• Develop and execute corporate campaigns where the Foundation is the beneficiary, working collaboratively across the organization.

• Support Executive Director in stewardship of donors across all fundraising programs and campaigns, including tracking engagement around donations and fulfillment.

Data Management & Data Visualization

• Support Executive Director to develop and implement the annual fundraising strategy, goals and plan, aligned to the annual Foundation strategy.

• Manage all fundraising data entry with our CRM and generates reports, working collaboratively with our Finance Department.

• Develop and coordinate event/campaign briefs for CBF and Marketing team

• Responsible for executing fulfillment and communication across fundraising stakeholder audiences (tax acknowledgement letters; etc)

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

• 5-7 years of project management experience, preferred experience in fundraising stewardship and/or has a background in sports foundation/charity philanthropy

• Experience working with fundraising data systems and data visualization tools

• Strong organizational skills in order to manage people and resources to complete projects; able to multitask across complex projects and teams.

• A demonstrated ability to manage effectively towards outcomes, including setting and managing against long-term & short-term goals;

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including executive-level/constituents;

• Ability to foster a positive team culture, work well with and collaborate across teams within an organization;

• Demonstrates excellent personal motivation and encourages others to be motivated and enthusiastic; shows persistence and overcomes obstacles

• Identifies and resolves issues in a timely manner; ability to develop solutions quickly and effectively

• Ability to build trust inside and outside the organization; conduct work through honest communication and maintain the organization’s values

• Strong interpersonal skills; can effectively communicate and relate to all levels within and outside of the organization; creates and builds positive and productive relationships

• Responds quickly and effectively to changing trends and circumstances; embraces changes and welcomes fresh perspectives

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to address, adapt to, and overcome challenges in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

• Demonstrated aptitude for driving results

• Ability to adapt to occasional variations in schedule including working nights, weekends, and holidays as business needs dictate based on the event calendar.

• Demonstrates our organizational values of integrity, curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and originality.

What It’s Like Working Here:

The Chicago Blackhawks experience isn’t just on the ice. Our office, located in the United Center, promotes a fun, engaging, fast-paced and collaborative atmosphere where we can celebrate both hockey and each other. Our commitment to curating an environment where all individuals feel empowered to bring their best self to work each day can be seen throughout our organization. Whether you are a job seeker looking to join the organization, a current member of our amazing team, or someone looking to help support our mission, our goal is the same – to reimagine the potential of hockey through memorable, inclusive experiences.

Perks and Benefits:

Competitive total rewards package, full benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k matching, paid life insurance), employee assistance program (EAP), comprehensive PTO package, social events, volunteer opportunities, and learning and development. Employer-paid breakfast, lunch, dinner on game days, parking, on-site gym and training classes, access to events at the United Center and Blackhawks Ice Center, and more!

The Team:

The Chicago Blackhawks started their journey as one of the NHL’s “Original Six” professional ice hockey teams in 1926. Members of the Central Division in the NHL’s Western Conference and six-time Stanley Cup Champions (1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015), the team calls the United Center home.

Each day the Team works to uphold our mission to reimagine the potential of hockey. At its core, the team and greater organization uphold its mission through its core values centered around integrity, curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and originality. They are fiercely dedicated to evolving and delivering new and legendary fan experiences and captivating new and diverse audiences, both on and off the ice. As part of their unwavering commitment to drive impact and purpose in the Chicago community, the organization opened the Fifth Third Arena (now the Blackhawks Ice Center) (the team’s official practice facility and community space for youth hockey development), continues to make expansions to the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, and acquired the AHL team the Rockford IceHogs.

The Chicago Blackhawks continue to grow in its commitments to honor and celebrate Black Hawk's legacy by offering our platforms, making meaningful contributions, collaborating with Native American people, and reimagining ways to support the many Native American people and communities they live amongst and alongside. They engage in this work through their formal partnership with Black Hawk’s ancestral tribe, the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma, which the tribe established with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021.

The Chicago Blackhawks is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, religion or religious creed, color, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, local law, ordinance, or regulation and will not be discriminated against on these bases. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.