The Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs is a coordinated effort to assess Chicago's economy and help it expand at a faster rate. It provides a set of goals, a framework for research and analysis, and strategies for which actionable initiatives are being developed.

Plan for Economic Growth & Jobs: Pro Bono Fellowship Application

The Plan for Economic Growth & Jobs (PEGJ) Implementation Team is seeking candidates for Fellowship roles. Fellows will be supported by their sponsor organizations throughout the program and will be provided the opportunity to work full-time for 3 – 6 months directly with PEGJ leadership and additional senior business, non-profit and civic leaders that have stakes in the results of each strategy.

 

Fellowship candidates should:

 

• Hold a manager-level role or higher in their respective organizations
• Hold a graduate degree in a relevant field - OR - have at least 3 – 5 years of industry experience
• Be high-performing “stars” within their organizations
• Have excellent project management skills
• Have extensive experience presenting to and leading discussions with senior business, non-profit and civic leaders
• Have strong problem solving, analytical, influencing, interpersonal and oral communications skills
• Be a strong writer with the ability to develop clear and concise storylines

Expertise related to a specific strategy (e.g. manufacturing, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, etc.) is valuable but not a necessity.

 

“We are fortunate to have an incredibly engaged business community in Chicago. Our private sector’s loyalty to Chicago is imperative to our economic development efforts, and this Fellowship Program will provide one more way for our corporate community to give back and help advance our city.”

-Rita Athas, President, World Business Chicago

 

Each Fellow will be assigned to one of the Ten Transformative Strategies laid out in the Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs. Fellows will work for 3 – 6 months to further develop and accelerate the launch of one (or possibly more) initiatives related to their strategy. Wave 3 of the Chicago Economic Growth Fellowship Program begins on September 9, 2013.

Fellows will be co-located in the WBC office (177 N. State St., Chicago) along with supporting analysts and the Plan Implementation Team. They will build a cohort of colleagues and learn from one another to cross-pollinate ideas across the strategies through weekly Fellows meetings, team strategy sessions, and regular luncheons. They will also build strong relationships with leaders in the private, civic, and public sectors. Ultimately, we believe this experience will help Fellows grow professionally in their careers and as emerging leaders for Chicago.

 

Application Materials

 

A completed application includes a letter of support from your current employer, your resume, a 2-3 page proposal for an initiative that serves one of the Ten Transformative Strategies, and contact information for three professional references. All application materials should be submitted on this website; if you have trouble with the interface please attach them to an email and send to plan@worldbusinesschicago.com. All applications for Wave 3, which begins in September of 2013, are due by July 12, 2013:

 

 

A 2-3 page proposal for an initiative that serves one of the Ten Transformative Strategies. (Note: if you are selected as a Fellow, you will not necessarily work on the initiative you propose.)