Director, Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management

About North Park

Founded in 1891, North Park University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of over 3,200 students from around the country and the world.

North Park University is located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the United States. It is nine miles from downtown Chicago. The North Park campus has often been referred to as an oasis in the heart of the city – a place where students from urban, rural, and suburban backgrounds alike can call home. And all of this within the major metropolitan backdrop of Chicago: one of the world’s largest and most diversified economies, renowned for its museums and music, and voted best large city in the U.S. for four years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler.

Mission

The mission of North Park University is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.

Vision

Building on our core institutional identity—Christian, city-centered, intercultural—our vision is to create a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight for the Axelson Center, including collaborative planning for all programs including the annual symposium,/conference; the BootCamp for New Nonprofit CEOs; all workshops/webinars; custom training programs, and other new initiatives as they are developed.
• Manage the Axelson Center budget lines and cost center.
• Provide leadership for the ongoing development of the Axelson Center Advisory Board and provide strategic direction for the Center.
• Manage the awards programs including the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence, and the Excellent Emerging Awards programs include obtaining financial support, recruiting nomination and selection teams, and directing the selection process.
• Direct the innovation process for new revenue-enhancing, yet mission-related, programs in the nonprofit management area.
• Secure annually Axelson Center-related sponsorship funding (to help offset Symposium and other program-related expenses).
• Expand the network of Axelson Center and SBNM (School of Business and Nonprofit Management) within the nonprofit sector – both locally and nationally as a strategy to enhance the brand as a major contributor and resource to the sector, always utilizing the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion. (The ongoing relationship building with Chicago area nonprofit leaders, funders, and other capacity building entities has become a cornerstone of the Axelson Center and what helps to keep it strong, and a “brand” known for the quality of its programs, and its customer service and program execution.
• Represent the Axelson Center at professional events, both locally and nationally as appropriate. Continue to strengthen the Axelson Center’s marketing strategies and execution to ensure remaining at the forefront as a leader of nonprofit management education and resources.
• Supervise Axelson Center employees.
• Assist with the development and building of the Axelson Endowment Fund in coordination with the Office of Development.

SBNM (School of Business and Nonprofit Management) Role:

• Serve as the anchor nonprofit management lead faculty person for all SBNM nonprofit programs (degree, certificates). (Teaching as well as course/nonprofit program development – online and in-person.)
• Attend all appropriate events, such as SBNM faculty meetings, Axelson Center Advisory Board meetings, SBNM Advisory Board meetings, Axelson Center Symposium/Conference(s), and North Park University graduation ceremonies.
• Teach each year in the area of Nonprofit Management within SBNM.

• A master’s degree required. Ph.D. degree preferred.
• Ten years of nonprofit experience required, preferably in a leadership role providing experience in strategic planning, program development/oversight, budget responsibilities, staff supervision.
• Support for the intercultural vision for North Park University and integration of such a lens in development and execution of all Axelson Center programs.
• Experience teaching post-secondary and graduate-level students.
• The ability to effectively communicate with students, administrators, faculty and staff members, and outside constituencies (including building strong networks in the nonprofit community).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.
• Personal commitment to North Park’s mission of Christian higher education.

Preferred

• Openness to teach in a variety of settings/methodologies (e.g., online, non-credit seminars, webinars, off-site)
• A developmental understanding of post-secondary and graduate level students and a desire to facilitate and encourage this development in a supportive and service-oriented environment.