Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600 schools and employing approximately 40,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Family and Community Engagement (FACE) partners with parents/guardians, educators, local businesses, churches, community organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen the connections between our schools and our communities and improve educational outcomes for all students.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Accountability and Engagement, the Title I Manager will manage the Title I team to ensure CPS, State and Federal grant fidelity. This role will track and support compliance and spending, train parent leaders, and offer parent engagement support to schools.

The Title I Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Manage Program Coordinator responsible for developing and distributing compliance tools, templates and process designs that are user-friendly and accessible for school leaders, FACE Specialists and Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) to meet key compliance deliverables.
• Oversee compliance process, including management of the trackers, compliance communications for school administrators/chiefs, engagement of Budget & Grants offices, and leading parent engagement efforts.
• Collaborate and consult with internal partners to fortify Title I Parent Engagement Policy & Programming.
• Provide expertise, guidance and support for annual fall compliance meetings.
• Attend the Principals’ Annual meetings to provide accountability around the CIWP Title I engagement protocols & budget and seek parent feedback on the use of Title I funds.
• Attend PAC Organizational meetings to elect PAC officers, identify PAC meeting dates, and approve the Title I Budget Plan secure from parents about its use.
• Manage and implement a comprehensive and fair PBG selection process that reflects district equity values.
• Provide monthly Title I guidance to parents across the district around relevant Title I grant components and parent leadership development topics.
• Develop and maintain relationships with FACE leadership and team members.
• Train FACE Specialists on Title I policies, procedures and compliance engagement best practices.
• Conduct comprehensive research, and perform various complex analyses to create trending reports on expenditures, Title I topics of interest, and identify school leader needs and supports.
• Other duties as assigned.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Title I Manager must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required; Focus in Social Justice, Public Affairs, Communications, or a related field of study preferred
• Master’s degree strongly preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience building partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and crisis management required
• Minimum of two (2) years of professional work experience in a leadership role required
• Knowledge of or the ability to quickly learn CPS systems
• Bilingual (Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Mandarin, or Urdu) preferred

Other Requirements:

• Occasional evening and weekend hours work required
• Access to reliable transportation to travel within the City of Chicago

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to adhere to performance guidelines as established by senior leadership
• Ability to think broadly and translate ideas into realistic, actionable plans
• Exceptional communication skills (writing, verbal, interpersonal skills, public speaking)
• Keen analytical skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated excellent time management skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities
• Ability to synthesize and apply information for different audiences
• Proficient in meeting facilitation
• Demonstrated skills in trend analysis to identify issues and make sound recommendations proactively
• Knowledge of Chicago’s communities
• Ability to navigate work with integrity, sensitivity and respect for various personalities, roles and authority, community dynamics, and political implications
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders
• Proficient computers and software skills, including but not limited to Google Suite and Zoom

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.