Program Manager, Alumni Support Initiative

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.

The Alumni Support Initiative Program Manager will assist with the implementation of sustainable initiatives to drive persistence and success of CPS senior students transitioning to Learn.Plan.Succeed. (LPS) program pathways as alumni. This role will engage all stakeholders including Chicago Public Schools departments, higher-education institutions, community-based organizations, philanthropic partners, networks teams and schools to build and leverage systems of support that will encompass data-driven alumni outcomes and K-12 scholarship programming within the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising (OSCPA) in the Office of College and Career Success.

Job Summary

The Alumni Support Initiative Program Manager will expand the existing structures within OSCPA and will coordinate systemic practices to enhance the senior students' first year experience as a CPS alum. Ensuring the real-life application of the LPS concrete postsecondary plan, this role will establish persistence strategies and transition programs to serve every 12th grade student in support of their anticipated pathway. This role will develop a premiere program that contributes to the development of a solid persistence and success plan for all CPS alumni as they embark on their LPS pathway. The Alumni Support Initiative Program Manager will report to the Director of Alumni Persistence & Success within OSCPA.

The Alumni Support Initiative Program Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Manage the development, implementation, and operations, including budget, of the Alumni Support Initiative. This includes the supervision of any staff or vendors supporting this initiative.

• Assist the Director of Alumni Persistence in developing effective district systems and strategies to monitor and track all 12th grade high school student progression after graduation and transition into first and second year experience (year 13 and 14) towards LPS pathways.

• Manage all alumni support initiative components key levers, (1) Alumni Coordinator development (2) Analysis of alumni engagement data and fiscal disbursement data analysis (3) Emergency fund approval/disbursement (4) School engagement and (5) Assist in leadership activities for the College Compact.

• Support the development of data tracking tools and drive accountability through progress monitoring and reporting alumni persistence and success programming.

• Measure the outcomes and impact of programming through documented evidence based on data including but not limited to the LPS concrete postsecondary plans, Senior Key Performance Indicators, the Senior Exit Questionnaire, Scholarship Applications, and National Student Clearinghouse Data.

• Establish strategic priorities and a continuous improvement cycle to build out the "Alumni Advising Framework"..

• Support the development of Alumni Coordinators through OSCPAs Professional Learning System that infuses advising models with tracking and resource management.

• Partner with school and network level Postsecondary Leadership Teams to create and/or provide district resources and partnerships that address individual alumni needs.

• Collaborate with the College Compact to create partnerships with Higher-Ed institutions that bridge alumni support between CPS and the college pathway and ensure data-driven accountability and synthesized support.

• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Alumni Support Initiative Program Manager must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required. Focus in Education, Social Sciences, Business, or related fields is preferred.

• Master's degree in a relevant field preferred.

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional program leadership experience in higher education (including program development, operations, and evaluation), and/or postsecondary advising

• Experience in a large organization, driving complex projects

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strategic and innovative project planning capability, including the development of long-term vision and goals, and experience driving to meet goals.

• Ability to lead school teams around a clear vision for serving our alumni, improving urban public education, and supporting student success.

• Strong analytical, strategic & systems thinking, and excellent problem solving capabilities

• Self-starter with the ability to conduct multiple projects concurrently, both independently and as a member of a collaborative team, adapting quickly amidst new and shifting priorities

• Exceptional written and verbal communication and organizational skills

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions;

• Strong technology skills and high aptitude for learning new systems; knowledge of CPS data systems preferred

• Ability to communicate research and analysis findings to a broad range of audiences including school staff, network staff, central office staff, funders, policy makers, and senior management.

• Ability to function effectively in a large, complex organization.

• A track record of success as demonstrated by superior academic and professional achievement.

• Skills in developing professional learning activities.

• Extensive knowledge of school counseling and postsecondary advising best practices..

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.

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