Project Manager

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third-largest school district in the United States, serving over 350,000 students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 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.

Chicago Public Schools' Talent Office is growing and we are in need of a motivated and adaptable individual to support our TeachChicago Tomorrow initiative. TeachChicago Tomorrow is an initiative focused on diversifying the CPS teacher pipeline. The TeachChicago Tomorrow Project Manager will handle the project management of strategic initiatives and will ensure activities are streamlined within the team based on the priorities of the initiative. The TeachChicago Tomorrow Project Manager will also contribute to the long-term success of CPS' focus on recruiting, hiring and retaining high-quality and diverse talent.

During the 2020-21 school year, TeachChicago Tomorrow will focus on launching a new partnership between CPS and local community colleges and four-year institutions designed to give CPS graduates the opportunity to go into higher education to pursue teaching in hopes of becoming CPS teachers in the future. CPS will also seek to develop additional new partnerships with higher education institutions, community-based and nonprofit organizations that support CPS students with an interest in becoming teachers. The ideal candidate will have experience with these different stakeholder groups and the demonstrated ability to manage partners and processes within and across organizations.

The TeachChicago Tomorrow Project Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

Typical Duties/Responsibilities:

• Forecast resources needed to reach objectives and manage resources in an effective and efficient manner
  
  
• Prepare budget based on scope of work and resource requirements
  
  
• Track project costs in order to meet budget
  
  
• Develop and manage a detailed project schedule and work plan
  
  
• Prepare project updates on a consistent basis for various stakeholders about strategy, adjustments, and progress
  
  
• Manage contracts with vendors, suppliers and/or partners by assigning tasks and communicating expected deliverables
  
  
• Monitor progress and make adjustments as needed
  
  
• Measure project performance to identify areas for improvement
  
  

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

Type of Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree
  
  

Type of Experience Required:

• 5-8 years of project management and related experience
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven ability to solve problems creatively
  
  
• Strong familiarity with project management software tools, methodologies, and best practices
  
  
• Experience working with at least one of the following stakeholder groups: higher education institutions, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, student and/or parent groups
  
  
• Experience seeing projects through the full life cycle
  
  
• Excellent analytical skills
  
  
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and extremely resourceful
  
  
• Proven ability to complete projects according to outlined scope, budget, and timeline
  
  

Residency Requirement:

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and must maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.