Chief Communications Officer

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third-largest school district in the United States, serving over 340,000 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.

Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Communications Officer leads CPS's communications for external and internal audiences, including development and execution of a multi-faceted communications and public relations strategy to advance CPS's mission and vision goals. The position is a key member of the Cabinet Leadership Team.

The Chief Communications Officer will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a strategic communications plan that provides proactive, digital, and reactive communications efforts to support and help deliver on CPS's strategic plan.
• Oversee and manage press, digital, internal and external communications teams.
• Oversee and prioritize communications activities to both external and internal audiences in support of key CPS priorities.
• Oversee and direct development of materials aligned with the organization's priorities and agenda, including Board of Education priorities, press releases, fact sheets, reports, website content, social media content, and all other communications as directed by the CEO, Board of Education (BOE), and other members of the CPS leadership team.
• Provide strategic counsel on communications issues to senior leadership, Board of Education, and subject matter experts. Collaborate closely with senior leadership to leverage and maximize message discipline and narrative in support of the CPS's policy goals
• Manage media relations; including working with media for the purpose of informing the public of an organization's mission, policies and practices in a positive, consistent and credible manner; coordinating directly with persons responsible for producing the news and features in the mass media; building the critical and necessary organizational relationships with members of the press and media
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the CEO, CTO, or Board of Education.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Chief Communications Officer must possess the following qualifications:

Type of Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, required. Focus in c ommunications, journalism, marketing, public admin, or related field is preferred.

Type of Experience Required:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of communications experience at a mid to large-level organization, including demonstrated experience as a high-level communications professional in a leadership position.
• Five (5) years of senior leadership and management experience, including leading large teams and complex change management efforts
• Experience working in government, politics or the non-profit/education arena required.
• Experience with multi-year strategic planning and budgeting.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of policy and political landscape including how communications can be used to condition the environment and impact policy.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with news media as well as experience leading multi-faceted strategic digital, internal and external communications campaigns.
• Strong communicator; possess excellent speaking, listening and writing skills.
• Documented storytelling experience and abilities; must be able to present to Executive, Board and City leadership.
• Possesses exemplary leadership qualities, with expertise in leadership improvement, building effective teams, coaching, and ensuring professional growth for all its team members.
• Has a proven track record leading and executing large-scale, sustainable communications campaigns, as well as direct experience running related change management activities.
• Demonstrates a sense of urgency and ability to work expeditiously in a deadline driven environment.
• Understands how to use multiple sources of data to inform strategy.
• Ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success.
• Demonstrates skill in the development and maintenance of effective working relationships with all levels of executive and managerial personnel, various governmental agencies, and other key stakeholders.

Other Terms of Employment:

• CPS employees are required to be residents of the City of Chicago within six months of beginning employment, and are required to maintain Chicago residency throughout employment.
• Chicago Public Schools is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment based nonimmigrant and immigrant visas.