Manager, Postsecondary Initiatives

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has set ambitious goals to ensure that every child - in every school and every neighborhood - has access to a world-class learning experience from birth, resulting in graduation from high school college and career ready.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The Manager for Postsecondary Initiatives has the overall responsibility of managing key postsecondary preparation initiatives, strategies and activities in the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising (OSCPA).

The Position is responsible for implementing targeted strategies that support Chicago Public School (CPS) students, staff and administrators. Chief among the responsibilities is to provide oversight and direct service to support Naviance, Postsecondary Seminars and academic/enrichment initiatives designed to impact schools college-going culture and student outcomes.

1. Principal Accountabilities - Manage key postsecondary initiatives utilizing appropriate systems of support to drive effective implementation and operation with fidelity:
   
   

1. Manage the ongoing implementation and optimization of the district-wide Naviance system
   
   
2. Manage data tracking processes, such as Postsecondary KPIs and ILP completion, that are conducted via Naviance
   
   
3. Manage the ongoing implementation of the Thrive-CPS Senior Seminar pilot
   
   
4. Develop, schedule, and administer professional development events pertaining to Naviance, senior seminar, and other strategic initiatives
   
   
5. Lead relevant RFP processes, including solicitation, vendor selection, and contract negotiation for OSCPA
   
   
6. Serve as the CPS liaison on the Thrive Chicago Senior Seminar Change Network
   
   
7. Assist in developing and implementing systems and strategies that address college persistence
   
   
8. Represent executive director in meetings, as appropriate, with university partners, community-based organizations, and external access partners as it relates to OSCPA
   
   
9. Provide overall strategic and project planning support to OSCPA executive director and other specialists and managers as needed
   
   
10. Drive the development, and ongoing review, maintenance and support of OSCPA direct services and programs across CPS high schools
    
    
11. Coordinate with the College and Career Specialists, Network Master Counselors, and other school-based staff on strategic projects
    
    
12. Create presentations and briefings for varied audiences including senior leaders, network leaders and teams, and school leaders and teams
    
    
13. Co-develop and support Network/school plans in collaboration with CC Specialists, Network Chiefs, school staff
    
    
14. Establish productive relationships to ensure common understanding of the Naviance system, OSCPA postsecondary objectives and drive efforts to achieve target goals at each school. Meet regularly with Network postsecondary team and school staff to mark progress towards goals and develop strategies to improve data
    
    
15. Serve as an advisor to senior administrators, Network Chiefs, principals and school-level postsecondary teams (i.e., counselors, college coaches and internal/external postsecondary partners)
    
    
16. Collect and analyze data as needed to guide project/program direction and emphasis
    
    
17. Support counselors and coaches in developing and implementing Naviance strategies to identify and support student needs; provide targeted coaching and development around key areas of need
    
    
18. Monitor student individualized learning plans (ILP) in and completion progress at schools
    
    
19. Support efforts to house scholarships information and application detail in Naviance
    
    
20. Ensure schools are tracking key metrics such as college applications, scholarship applications, college acceptances, scholarships received, Senior Exit Questionnaire completion, etc.
    
    
21. Provide direct school support to complete the Senior Exit Questionnaire (SEQ)
    
    
22. Lead parent education of Naviance and other postsecondary initiatives
    
    

1. Additional related duties as needed
   
   

1. Associated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
   
   

• % of students accessing Naviance
  
  
• % of seniors that complete 3+ college applications
  
  
• % of seniors that apply to 1+ match institution
  
  
• % of students with college acceptances
  
  
• % students completing 1+ scholarship application
  
  
• % of students receiving scholarships for college
  
  
• Amount of overall scholarship dollars awarded to students
  
  
• % of students in grades 6-12 completing Individualized Learning Plans (ILP)
  
  
• % of Seniors completing concrete postsecondary plan
  
  
• % of students enrolled in college, enlisted in military or employed 6 months after high school graduation
  
  
• % of graduates persisting and succeeding in college or employment beyond the 1st year of participation
  
  
• % of Seniors that complete the SEQ
  
  

1. Supervision (where applicable):
   
   

• The Manager for Postsecondary Initiatives position is full-time and reports directly to the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising (OSCPA) within the Office of College and Career Success. The position is responsible for supporting and monitoring postsecondary-related initiatives, strategies and activities as assigned by the OSCPA Executive Director. The position has no direct reports.
  
  

1. Qualifications for Job:
   
   

Skills and abilities:

• Possesses an unyielding commitment to continuous improvement and an unwavering belief that all students can achieve at high levels
  
  
• Possesses some knowledge, principles and practices of academic and college/career development
  
  
• Maintains the ability to establish effective working relationships with students and parents; school, network and central office staff; and representatives from universities, businesses, government and community-based organizations
  
  
• Strong communicator: speaking, listening and writing
  
  
• Has a proven track record leading large-scale programs and/or projects
  
  
• Demonstrates a sense of urgency in accomplishing goals and objectives to ensure success
  
  
• Proficient in Windows Operating System and MS Office; strong internet skills
  
  
• Planning and budgeting capabilities
  
  
• Team player
  
  
• Ability to develop and maintain partnerships
  
  
• Must have a car, valid driver's license, and availability to work occasional evenings and weekends
  
  

Experience and Education Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field required, Master's degree preferred
  
  
• 4+ years of project management, youth development and programming experience
  
  
• 2+ years of postsecondary (college and career) related work experience