Partnership Development Strategist

Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is at the cutting edge of CTE efforts across the nation. With a mission of preparing students for college and career success, CPS CTE initiated in 2009 a multi-year plan to significantly upgrade the quality of programming offered to our 15K+ students across 60 high schools citywide, which includes increasing work based learning opportunities. With successful outcomes following the early stages of strategy implementation and a number of groundbreaking initiatives in motion, CPS CTE has received local, state, and national recognition.

The Partnership Development Strategist works with the Partnership Development Unit to create, implement and manage the operations and data management processes for a range of work-based learning (WBL) opportunities designed to guide students in making meaningful decisions about future careers and employment. These activities include the following: mentoring, site visits, job shadow experiences, internships, and customized activities that meet partner needs and expected outcomes for students. The Strategist will collaborate with CTE and other CPS team members, external partner organizations and school-based staff to develop and implement strategies that provide work-based learning opportunities to students citywide.

In addition, the Partnership Development Strategist will help to identify, acquire and configure a software platform that will connect the workflows of information gathering, information distribution and reporting needs into a user-friendly, manageable and sustainable system that can function and adapt as the Partnership Development Team's needs and processes shift. The software platform/system will enable the team to build and define an ecosystem of web applications that consists of relevant organization and department data, the unit's process management data, communication workflows, school staff-facing apps, and reporting tools that will improve the team's processes to be seamless, accurate, clear and easily accessible to all stakeholders. Through the utilization of the software platform/system, the Strategist will help reform the ways in which the CTE department stores, accesses, manages and reviews Work-Based Learning Data, improve how the Partnership Development Unit collects and displays data from and to students and partners, and broaden the unit's visibility, and bring cohesion to the unit's messaging.

Principal Accountabilities

• Develop and manage the Partnership Development Unit's Work-Based Learning (WBL) workflows, information gathering, information distribution and reporting needs for primary annual opportunities (including Job Shadow Day and summer internships) and other opportunities as they arise
• Work with external agencies and CPS departments to ensure that all logistical and data needs are met for WBL experiences
• Develop, contribute to and execute digital and print communications strategies around WBL experiences for students, teachers, staff and partner
• Provide technical and logistical support for the Partnership Development Liaisons, CTE teachers, CTE staff, partners and students
• Maintain strong relationships with existing partners, respond to intake requests from potential partners to shape work-based learning opportunities for students, and develop sources for new partnerships.
• Collaborate with CTE team and teachers to align career-related activities to the curriculum as well as to develop targeted approaches to partner engagement

Position Description Summary

• Support data collection on outputs related to partnership activity.
• Utilize project planning tools, processes, and structures as defined by the Senior Manager, Workforce and Partnership Development to maintain high-quality and consistent implementation standards.
• Adhere to guidelines and policies established for child labor practices and CPS risk management procedures.
• Perform additional related partnership development activities as designated by the Senior Manager, Workforce and Partnership Development.

Dimensions for the Job:

Key Job Dimension (e.g., Budget)

Size or Magnitude

WBL Process Implementation

1000+ WBL opportunities yearly

Supervision (where applicable):

Exempt

Non-Exempt

Number of Direct Reports:

N/A

N/A

Total Number in Group Supervised:

N/A

N/A

Describe Supervisory Responsibilities:

Listing of Titles of Direct Reports:

Qualifications for Job:

Skills:

• Project planning capabilities, including ability to establish long-term vision and goals, and experience aligning and managing activities toward execution of identified goals.
• Ability to build trusting relationships and function effectively in various environments
• Self-starter with ability to conduct multiple projects concurrently while still maintaining high standards and quality results, both independently and as a member of a collaborative team.
• Ability and willingness to learn and adapt quickly amidst new and shifting priorities.
• 'Can-do,' solutions-oriented approach to problem solving.
• Exceptional technology, written, verbal, and organizational skills
• Ability to communicate technical information to a non-technical audience in a clear and straightforward manner; ability to communicate progress and potential challenges mid-project to supervisor and other team members.
• A track record of success as demonstrated by superior academic and professional achievement.
• Some knowledge of career and technical education including employment trends and/or educational best practices.
• Significant experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, databases and Salesforce.

Type of Education Required: BA/BS from an accredited institution required, MA/MS preferred. Concentration in Information Technology, Public Administration, Marketing, Sales, or related field preferred.

Type of Experience and Number of Years: Four to six years of professional experience in sales, marketing, fundraising, community outreach, information technology or related field required.

Other: Automobile needed; Available for occasional after-school and weekend work.

Terms of Employment:

• CPS employees are required to be actual residence 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 non-immigrant and immigrant visas.
• Chicago Public Schools is an EEO/AA Employer. All qualified individuals, including minorities, females, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.