Marketing & Events Coordinator

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third largest school district in the United States, serving over 370,000 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. Five core principles are embedded within these commitments - high quality, rigorous instruction, talented and empowered educators, safety and support, financial stability and collective impact.

Reporting to the Director of Partnerships, and in partnership with the Executive Director of Children First Fund, the Marketing Events Coordinator will manage the internal and external communications, digital and social media, and event coordination efforts as the Children First Fund is relaunched as a proactive fundraising entity in support of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). In this role, the Marketing and Events Coordinator will highlight and celebrate meaningful existing CPS partnerships, creatively engage potential new donors and partners, and coordinate partner events, contributions, and campaigns.

Your Impact:

• Establish new marketing and engagement strategies for leveraging philanthropy at all giving levels to increase Chicagoans' connection to the city's schools and youth to build public trust and investment in Chicago's future and CPS' continued success.
  
  
• Build brand awareness, engage and grow our audience, and tell the stories of Children's First Fund in a way that achieves the CFF/CPS fundraising and partnership goals.
  
  
• Implement CFF's rebrand across multiple platforms, including the launch of a new website and social media channels in fall of 2018.
  
  

The Marketing & Events Coordinator is expected to successfully oversee and/or perform the following responsibilities:

Digital and Social Media Platform and Content Management:

• Develop and execute a strategy to drive engagement to diverse audiences through CFF's website, via email and multiple social media sites with an emphasis on increasing traffic to improve branding, awareness, and in-kind donations, and partner commitments.
  
  
• Ideate, write, and produce timely and inspiring digital and social content that engages CFF's diverse audiences, and supports district programming, event, and school-based fundraising campaigns.
  
  

• Draft and schedule outreach and social media posts across various channels, including CFF newsletter, blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
  
  
• Identify and execute on opportunities for creative and compelling digital content, messaging and storytelling, working closely with CPS departments and external partners.
  
  
• Develop an editorial calendar segmented to specific donor and partner populations; coordinate execution, including brainstorming, drafting, editing and approvals, setup, tracking analytics, and evaluation.
  
  
• Maintain the CFF website through use of a web editing tool and ensures the site is always current and accurate, contains relevant graphic design, and upload of new content and images.
  
  
• Engage and build social networks and e-mail lists to build strong relationships with donors & promote campaigns
  
  
• Evaluate effectiveness of ongoing digital marketing and fundraising campaigns and use insights for continual improvement.
  
  
• Manage emerging fundraising channels (such as crowdfunding and/or peer-to-peer) and suggest strategies that harness these newer marketing opportunities.
  
  

Communications and Event Support:

• Support the development of compelling collateral and presentations to use with internal and external stakeholders that reinforce CFF/CPS vision and funding priorities to be used by CFF, the CFF Board of Directors, Dr. Jackson, members of the Board of Education, and CPS department heads.
  
  
• Support the development of external and internal communications and correspondence (e.g. donor recognition letters, CPS all staff emails, newsletters, etc.)
  
  
• Support daily relationship and activation with private sector, non-profit, and local pro sports team partners.
  
  
• Coordinate annual CPS marquee fundraising campaigns; one-time, distinct events, field trips, contributions and in-kind donations; and large-scale program logistics for partner events
  
  
• Work directly with schools to identify school/network candidates for financial and in-kind gifts, and manage logistics of donation such as contests, school visits, field trips, press conferences/events, etc.
  
  
• Develop annual reports and other program results materials or presentations for partners/sponsors.
  
  
• Coordinate with other CPS departments for the successful implementation of partnership opportunities including legal, facilities, safety and security, network office and communications.
  
  
• Perform other related duties as requested and required for the success of the Children First Fund and CPS Office of External Affairs.
  
  

Type of Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications or similar field.
  
  

Type of Experience Required :

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in online marketing and/or social media.
  
  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
  
  
• Must be extremely organized with the ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously with attention to quality and detail.
  
  
• Experience working with a web content management system (CMS).
  
  
• Creative, strategic thinker who applies an audience-centered approach to marketing.
  
  
• Self-starter with the ability to manage multiple projects, and to work both within teams and independently.
  
  
• Experience with photography, video editing and creating video for social media a plus.
  
  
• Must embrace the mission of providing equitable access to high quality educational opportunities for every Chicago Public School student and be self-motivated in pursuit of this goal.
  
  

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 his or her CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.