Career and Technical Education (CTE), Cluster Manager

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third largest school district in the United States, serving over 360,000 students at 600+ schools. CPS employs over 34,000 people, more than half of whom are teachers, and has set ambitious goals to ensure that every childin every school and every neighborhoodhas access to a world-class learning experience, resulting in graduation from high school college- and career-ready. And CPS students are making incredible progress. Recently, CPS announced a record-high graduation rate of 77.5% and boasts some of the fastest learning growth in the nation among large cities.

Summary of Primary Duties and Responsibilities of Position:

Develop, innovate and oversee the implementation and management of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for specific career clusters in CPS high schools. This includes working with the CTE Curriculum, Instruction, & Work-based Learning Director to assess labor market and student demand to determine industry priorities, selection and development of new CTE programs, evaluation of current programs. The CTE Cluster Manager will lead a team of Instructional Support Specialists (coaches), Curriculum Specialist and Work-Based Learning Specialist to ensure that CTE students, teachers, administrators are supported with standardize, modern curriculum, pedagogical best practices and meaningful and relevant work-based learning opportunities. The CTE Cluster Manager will create, monitor, evaluate and strategically improve the collaboration of the aforementioned support provided.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The CTE Cluster Manager will lead a cross-functional team in specific CTE disciplines to in order to:

1. Develop short-term and long-term strategic vision and annual implementation plans to build strong CPS CTE programs in specific career clusters.
   
   
2. Manage curriculum creation and revision, coaching support, professional development and work-based learning for CTE stakeholders.
   
   
3. Contribute to annual CTE program portfolio development decisions with CTE Leadership and CPS Facilities, including program expansion and closure recommendations based on a broad range of decision criteria.
   
   
4. Conduct regular program evaluation to drive program/ student improvement
   
   
5. Support the design and implementation of industry- and postsecondary-validated curriculum and assessments for specific career clusters, incorporating components such as project-based learning, work experience, citywide competitions, and integration with core academics and 21 st Century Employability Skills.
   
   
6. Coordinating and leading the Cluster team to oversee a broad range of professional development for CPS CTE teachers in specific career clusters, offering PD and coaching in large groups, small groups, and 1-on-1 capacities throughout the school year, ensuring that CTE school staff are up-to-date on industry and instructional best practices.
   
   
7. Partner with CPS Business Operations and EFE Systems teams to ensure equipment and materials are current and in working order as well as purchase requisitions are approved based on dictates of curriculum. Support new CTE program set up at schools by working in conjunction with Business Operations, Strategy & Performance, EFE Systems teams and CPS Facilities
   
   
8. Collaborate with Network Liaisons and other stakeholders to ensure effective outreach/student recruitment for CTE programs.
   
   
9. Collaborate with other high school programs and student support services to integrate CTE and effectively serve the needs of the whole student (e.g., Counseling, College & Career Coaching, Credit Recovery, etc.) Collaborate with Principals and Network Officers to drive program/student success.
   
   
10. Maintain ongoing partnership with ISBE CTE EFE Systems Manager to advocate for resources needed and ensure ongoing alignment with state-level efforts.
    
    
11. Project and programmatic planning including coordinating appropriate student transportation, overseeing the travel approval process for both students, CTE teachers, and CTE Cluster team members in coordination with CTE Business Operations, EFE Systems and CTE Curriculum Instruction & Work-based Learning Director, as well as adhering to grant/CPS policies and guidelines.
    
    
12. Supervise and develop CTE team oversight and ongoing coaching to ensure achievement of performance and development goals.
    
    

Qualifications:

Skills:

1. Project planning capabilities, including the ability to establish long-term vision and goals, and the ability to align and manage activities toward execution of identified goals.
   
   
2. Strong team-building skills, i.e., ability to develop high-performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success.
   
   
3. Self-starter with ability to conduct multiple projects concurrently, both independently and as a member of a collaborative team.
   
   
4. Ability to build trusting relationships and function effectively at the school level, central office level, and with external partners in business, postsecondary, and government.
   
   
5. Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps.
   
   
6. Willingness to learn and adapt in the midst of new and shifting priorities with a 'can-do,' solutions-oriented approach to problem solving.
   
   
7. Strong written, verbal, organizational, and technology skills.
   
   
8. Possess a track record of success as demonstrated by superior academic and professional achievement.
   
   
9. Knowledge of CTE including employment trends and/or educational best practices preferred.
   
   

Type of Experience and Number of Years:

Type of Education Required:

• Required: Bachelors degree in education, social sciences, business, public policy, or related field.
  
  
• Preferred: Masters degree.
  
  

Type of Experience and Number of Years:

• Required: Three or more years of professional experience. Two or more years direct supervisory experience managing people.
  
  
• Preferred: Experience in a large organization, driving complex projects requiring significant cross-functional collaboration. Experience developing and implementing outcomes-based programs for urban students. Experience in Career and Technical Education (CTE), teaching and/or administrative.
  
  

Other:

• Must have access to reliable transportation to aid in site visits.
  
  

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.