K12 Career Pathways Project Manager

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third largest school district in the United States, serving over 360,000 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.

The OSCPA K12 Career Pathways Project Manager has the responsibility of expanding postsecondary programs and resources that aligns to the LEARN PLAN SUCCEED (LPS) high school concrete plan graduation requirement. The overall goal of the position is to expand career development services to ensure students have a path for success in college, career, and life.

The K12 Career Pathways Project Manager works in direct partnership with the LPS Director, College and Career (CC) Specialists other OCCS departments and school-based postsecondary staff to support long-range planning and execution of research-based curricular strategies, approaches and practices. This includes directing efforts to determine the education and training needs of staff and students. The career development work advances the OSCPA mission of driving a district-wide college-going culture and uses both curricular and enrichment strategies delivered through the domains of awareness, readiness, access and success.

Principal Accountabilities

• Research and implement district-wide curricular and enrichment programming tied to career education and training to support LPS
  
  
• Schedule, coordinate and administer a career development training with support of workforce development agencies and partners
  
  
• Recruit, on-board and support management of career training instructors to support the Chicago College and Career Advising Credential (CCCAC)
  
  
• Oversee course development to support advanced training of CC Specialists, school postsecondary teams and external partners
  
  
• Develop processes for assessing continuing education coursework and programs for evaluating staff performance
  
  
• Organize appropriate data systems and resources to determine short and long term career access trends
  
  
• Educate networks, school staff, students and parents of career trends and trends specific to CPS students outcomes
  
  
• Organize content specific print and online resources available to networks, school staff, students and parents
  
  
• Develop and maintain a marketing plan to promote LPS career pathways and courses offered at partner colleges and universities
  
  
• Establish and maintain an advisory committee in addition to advisory committees for ongoing program evaluation
  
  
• Align career pathways research and data to the LPS Director goals, Naviance performance objectives and grade level individual learning plan targets
  
  
• Develop and maintain open communications with school-based postsecondary teams (counselors, college coaches, external partners, etc.)
  
  
• Conduct periodic needs assessments with regional employers and student alumni
  
  
• Conduct periodic visits with business and industry employers to keep abreast of their training needs
  
  
• Support budget reconciliations for review with the Director of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising
  
  
• Work with the CC Specialists to develop and promote annual college and career fairs
  
  
• Perform other duties and assigned by the Executive Director of the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising.
  
  

Position Description Summary

The K12 Career Pathways Project Manager 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, with the specific responsibility of directly supporting central office, networks, school-based teams and associated postsecondary outcomes.

Skills and Abilities

• Possesses an unyielding commitment to continuous improvement and an unwavering belief that all students can achieve at high levels
  
  
• Possesses the 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
  
  
• Possess five or more years of professional and project management experience. Has demonstrated the ability to use a systematic way of getting things done through questioning, analysis, and follow through.
  
  
• 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
  
  
• Planning and budgeting capabilities
  
  
• Team player
  
  
• Ability to develop and maintain partnerships
  
  
• Must have access to reliable transportation
  
  

Experience and Education Required:

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

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.