City Council Liaison
Chicago Public Schools - Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60601
Work at Chicago Public Schools
Overview
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Overview
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third-largest school district in the United States, serving over 340,000 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. Six core values are embedded within these commitments
student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) advocates for CPS students at every level of government to shape education policy and secure external resources, including Intergovernmental Agreements with the City of Chicago and its sister agencies, state capital funding, and federal funding. IGA advances the CPS agenda before the Chicago City Council, Illinois General Assembly, and in Washington, D.C., and partners with the City of Chicago, the Illinois state legislature, and other entities to secure financial opportunities to advance the district's goals. Reporting to the Executive Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, the City Council Liaison is responsible for putting forth and executing the Chicago Public Schools' agenda at the local City Council level. The position responds to matters raised by all public sectors as they relate to City Council legislative actions having an impact on the Chicago Public Schools' policies and operations. The City Council Liaison will be held accountable for the following responsibilities: Assists senior management in planning, aligning, and managing the legislative and strategic directions of the department with the Chicago Public Schools' interests and objectives Collaborates with the IGA team and Central Office leadership to create a CPS city council agenda Coordinates unit activities with those of other Chicago Public Schools' units and outside agencies and organizations Directs the municipal activities of the department pursuant to the interests of the Chicago Public Schools Provides liaison services to the Chicago City Council and other local agencies pursuant to the interests of the Chicago Public Schools Advocates on behalf of schools to receive local revenue funding through Aldermanic Menu funding, Open Space Impact Fees, and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Co-leads the community engagement efforts around capital projects approved in CPS' Capital Budgets Assist the Facilities team with addressing Aldermanic facility concerns Monitors and reports to the Chief Officer of Public Policy, and other department heads on the activities of the Chicago City Council Serves as primary liaison to members of the Chicago City Council, facilitating meetings and briefings and managing and facilitating requests Other duties as assigned In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the City Council Liaison must possess the following qualifications: Type of Education Required: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university required Type of Experience Required: Minimum of five (5) years of experience in community relations matters or intergovernmental programs, including a minimum of three (3) years partnering with government agencies and/or municipalities Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of city legislative procedures, functions, and committee organizational structure Knowledge of the TIF process Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills Exceptional interpersonal skills Strong negotiation skills Effective strategic planning capabilities, including the ability to establish long-term vision and goals, and align/manage activities toward goal fulfillment Strong leadership and team-building skills, e.g. ability to develop high-performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success Ability to build collaborative relationships with Aldermen and city stakeholders Ability to define problems and outline valid conclusions and action steps Demonstrate high levels of integrity, honesty, credibility, and decision-making abilities 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 their CPS hire date and must maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.