Senior Manager, Communications

BACKGROUND
The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund) supports public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. As an independent nonprofit organization, we partner with Chicago Public Schools, the city of Chicago, the local philanthropic community, principals, and aspiring principals to build and sustain a culture of strong leadership. For more than two decades, our supportive program and policy efforts and our willingness to innovate alongside educators have made a measurable, positive impact on the quality of leadership in schools and helped educators support student learning. In our current campaign, Chicago Leads, we will raise and invest $50 million to deepen and strengthen leadership in Chicago’s 600+ public schools.

Organizational Values

We are solutions-oriented. We approach our work with a proactive and productive mindset. Challenges are part of the work; we aim for continuous improvement.

We are collaborative. We understand that each team member relies on others to achieve goals. We ask for help when we need it and provide help when asked. The organization, as a whole, is more significant than any one of us alone.

We act with integrity. We say what we will do, and we do what we say. We are honest about what we know and what we are learning; this helps us achieve the best possible outcomes. 

We prioritize equity. Our work prioritizes leaders who serve and represent communities most directly impacted by structural racism and systematic exclusion. On our team, we actively recruit and hire for diversity in all areas of identity. Our commitments are lived out loud.

The Chicago Public Education Fund is celebrating 25 years of driving educational equity and leadership development. Building on this foundation, and amid a complex and evolving external landscape, we seeks a senior manager of communications to enhance The Fund’s impact by leading a high-performing communications team executing a best-in-class communications strategy. 

Reporting to the director of policy and public affairs, the senior manager of communications will advance The Fund’s strategy and policy objectives by leading message development and communication with key stakeholders, including principals, Chicago Public Schools leadership,  the Board of Education, educators, community leaders, elected officials, and advocacy groups. This requires orchestrating a comprehensive communications strategy that aligns with The Fund's priorities, developing a targeted and integrated messaging strategy and brand voice, and building a network of influential messengers to advance our goals. This role demands a strategic thinker with a proven track record in communications strategy development, the ability to engage key stakeholders in productive conversations, and a commitment to educational equity. 

Key responsibilities:

Leverage organizational strategy to define and own the communications strategy, brand, messaging, overall narrative, and channels for The Fund.

• Grow The Fund’s public-facing brand by articulating impact for funders, grantees, and policymakers using earned media, published reports, press relationships, and owned channels to ensure key messages reach the right audiences.
• Ensure consistent use of Fund brand assets across all internal and external contexts (e.g., from slide-deck templates to logo usage in programs).
• Define and own internal communications strategy and infrastructure for The Fund, ensuring it advances The Fund’s mission and strategic priorities. Ensure alignment of internal communications systems — Teams, emails, regular meetings, etc. — to reinforce key priorities and align teams for greater impact.
• Serve as point person for key public-facing Fund events (principal and assistant principal appreciation events, awards, etc.), including overall messaging, branding, run of show, etc.
• Define and track key metrics for the growth and reach of the above priorities (e.g., website unique impressions, social engagement, email open rates, etc.)
• Lead strategy and execution of The Fund’s owned channels (social media, website/blog, newsletters, emails) to drive program participation and engagement goals and aligned storytelling.
• Develop content strategy and editorial calendar, and align internal meetings and stakeholders to tell powerful stories with a consistent voice — including key celebrations like principal and assistant principal appreciation campaigns. 
• Collaborate with program and partnership teams at The Fund to recruit and retain leaders for participation in programming.

Drive narrative to advance policy goals in partnership with the policy team.

• Serve as the lead for the development of talking points and briefing memos (or similar resources) for senior staff or aligned partners.  
• Package and effectively distribute data insights to key audiences ensuring key reports and publications, or other important messages are framed and developed in the most impactful ways possible for key audiences.
• Provide strategic advice and guidance on engagement with press and lead relationships with media, including leading on development of press releases.
• Develop messaging and communications plans related to Illinois state legislative priorities in collaboration with Fund policy team members.
• Build and maintain relationships with key members of the Chicago and Illinois press who engage on topics related to public affairs and policy.
• Ensure alignment of social media strategy with policy goals in addition to broader Fund communications priorities.
  
  

Effectively support other Fund teams’ communications needs (e.g., talent/recruitment).

• Support the development of tools and collateral for use by Fund teams in their individual priorities (e.g., staff recruitment materials, fundraising decks, etc.).
• Provide advice and guidance on strategy for communications questions that may arise from other Fund teams.

Progressively assume full management of the communications team, which includes two direct reports. People management and organizational leadership at The Fund include:

• Implementing strategies for managing team dynamics and individual performance, ensuring that team members are supported, motivated, and aligned with The Fund’s goals.
• Cultivating an environment where continuous professional development is encouraged, enabling team members to expand their skills by providing them with direct coaching and mentoring. 
• Leading by example to integrate an equity-focused approach in all aspects of our communication strategy, decision-making, and team interactions.
• Enhancing the team’s understanding of and engagement with broader organizational goals and the specific systems within which we operate.
• Acting as a steward of The Fund’s culture, embodying and promoting our core values and vision, and fostering a sense of community and shared purpose within the team.

As a leader in the organization, your broader responsibilities will include:

• Contributing strategically to The Fund's overarching goals and initiatives.
• Participating as a member of The Fund’s management team, which is responsible for guiding the organization’s talent management and operational execution.
• Establishing performance benchmarks and assisting in document preparation.
• Engaging in recruitment efforts and fulfilling various assigned duties.
• Representing The Fund at external events, embodying our core values.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

As the senior manager of communications, your contribution is central to the strategic priorities established for Chicago Leads. You bring to the table a strategic outlook on education policy change, a keen sense of how communications play a role in advancing strategy, and a demonstrated ability to guide and implement impactful communications tactics. Your background includes a strong record of navigating the complexities of the media landscape, social media, and internal and external communications.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A minimum of six years of experience in leading communications functions marked by significant accomplishments in developing and implementing communication strategies. 
• Experience in directly engaging and building relationships with journalists and editorial boards, and prior relationships with the Chicago educational context, are significant pluses. 
• Proficiency in crafting and executing messaging strategies and collateral that align with and propel organizational objectives forward (including talking points, op-ed drafts, social media content, website copy, report language, etc.).
• A nuanced understanding of the educational policy and landscape in Chicago is preferred.
• Ability to navigate complex political contexts collaboratively and build networks of influential messengers through understanding audiences, adapting messaging, etc.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management experience, with a focus on identifying growth opportunities and leveraging team strengths for optimal outcomes.
• The capacity to build, mentor, and lead high-performing teams, with a commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

COMPENSATION
The salary band for a senior manager at The Fund starts at $92,000, with room to grow to $121,000 over time based on market adjustments and a strong ability to regularly exceed expectations. The Fund offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package, including health care coverage, retirement contributions, generous paid time off for all team members, and paid short-term and family leave. Please note that The Fund is an in-person organization, working in schools and out of our offices in downtown Chicago. We offer one work-from-home day per week. This position will require some evening and weekend hours.

TO APPLY
The position is available immediately, and we are actively seeking candidates. We will accept applications through August 15, 2024. Applying early increases your chances of being invited for an interview, with the interview process set to begin the week of August 4. 

Please visit thefundchicago.org/who-we-are/careers/ and follow the links to navigate to the “Senior Manager, Communications”  job description. Once there, use the "Apply" button to submit your application, including a resume and cover letter. Finalists for any role with The Fund must undergo a background check to be considered for employment.

If you have questions about the job application, please email Careers@TheFundChicago.org. Please note that we are unable to provide responses to phone inquiries regarding this position. 

The Fund employs and values a diverse workforce. We are also an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color, low-income people, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and others from diverse backgrounds. People from these and other historically marginalized backgrounds and communities are strongly encouraged to apply.