Communications Specialist, Office of Teaching & Learning

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600+ schools and employing approximately 40,000 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 Teaching and Learning (T&L) provides school administrators and teachers with the professional learning and resources needed to engage students in rich and rewarding learning experiences.

The Office of T&L comprises various academic and support departments, which work collaboratively to support students’ growth and progress in meeting or exceeding state standards for academic excellence.

Job Summary :

The Communications Specialist will play a key role in developing communication strategies for T&L departments and crafting thorough, compelling communications that align with and support T&L priorities.

The Communications Specialist will actively contribute to fostering internal collaboration and will be responsible for promoting the impactful work of T&L through diverse communication channels.

This position will report to the Director of Business Operations.

The Communications Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities :

• In collaboration with the Director of Business operations, develop and implement an effective internal communications strategy for the Office of Teaching & Learning
• Collaborate with T&L department leaders to design and execute effective department-specific communication plans, in alignment with the overarching office strategy, to keep central office and school-based staff, teachers, and administrators informed about important updates, events, and initiatives
• Ensure all communication materials align with the district’s overall strategic plan, as well as T&L’s strategic priorities
• Collaborate with the Office of Communications and Marketing department to :
• Foster engagement with local media to increase visibility and recognition, as well as respond to media inquiries
• Create visually appealing materials, including graphics, presentations, and videos and to maintain a consistent visual identity across communication channels
• Ensure content created meets branding and accessibility standards
• Develop engaging and informative content for various communication channels, including drafting and distributing office-wide email communications, newsletters, websites, and social media platforms
• Assist with the management and facilitation of regular communication channels to enhance collaboration and engagement
• Collect and analyze outcome data resulting from communication efforts; regularly review marketing and communications infrastructures for continuous improvement opportunities utilizing findings from engagement data
• Collaborate with department leaders to assist with tasks such as :
• Managing departmental social media accounts, creating content calendars and monitoring engagement
• Developing and implementing digital marketing strategies to promote professional learning opportunities, events, and initiatives
• Coordinate and guide cross-functional projects related to short-term assignments and campaigns
• Additional duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Communications Specialist must possess the following qualifications :

Education Required :

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or related field
• Master’s degree preferred

Experience Required :

• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in communications or marketing, including the following, is required :
• Experience developing effective communications strategies and / or change management strategies in a high-growth environment
• Experience designing and managing complex, large-scale organizational communications and / or engagement initiatives
• Communications experience in the education field preferred

Other requirements :

Access to reliable transportation to travel between worksites / schools within the City of Chicago is required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to lead presentations and tailor messages to diverse audiences
• Proficient in digital marketing tools, social media platforms, and content management systems
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, and work with cross-functional teams in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
• Effective project management and time management skills; capable of handling multiple high-priority projects concurrently, driving them to success and meeting established deadlines
• Ability to balance competing priorities, demonstrate good judgment and operate as a strong team member
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to :

Establish / Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.

The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary / part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.

Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire.

Up-to-date on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.