This position will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
Develop and execute a comprehensive vision and approach for CPS pursuit and management of competitive grants.
Manage a team of grant writers as they pursue a variety of competitive grant opportunities; establish protocols, develop guidelines, and provide expertise to the grant writers as they initiate, facilitate, and process manage the development of highly competitive grant applications.
Determine and implement with fidelity the competitive grants team approach to monitoring websites regularly for funding opportunities and announcements, and providing recommendations on district eligibility and alignment of opportunities with district needs and priorities, including collaboration with other city agencies.
Strategically assess the viability of funding opportunities and connecting grant programs to district- and department-level strategic plans and priorities.
Determine and implement with fidelity the competitive grants team approach to moving from opportunity to go/no status in pursuit of highly competitive opportunities.
Collaborate with teams throughout the district to help ensure timely and appropriate use of grant funds, including coordinating any required plans and reporting, completing amendments and continuation applications, and developing other post-award materials.
Support multiple stakeholders through the complex grant development process, applying knowledge of educational content areas, district priorities, and proposal requirements to ensure that proposed strategies meet district needs while complying with grant guidelines.
Serve as the competitive grants “Subject Matter Expert” (SME) to various internal partner departments, stakeholder groups and external agencies.
Create, present, and distribute to stakeholders written guidelines, procedures, and protocols related to the team’s work.
Other duties and work streams as assigned.
In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, this position must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Management, Public Policy, Education or related field from an accredited college or university.
Experience Required
Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in grants development, grant writing, grant administration, and/or related field.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Ability to analyze grant guidelines and apply comprehensive knowledge of educational content to grant requirements.
Excellent attention to detail, critical thinking skills, and ability to effectively work under pressure while meeting deadlines
Ability to establish and implement systems.
Ability to work on multiple high-stakes, deadline-driven projects simultaneously.
Ability to work independently with frequent support but minimal supervision.
Strong critical and analytical skills.
Ability to conduct financial analyses using Excel and other financial tools.
Ability to understand programmatic design, goals, and implementation.
Ability to work occasional long hours and weekends when necessary.
Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
Exceptional technology skills, including Google Workspace and Microsoft Office skills, including Excel.
Strong organizational systems and skills.
Willingness to work with colleagues within and external to the Office and provide back-up and support to others within the Office.
Commitment to work in the public service/education field.
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.
Benefits
Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice
CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:
Medical Plan Options
Pharmacy
Dental
Vision
Behavioral Health & EAP
Employee Wellness Program
Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow
We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:
Basic Life Insurance
Life and Disability Insurance
Pension Plans
Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Spot Pet Insurance
Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life
CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:
Paid Leave
Sick Leave
Vacation Days
Parental Leaves
Short-Term Disability
Religious Holidays
Leaves
Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.
