Community Safety Lead: Riverdale & CPS Partnerships

Ucan; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

UCAN in Chicago seeks a Community Safety Manager to lead Riverdale Community Convener and Safe Passage initiatives funded by IDHS and CPS. You will align staff, partners, and schools to ensure safe environments for youths and families, overseeing quality, reporting, and contract compliance.

You will supervise staff, manage budgets, monitor program outcomes, and coordinate with CPS and IDHS to ensure timely deliverables and responsive community interventions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work, public administration, criminal justice, community development, education, human services, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly related experience.
• At least four years of progressively responsible experience in community violence intervention, youth development, school or community safety, human services, community organizing, or a related field, including at least two years of staff supervision or program management.
• Demonstrated experience managing public or philanthropic contracts, program deliverables, budgets, documentation, performance data, and written reports.
• Ability to lead field-based teams, manage competing schedules and deadlines, address performance concerns, and make sound decisions during urgent situations.
• Strong facilitation, written communication, relationship management, problem-solving, and conflict de-escalation skills.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office and required case management, workforce, school, or grant reporting systems.
• Ability to satisfy all background, screening, training, and site-access requirements established by UCAN, CPS, IDHS, and applicable law.

Responsibilities

• Direct implementation of the approved work plans for the Riverdale Community Convener and Safe Passage programs, ensuring that each program meets its contract scope, schedule, staffing requirements, and deliverables.
• Translate funder requirements into operating calendars, staffing plans, coverage assignments, partner expectations, documentation standards, and internal deadlines.
• Coordinate shared planning across both programs while maintaining clear separation of staff time, expenses, documentation, and deliverables by funding source.
• Track program milestones, operational risks, and corrective actions, and elevate decisions or barriers to senior leadership in a timely manner.
• Lead the Riverdale convening structure and maintain regular communication with funded providers, community-based organizations, residents, schools, faith partners, service systems, and public-sector stakeholders.
• Plan and facilitate recurring partner meetings with clear agendas, decisions, meeting records, assigned action items, and follow-up dates.
• Strengthen coordination among violence intervention, victim services, case management, behavioral health, reentry, youth services, and other community resources serving Riverdale residents.
• Monitor partner commitments and required deliverables within UCAN's scope, address performance concerns, and coordinate technical assistance or corrective action when needed.
• Maintain awareness of emerging conflicts, shooting incidents, service gaps, and neighborhood conditions, and support timely, coordinated community responses consistent with UCAN and IDHS protocols.
• Manage daily Safe Passage operations, including school assignments, approved routes, deployment schedules, attendance, field coverage, and contingency plans for staffing gaps or schedule changes.
• Ensure Safe Passage personnel report on time, remain visible and attentive, follow designated routes and posts, use approved communication protocols, and maintain professional conduct with students, families, school personnel, and community members.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison with designated CPS administrators and school leaders regarding arrival and dismissal schedules, school calendar changes, route concerns, incidents, and program expectations.
• Ensure timely documentation of attendance, route observations, safety concerns, incidents, referrals, and response actions in the required systems and formats.
• Coordinate readiness for the start of the school year, seasonal and calendar changes, special school activities, weather-related adjustments, and critical incidents affecting student travel routes.

Job description

UCAN in Chicago seeks a Community Safety Manager to lead Riverdale Community Convener and Safe Passage initiatives funded by IDHS and CPS. You will align staff, partners, and schools to ensure safe environments for youths and families, overseeing quality, reporting, and contract compliance.

You will supervise staff, manage budgets, monitor program outcomes, and coordinate with CPS and IDHS to ensure timely deliverables and responsive community interventions.