Executive Director - Education, Youth & Children’s Services

CCC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 123,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent health benefits

Pension plan (SURS)

Tuition reimbursement

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

City Colleges of Chicago seeks an Executive Director for Education, Youth & Children’s Services to guide policy, strategy, and operations across city departments and partner agencies. The role collaborates with the Mayor’s Office, libraries, parks, and education sectors to advance youth development and equity initiatives.

The position requires a seasoned leader with deep policy experience, strong partnership-building skills, and the ability to drive multi-year strategic programs while navigating

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Public Policy or related field.
• Ten+ years of project management experience; executive-level preferred.
• Two+ years of supervisory experience.
• Experience with city budget, contracting and operational processes.
• Experience working with local and state government policy structures.

Responsibilities

• Advise Deputy Mayor on operational management of Education and Human Services youth teams.
• Liaise with department heads and senior leaders across EDYCS portfolio.
• Forward policy agendas with EDYCS Senior Directors and related agencies.
• Provide strategic vision on education, youth, and children’s policy to Mayor’s Office staff.
• Represent Deputy Mayor at Mayoral and Cabinet-level meetings as needed.

Skills

Leadership skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Cross-department collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Public Policy

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Executive Director - Education, Youth & Children’s Services

Since 1911, City Colleges of Chicago has been connecting students from across Chicago’s neighborhoods to economic opportunity. By offering a quality education at an unprecedented value, City Colleges provides our students and alumni with a pathway to upward mobility. City Colleges of Chicago is the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity—empowering its students to take part in building a stronger and more just city. As Illinois’ largest community college system, City Colleges is comprised of seven colleges and five satellite sites across Chicago.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Reporting to the EVC-Chief Institutional Advancement Officer & Chief of Staff, the Executive Director – Education, Youth & Children’s Services provides guidance on youth services policy, strategy, and operational initiatives related to the City’s social services departments, programs, and efforts. Serves as a senior advisor with specific responsibilities over the City Colleges of Chicago, the Chicago Public Library and the Chicago Park District. Manages special projects and maintains internal and external relations with City departments and stakeholders in the youth portfolio. Collaborates closely with the EDYCS Senior Directors to develop coherent and connected policies and programs.Performs related duties as required.

Detailed to the City of Chicago's Mayor's Office, this position primarily supports City Colleges of Chicago business with the City of Chicago. Incumbents to this position shall follow the City of Chicago work calendar and must work when City of Chicago offices are open, even when City Colleges is closed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Advise and provide high level strategic support to the Deputy Mayor on effective operational management of Education and Human Services youth team and related departments.
• Will support Deputy Mayor as liaison for department heads and senior-level leadership for Sister Agencies and Departments in EDYCS portfolio (City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Library, Chicago Publics Schools, Chicago Park District as well as the Youth and Children’s Divisions of DFSS).
• Partner closely with EDYCS Senior Directors and related departments and agencies to forward policy agendas and initiatives related to youth development.
• Advise and provide high level vision and strategic support to the Deputy Mayor and Mayor’s Office staff on education, youth, and children’s policy.
• Represent Deputy Mayor at Mayoral, senior staff, and Cabinet-level meetings as needed.
• Will support Deputy Mayor as liaison to Boards for Sister Agencies in Portfolio.
• Manage team staff and operations, including facilitating team meetings, coordinating personnel and hiring for positions related to portfolio, and directly assisting with operational needs as needed to ensure execution of day-to-day responsibilities of EDYCS team and departments.
• Drive strategic planning and coach team members on successful implementation of all multi-year signature strategic initiatives led by youth team.
• Develop and oversee vision, goals, metrics, milestones, and key partners for a select number of multi-year signature strategic initiatives led in youth portfolio.
• Develop relationships with key State and local representatives and work with the Mayor’s Office Intergovernmental Affairs team (IGA) to advance the Mayor’s policy agenda.
• Collaborate with multiple internal and external stakeholders to develop policy briefings and external communications related to youth portfolio.
• Assist in the planning and leading of Mayor’s Office events and meetings as assigned.
• Manage special projects and other duties as assigned.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: EVC-Chief Institutional Advancement Officer & Chief of Staff

Direct Supervision: None

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Policy or a related field
• Ten or more years of project management experience; executive-level experience strongly preferred
• Two or more years of supervisory experience required.
• Prior experience and knowledge of large urban parks, library, and/or workforce development programs, policies, and landscape preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of City budget, contracting and operational processes
• Experience working with local and state government policy structures and systems
• Proven track record of effectively interacting with senior management and organizational leadership
• Demonstrated willingness to take on job challenges and responsibilities when asked with reliability, responsibility, and dependability
• Knowledge of supervisory and management methods, practices, and procedures
• Knowledge of city and department ordinances, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations
• Leadership skills that demonstrate a willingness and ability to lead and provide direction as necessary and appropriate
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational, planning, and complex problem-solving skills
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills to identify the strengths and weaknesses of issues and provide solutions or alternative approaches to the issues
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively across departments
• Ability to pay careful attention to details and exhibit thoroughness in completing work tasks
• Ability to negotiate and to bring individuals together to reconcile differences
• Ability to think strategically in the long-term and to consider the costs and benefits of potential actions followed by specific decisions
• Ability to work with and relate to a culturally diverse student body, faculty and staff
• Ability to travel locally to staff and participate in press and other events
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)

Salary Range: $122,579 - $138,000

Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as other factors such as internal equity.

WE OFFER: Excellent health and welfare benefit package and long-term savings and investment programs including 403(b) & 457(b) Investment Plans and a pension plan with the State University Retirement System (SURS) Plan. Generous vacation, holiday, personal and sick days, and tuition reimbursement. For a more detailed overview of benefits, please visit the benefits page of our website.

We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within 6 months of hire.

Thank you for your interest in CCC!

Additional Information

• Salary Range: $122,579 - $138,000

My Profile

Create and manage profiles for future opportunities.