City Council Affairs Coordinator

Job Summary

The City Council Affairs Coordinator will work within the Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) team and is responsible for supporting and executing the Chicago Public Schools’ agenda at the local City Council level. The position responds to matters raised by all public sectors as they relate to City Council legislative actions having an impact on the Chicago Public Schools’ policies and operations. Primarily, this position will help support the District’s City Council projects.

This role reports to the City Council Liaison of Intergovernmental Affairs.

• Provide administrative and logistical support to the City Council Liaison and the IGA team (e.g., State Legislative Affairs, etc.)
• Track City Council items that could impact the District
• Assist with communicating with City Council members
• Support with preparing for hearings
• Attend community meetings on behalf of the department
• Work with other departments in Central Office to understand the District’s City Council priorities
• Provides liaison services to the Chicago City Council and other local agencies
• Support the City Council Liaison in advocating on behalf of schools to receive local revenue
• Provide research support for the IGA team
• Serve as an IGA representative on various District committees
• Build relationships with Aldermen in the City Council
• Coordinate visits for elected officials and key stakeholders to schools
• Collaborate with the City of Chicago and other key partners to support the District’s efforts
• Assist the Facilities Team with addressing Aldermanic casework
• Other duties as assigned

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required;
  Master’s Degree in education, political science, or a related field preferred
• Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of professional administrative and logistical support experience, including coordinating complex projects; experience working in or around the Chicago City Council preferred
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Ability to quickly learn and understand education policy issues in Chicago Public Schools
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills; capable of building collaborative relationships with all levels of CPS staff and leadership
  • Excellent organization, strategic, and project planning skills; self‑starter capable of anticipating problems and developing preemptive solutions
  • Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and independently solve problems
  • Familiarity with community‑based organizations in Chicago serving youth and their families
  • Ability to articulate a vision, set high standards and goals, and effectively lead cross‑functional teams to achieve those goals
  • Outstanding problem‑solving skills; capable of defining problems, analyzing data, and outlining valid conclusions and action steps
  • Ability to be flexible and adapt to a continually shifting environment
  • Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
  • Familiarity with Google Suite (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Meet)
• Conditions of Employment:

  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.

• Health & Wellness:
  Your Care, Your Choice
  • Medical Plan Options
  • Pharmacy
  • Vision
  • Behavioral Health & EAP
  • Employee Wellness Program
• Financial Security:
  Planning for Today and Tomorrow
  • Basic Life Insurance
  • Life and Disability Insurance
  • Pension Plans
  • Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) & 457(b))
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Spot Pet Insurance
• Work‑Life Balance:
  Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life
  • Competitive paid time off policies