Senior Project Manager, Incubation & Transition

CPS Non-Union Job Grade: S09

Position Type:
Non-Union Position

Central-42 West Madison Street (Innovation and Incubation)

Exempt

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 44,000 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 Innovation & Incubation (I&I) serves as the charter authorizing arm of Chicago Public Schools. I&I sets academic and operational expectations and promotes best practices across the district’s 89 charter and contract schools. The office also supports both charter and district‑managed schools in developing and sustaining innovative models from kindergarten through postsecondary education, ensuring they have the resources needed for success.

In addition, I&I oversees all school incubation and wind‑down processes.

The Senior Project Manager for School Incubation and Transition is responsible for leading and coordinating all major activities related to the wind‑down, incubation, student transition, and the conversion of charter/contract campuses into District‑managed schools.

Reporting to the Director of Colocations and Operations Support, the Senior Project Manager, Incubation and Transition will manage and monitor the full transition timeline. The Senior Project Manager will oversee a Project Manager, guide cross‑departmental work, and ensure that all operational, legal, and community engagement efforts stay on track. This role serves as the key point of connection between CPS departments, school teams, and community partners to make sure each step of the transition is handled with accuracy, transparency, and care.

This is a full‑time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis. This position may require occasional evening or weekend hours to support school and community events.

• Partner with senior leadership and I&I employees across units to facilitate and lead integration of strategic goals
• Develop and execute cross‑functional strategies and mechanisms to streamline departmental objectives
• Manage and cultivate partnerships to support alignment across the department
• Integrate structures and processes to ensure efficiency within multiple schools and within the I&I department
• Enhance cross‑departmental collaboration and work streams
• Build team leadership and efficacy
• Drive innovation, best practices, and achievement of strategic objectives to best serve schools, charter networks, families and communities
• Lead project timelines and ensure milestones are successfully met through oversight of project and coordination of resources
• Facilitate decision‑making process for selecting, optimizing, and executing strategic initiatives that produce benefits based on the Chicago Public Schools vision and mission
• Communicate the status, risk and issues associated with each project component to the senior leadership; ensure that project outcomes are met
• Manage hiring within the I&I department
• Manage interns within the I&I department, as needed

• Education Required:
  
  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Experience
  
  Required:
  
  Minimum of 5 years experience within a school leadership role
• Experience Facilitating Training, Developing Presentations, Project Management, and Leadership

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentation skills
• Ability to lead and manage projects
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with all levels of management and staff
• Ability to motivate and influence others
• Ability to work with difficult…