JPD - Strategic Initiatives Manager Job Chicago area,Illinois USA,Management

Job Title:

Strategic Initiatives Manager

Grade: 19 Step 355

Non-Union:

Salary: $85,241

The Strategic Initiatives Manager leads and coordinates complex, cross-functional initiatives that advance the strategic priorities of the Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department. The position is responsible for moving high-priority organizational initiatives from concept through planning, execution, evaluation, and transition to sustained operations. Working across operational divisions and organizational functions, the Strategic Initiatives Manager develops project structures, establishes timelines and deliverables, coordinates stakeholders, monitors progress, identifies and resolves barriers, and ensures accountability for assigned initiatives.

The position provides Department leadership with clear and timely information regarding project status, risks, resource needs, decisions, and outcomes. The Strategic Initiatives Manager works with a high degree of independence and collaborates with Department leadership, key personnel, community partners, and other stakeholders necessary to advance Department priorities. The position requires strong strategic thinking, project leadership, organizational judgment, and the ability to move complex work forward through collaboration and influence across areas where the position may not have direct supervisory authority.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities Strategic Initiative Leadership

Leads the planning, coordination, execution, and monitoring of complex Department-wide initiatives and special projects.

Translates strategic priorities and organizational goals into actionable project plans with clearly defined objectives, deliverables, responsibilities, timelines, and measures of success.

Provides structure and leadership to initiatives involving multiple operational divisions, organizational functions, and external stakeholders.

Maintains responsibility for assigned initiatives from initial planning through completion, evaluation, and transition to ongoing operational ownership.

Ensure initiatives remain aligned with the Department's mission, strategic priorities, organizational values, and intended outcomes for youth and families.

Project & Portfolio Management

Develops and maintains project plans, workplans, timelines, milestones, decision points, deliverables, and accountability structures for assigned initiatives.

Monitors progress and proactively identify delays, dependencies, competing priorities, resource limitations, and other risks to successful execution.

Develop strategies to resolve barriers and

Coordinates work across multiple project teams and organizational functions to ensure activities remain aligned and responsibilities are clearly understood.

Maintains accurate project documentation and provides timely status updates to Department leadership.

Assists leadership in prioritizing initiatives and evaluating organizational capacity to undertake new projects.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Convenes and facilitates cross-functional work groups, planning teams, stakeholder meetings, and other collaborative processes necessary to advance assigned initiatives.

Establishes clear roles, responsibilities, expectations, and decision points among project participants.

Builds productive working relationships across organizational boundaries and promotes shared accountability for project outcomes.

Coordinates with operational leaders to ensure strategic initiatives are responsive to service‑delivery needs and operational realities.

Collaborates with internal subject matter experts to ensure legal, fiscal, workforce, policy, technology, data, practice, and other organizational considerations are appropriately addressed.

Leads and supports the development of Requests for…