State Legislative Affairs Coordinator

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500 schools and employing over 45,000 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. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) advocates for CPS students at every level of government to shape education policy and secure external resources, including Intergovernmental Agreements with the City of Chicago and its sister agencies, state capital funding, and federal funding. IGA advances the CPS agenda before the Chicago City Council, Illinois General Assembly, and in Washington, D.C., and partners with the City of Chicago, the Illinois state legislature, and other entities to secure financial opportunities to advance the district’s goals.

Job Summary:

The State Legislative Affairs Coordinator will be a member of the Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) team. This role is critical in ensuring that CPS’ legislative efforts in Springfield are successful, tracking legislation, attending legislative and state board hearings, and helping the IGA team build strong relationships with legislators and partners across the state. The State Legislative Affairs Coordinator will report to the State Legislative Affairs Liaison of Intergovernmental Affairs.

The State Legislative Affairs Coordinator will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Provide administrative and logistical support to the IGA team (E.g., State Legislative Affairs, City Council, etc.)
• Track all potential legislation that could impact the District in Springfield
• Attend legislative hearings in Springfield to represent the District and possibly testify on an as-needed basis
• Conduct research on District priorities
• Gather, organize, and report information that will help the IGA team analyze the impact of various bills on the District
• Partner with Central Office departments to understand the District’s legislative priorities
• 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 legislative efforts
• Build relationships with legislators in the General Assembly
• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the State Legislative Affairs Liaison must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required
• Masters Degree in education, political science, or a related field preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years of professional administrative and logistical support experience, including coordinating complex projects required
• Experience working in or around the Illinois General Assembly preferred

Other Requirements:

Frequent travel to Springfield when the General Assembly is in session is required

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 the Illinois General Assembly and the legislative process
• Ability to articulate a vision set high standards and goals, and effectively lead cross-functional teams in achieving those goals
• Outstanding problem-solving skills; capable of defining problems, analyzing data, and outlining valid conclusions and action steps
• Ability to be flexible and to adapt to a continually shifting environment
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, specifically Excel, PowerPoint, Word
• Familiarity with Google Suite, specifically Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets, and Google Meet

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

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.

• Medical Plan Options
• Pharmacy
• Dental
• Vision
• Behavioral Health & EAP
• Employee Wellness Program

• Basic Life Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Pension Plans
• Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Spot Pet Insurance

• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Days
• Parental Leaves
• Short-Term Disability
• Religious Holidays
• Leaves