Board Engagement Specialist

Posting Date

May 21, 2025, 7:51:33 PM

Central-42 West Madison Street (Board of Trustees)

76,000.

Non-Union Position

Exempt

Final salary offers are dependent upon candidate qualifications.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600+ schools and employing approximately 40,000 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 Chicago Board of Education (“Board”) is responsible for the governance, organizational and financial oversight of Chicago Public Schools (“CPS” or “District”), the fourth largest school district in the United States of America. The Board establishes policies, standards, goals and initiatives to ensure accountability and appropriate resource support for achieving the district’s mission. The Board Office staff support the Board in advancing their goals and objectives by (a) facilitating communication with internal and external stakeholders to improve Board member engagement;

(b) maintaining Board Rules & Policies; (c) executing contracts, agreements and legal instruments approved by the Board for the district; (d) receiving and distributing subpoenas/liens/summons and other legal documents for the Board; (e) holding monthly Board Meetings; (f) providing support and services to all stakeholders; and (g) managing the Board Archives.

Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Board Engagement, the Board Engagement Specialist is responsible for supporting and executing strategic priorities as a part of the Engagement functional area within the Board Office.

• Main point of contact for Board Members’ engagement efforts; advise Board Members on community engagement and ensure timely responses to their questions and concerns.
• Oversee the development of a constituent dispute resolution process.
• Support and contribute to holistic Board community engagement strategy, with input from the Office of Family and Community Engagement and other internal departments.
• Partner with relevant departments to create stakeholder engagement plans for in-development policies and contracts that require a Board vote.
• Assist in recruitment, onboarding, and support for the Honorary Student Board Member, and develop strategies to elevate student voices in the Board’s decision‑making processes.
• Facilitate and enhance the process to relay information from constituent phone calls and emails to relevant Board Members.
• Develop and maintain trusting, effective, productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders; liaise between the Board and key CPS stakeholders and partners.
• Ensure acceptable Board Member participation at all Board events.
• Support Board Members' day-to-day communications with constituents (e.g., social media, office hours, etc.).
• Partner with the board communications team to prepare materials and brief Board Members for public meetings and events (e.g., talking points, mock interviews, etc.).
• Other duties as assigned.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Board Engagement Specialist must possess the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience leading/managing community engagement and/or marketing communications or public relations experience required; seven or more years preferred.
• Experience in an education environment preferred.

• Reliable access to transportation to travel between…