Associate, Innovation & Program

BACKGROUND

The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund) supports public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. As an independent nonprofit organization, we partner with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the City of Chicago, the local philanthropic community, principals, and aspiring principals to build and sustain a culture of strong leadership.

For more than two decades, our program and policy efforts and our willingness to innovate alongside educators have made a measurable, positive impact on school leadership and helped educators support student learning. In our current campaign, Chicago Leads, we will raise and invest $50M to deepen and strengthen leadership in Chicago’s 636 public schools.

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES

• We are solutions-oriented. Challenges are part of the work; we aim for continuous improvement.
• We are collaborative. Each team member relies on others to achieve goals; we ask for help when we need it and provide help when asked.
• We act with integrity. We say what we will do, and we do what we say. We are honest about what we know and what we are learning.
• We prioritize equity. We prioritize leaders who serve communities most directly impacted by structural racism and systematic exclusion. We recruit and hire for diversity across all areas of identity.

POSITION SUMMARY

ASSOCIATE, INNOVATION & PROGRAM

The Associate, Innovation and Program supports the successful execution and evaluation of The Fund’s pilot and legacy programs and related initiatives. This includes managing logistics, analyzing program outcomes, and facilitating communication with key partners such as principals, Network Chiefs, and district central office staff. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Innovations and Programs, the Associate plays a critical role in maintaining operational efficiency, ensuring data integrity, and advancing cross-team collaboration to support The Fund’s strategic objectives.

KEY WORKSTREAMS

Investment and Program Due Diligence:

As an Associate of Innovation, you’ll work with the Senior Manager to create compelling due diligence materials for programs responsive to educator needs. This will include innovations for supporting school leaders with AI initiatives and with our work to strengthen and diversify the principal talent pipeline.

• Perform landscape analysis of programs and potential providers
• Data collection and analysis pertaining to AI usage, new principal student impact, and Pipeline Partners Council University data.
• Own and create communications to board members, district staff, and school leadership around our innovation efforts.
• Participate in the selection process for supporting partners' proposals.

Logistics and Event Support for Programs and Pilots

In this role, you’re in charge of organizing and managing logistics for principal-focused professional development (PD) and partnership meetings. This includes direct oversight of the The Malott Educator Fellowship, the Leadership Bridge principal preparation program, our anchor events, and the Design Challenge.

• Strategic planning, agenda development, and recruitment for fellowships and events.
• Handling event logistics from venue booking to technology setup, and preparing facilitation materials.
• Coordinating catering, managing event setups and cleanups, and ensuring all logistical needs are met for a professional event atmosphere.
• Taking detailed notes during sessions to capture important discussions and action items.
• Managing the event calendar using tools like monday.com to avoid scheduling conflicts and facilitate efficient event planning.
• Provide logistical support for LSC-related programming and events, including scheduling, preparing materials, and ensuring smooth execution.

Benchmark Coordination and Process Management

In this role, you'll manage the collection and submission of performance data, ensuring partners submit necessary documentation on time. Your duties include:

• Collect and analyze exit ticket and survey data; share insights with internal and external stakeholders to support continuous improvement across portfolios.
• Support evaluation of coaching initiatives by monitoring member engagement, leadership development plan completion, and both immediate and lagging impacts
• Manage bill.com transactions, stakeholder enrollment, and documentation tracking to ensure timely, organized financial processing
• Coordinate benchmark management: schedule deadlines, send reminders, review submissions for strategic alignment, and produce quarterly reports
• Maintain transparent tracking systems and keep partners informed of key deadlines and compliance requirements

Monthly Communication Management with External Partners

Your role involves providing regular updates and communications with educators and key partners to ensure they are always informed and engaged. Responsibilities include:

• Creating and implementing monthly communication plans like our Educator Blast.
• Working with the Cross Communications team to make communication methods more efficient.
• Handling key email communications, ensuring messages are clear, informative, and engaging.
• Preparing and distributing advance notices for events and professional development opportunities to enhance participation.
• Managing all partner communications, including follow-up and informational messages, to maintain strong connections.
• Gathering feedback to continually refine and improve communication strategies.
• Coordinating with the Cross Communications team on various communications tasks for consistency and effectiveness.

Culture Contributions

As a member of The Fund team, your broader contributions will include:

• Offering ideas and supporting projects that help achieve The Fund’s main goals.
• Participating in the Associates Core to work with colleagues, share knowledge, improve leadership skills, and work on projects across the organization.
• Attending events and meetings to represent The Fund, strengthening our relationships and reputation.
• Helping with projects that involve multiple teams, showing your commitment to our values and collaboration.
• Focusing on your professional growth by engaging in learning opportunities and keeping up with developments in public education and leadership.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

We are on the lookout for a motivated individual ready to impact education, especially aimed at improving leadership within Chicago Public Schools (CPS). You should have a strong background in event logistics, strategic communications, and managing project milestones or performance goals.

The ideal applicant will demonstrate:

• Experience in survey and participant data collection and analysis.
• Experience in planning and managing event logistics, including venue booking, technology setup, and catering.
• Proficiency with project management tools like monday.com for event planning and preventing scheduling conflicts.
• Familiarity with financial and document management platforms, particularly bill.com, for transaction handling and documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for creating engaging content and managing stakeholder correspondence.
• Capability to develop and implement strategies to keep projects on track and stakeholders informed.
• Detail-oriented approach for accurately documenting meetings and managing project milestones.
• Team-oriented mindset, with readiness to collaborate to streamline processes and improve communication.
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to navigate challenges and adjust project strategies as needed.
• Interest in continuous learning, especially regarding public education and leadership.
• Experience with or understanding of Chicago’s public-school systems, especially in partnership and program management, is preferred.

COMPENSATION

The salary band for an Associate at The Fund starts at $58,000 and there is room to grow to $73,000 over time based on performance and market adjustments. The Fund offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package, including healthcare coverage, retirement contributions, generous paid time off for all team members, and paid short-term and family leave.

The Fund team works primarily in-person in schools and out of our offices in downtown Chicago, with flexibility to work from home one day per week (Wednesdays). Certain program events may require on-site attendance on Wednesdays, as well as occasional evenings and weekends.

TO APPLY

The position is available immediately, and we are actively seeking candidates. Applications will be accepted through January 5th, 2026. Please visit to submit your resume and cover letter. Finalists must undergo a background check to be considered for employment.

The Fund employs and values a diverse workforce. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color, low-income persons, LGBTQ+ persons, differently abled people, and other people from historically marginalized backgrounds. We strongly encourage people from these communities to apply.

Pay: $58,000.00 - $73,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person