Coordinator, Policy & Communications

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, 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 supportive program and policy efforts, along with our willingness to innovate alongside educators, have made a measurable, positive impact on the quality of leadership in schools and helped educators support student learning. In our current campaign, Chicago Leads, we will raise and invest $50 million to deepen and strengthen leadership in Chicago’s more than 600 public schools.

We are solutions-oriented. We approach our work with a proactive and productive mindset. Challenges are an inherent part of our work; we strive for continuous improvement.

We are collaborative. We understand that each team member relies on others to achieve goals. We ask for help when we need it and provide assistance when requested. The organization, as a whole, is more significant than any one of us alone.

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; this helps us achieve the best possible outcomes.

We prioritize equity. Our work prioritizes leaders who serve and represent communities most directly impacted by structural racism and systematic exclusion. On our team, we actively recruit and hire for diversity in all areas of identity. are lived out loud.

Coordinator, Policy & Communications

The Chicago Public Education Fund is celebrating 25 years of driving educational equity and leadership development. Building on this foundation, and amid a complex and evolving external landscape, we seek a Coordinator of Policy & Communications to play a critical role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of The Fund’s public affairs and communications work. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Communications, this position provides tactical, logistical, administrative, and creative support to help the team execute its communications and engagement goals.

This role is ideal for someone highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented, with an interest in communications, public affairs, and nonprofit work. The Coordinator will track public events, support school visits and other external engagements, assist with social media and content creation, and support scheduling and calendars.

Key Responsibilities
Communications & Social Media Support

• Post content across The Fund’s social media channels aligned with the communications strategy and help maintain a consistent and engaging online presence.
• Monitor social media platforms and respond to messages, comments, and inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
• Support the drafting and editing of basic communication materials, such as event recaps, brief posts, and internal updates.
• Take photos and short videos at events for use in newsletters, reports, and social media content.
• Assist in maintaining The Fund’s website by posting updates or coordinating with vendors.

Event & Visit Logistics

• Coordinate logistics for school visits, principal appreciation events, community meetings, and other public affairs activities.
• Serve as the primary logistical point of contact with partners and venues, including scheduling, confirmations, preparation of materials, and on-site support.
• Support set-up, registration, photography, and materials management for external events.
• Assist with follow-up communications after events, including sending thank-you messages and sharing photos.

Team Coordination & Administrative Support

• Manage scheduling and calendar coordination for the Public Affairs team, including internal meetings, external engagements, and key deadlines.
• Track and maintain an external calendar of significant public events and flag opportunities for participation or attendance by The Fund’s staff.
• Coordinate logistics and materials for team meetings, briefings, and follow-ups.
• Support budget tracking, vendor coordination, and invoice processing for communications and policy-related events.
• Provide administrative support to ensure the smooth functioning of the Public Affairs team.

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Support other Fund teams with logistics and communications needs (e.g., scheduling external meetings, preparing materials for recruitment or fundraising).
• Maintain organized files, shared drives, and project management tools (e.g., trackers and dashboards) for the public affairs function.
• Contribute to special projects as assigned by the Senior Manager of Communications and Director of Policy and Public Affairs.

Your broader responsibilities will include:

• Contributing strategically to The Fund's overarching goals and initiatives.
• Establishing performance benchmarks and assisting in document preparation.
• Engaging in recruitment efforts and fulfilling various assigned duties.
• Representing The Fund at external events, embodying our core values.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

As the Coordinator of Policy & Communications, your contribution is central to the strategic priorities established for Chicago Leads. The Coordinator should be comfortable creating clarity out of ambiguity and engaging with senior-level officials and their staff. They should thrive while proactively managing up and across the team to identify key follow-up and next steps critical for the work to succeed.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• 1–3 years of relevant experience in communications, public affairs, event coordination, or administrative support (internships and volunteer experience welcome).
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail.
• Experience with photography, graphic design, video editing, Canva, and basic content creation.
• Proficiency in social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, X/Twitter) and analytics tools.
• Knowledge of Sprout Social, Monday.com, and digital trend awareness.
• A proactive and collaborative approach, with the ability to anticipate team needs.
• Demonstrated interest in public education, nonprofit work, or public service.

COMPENSATION
The salary band for a coordinator at The Fund starts at $52,000, with room to grow to $65,000 based on market adjustments and a strong ability to exceed expectations regularly. The Fund offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package, including health care coverage, retirement contributions, generous paid time off for all team members, and paid short-term and family leave. Please note that The Fund is an in-person organization, working in schools and out of our offices in downtown Chicago. We offer one work-from-home day per week. 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. We will accept applications through January 5th, 2026.

Please visit and follow the links to navigate to the “Coordinator, Policy & Communications” job description. Once there, use the "Apply" button to submit your application, including a resume and cover letter. Finalists for any role with The Fund must undergo a background check to be considered for employment.

If you have questions about the job application, please email . Please note that we are unable to provide responses to phone inquiries regarding this position.

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

Pay: $52,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• On-site gym
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person