Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 300,000 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 Department of Advanced Learning and Specialty Programs (ALSP) serves as a catalyst to empower learners to be successful and positive contributors in their school community, post-secondary pathways, and life. Through programmatic support and collaborative partnerships, ALSP provides equitable access to high-quality, student-centered programs (Advanced Placement, Gifted, International Baccalaureate, Magnet, and Personalized Learning) that develop the interests, strengths, and talents of our learners.
Reporting to the Director, Specialty Programs, the Manager, MSAP will oversee and ensure compliance with all federal magnet grants and the student programs they fund, ensuring that the support provided by the Office of Teaching and Learning improves both the school-level conditions and the student experience and outcomes aligned to the CPS Instructional Core Vision through the lens of the programmatic focus area. The Manager, MSAP will lead a team of ALSP staff to ensure a coherent vision for the implementation of MSAP grants across all grantee periods. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.
Note: This is role grant-funded through the end of the 2026-2027 school year (SY27). Employment beyond SY27 is contingent upon the successful receipt of additional MSAP grant funding.
The Manager, MSAP will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
- Direct the overall administration and multi-million-dollar funding lifecycle for all active MSAP grants, oversee budget planning, expense tracking, school-level fiscal guidance, and facility improvement projects to ensure strict compliance and optimal resource utilization
• Serve as primary hiring manager for school-based coordinators across MSAP schools as well as hire, manage, and coach STEM Program Support Specialist
- Lead bi-annual reporting to the U.S. Department of Education, manage relationships with external evaluation vendors, and analyze program performance, GPRA, and minority group isolation data to drive continuous improvement
- Provide operational and data support to schools and networks to track student outcomes, monitor interventions, and scale promising practices
- Streamline and lead annual grant bidding efforts, coordinate data gathering and narrative alignment to secure ongoing MSAP funding
- Lead student recruitment initiatives and direct marketing and public relations campaigns across surrounding school communities to expand program reach
- Oversee end-to-end contract and procurement processes for external partners, including the solicitation, vetting, onboarding, and scheduling of professional development providers across ALSP programs
• Partner with Academic Departments, Network teams, and leadership to align MSAP theories of action, implementation goals, and minority isolation strategies with broader Teaching & Learning goals
- Execute overarching governance frameworks for MSAP activities and support special departmental initiatives as required
- Other duties as assigned
In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Manager, MSAP must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field from an accredited college or university
- Master’s degree in Education or Business Management field, strongly preferred
Experience Required:
- Minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in grant management, including the following, is required:
- Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a supervisor/manager position leading a team of direct reports
- Minimum of three (3) years in project or program management
- Experience managing operational/departmental budgets and finances
- Experience in K-12 education and/or magnet/specialty programs, preferred
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Strong understanding of district and state policies related to magnet programming
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
- Effective strategic thinking and planning capabilities, including the ability to establish long-term vision and goals, set milestones, design and execute a plan, and align/manage activities toward goal fulfillment
- Knowledge of strategic planning processes and project management principles necessary for successfully managing large-scale, high-priority program/project portfolios within a large, complex organization
- Strong leadership and team building skills (i.e., ability to develop high-performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success)
- Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholder groups, including external partners, educators, school leaders, and district leadership
- Capable of identifying opportunities to increase efficiency and diminish overall program cost while ensuring quality; capable of identifying and addressing project barriers and opportunities
- Ability to define problems, analyze data, and use data to inform action steps and decision-making at both district- and school-level
- Effective prioritization and time management capabilities, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, driving them to completion and achieving success
- Excellent project management skills; capable of meeting established deadlines, adapting/responding to problems and changes, and exceeding customer expectations
- Capable of compiling, reviewing, and/or preparing accurate project/program-related reports and documents as necessary under tight deadlines
- Knowledge of operations, budget/finance, management and organizational development
- Committed to the mission of schools to improve the lives of students and families through the department's program offerings
- Excellent technology expertise
Benefits:
Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs: Medical Plan Options Pharmacy Dental Vision Behavioral Health & EAP Employee Wellness Program
Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options: Basic Life Insurance Life and Disability Insurance Pension Plans Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b)) Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) Spot Pet Insurance
Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies: Paid Leave Sick Leave Vacation Days Parental Leaves Short-Term Disability Religious Holidays Leaves
Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.
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.
