Network Safety Manager

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 nearly 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.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Safety and Security, this Network Safety Manager will support all Network Chiefs and Principals so that every school is best equipped to provide its students with a safe environment. The Network Safety Manager will be assigned to a portfolio of schools where they will hold accountability for the design and implementation of safety strategies within that portfolio.

The Network Safety Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Collaborate with CPS Network chiefs and principals to design, develop and implement safety best practices for the assigned portfolio for the goal of providing a safe, calm environment for students and staff.
• Partner with CPS Network chiefs and principals to design safety strategies and initiatives based on school-specific needs for the assigned portfolio.
• Implement a resource plan that is aligned with CPS budgets and based on a rational methodology that is consistent with the organization’s best practices. The resource plan will not only include staffing design, but also a holistic view that considers ALL available resources ranging from CPS direct hires to CPD partners as well as community and parent partners.
• Implement and utilize an ongoing assessment system that supports the security goals of CPS’ safety initiatives.
• Identify, build and manage ongoing relationships with key stakeholders including, but not limited to: school personnel, parents, students, elected officials and other key community members.
• Leads ongoing community and parent meetings to build a sense of common goal and drive safety action plans for the assigned portfolio.
• Partner with other City of Chicago agencies including but not limited to: Chicago Police Department, Chicago Housing Authority and Department of Family Support and Services to ensure that there is strategic alignment across all efforts.
• Partner with the Office of Network Supports to implement a training system that supports principals in their management of safety and security personnel for the assigned portfolio.
• Partner with the Strategic Safety Initiatives team to identify and implement key strategic and technology programs for the assigned portfolio.
• Partner with Safety Response and Resources team to draw upon Climate Team members to supplement baseline safety and security resources based on situational needs.
• Maintain consistent communication with the Student Safety Center to define and drive key safety needs through monitoring and management for the assigned portfolio.
• Deliver security officer training to security officers on an ongoing basis.
• Provide support based on an “on-call” model where the Network Safety Manager must be available “off hours” to conduct emergency threat assessments off site.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Network Safety Manager must possess the following qualifications:

Education and Experience Required:

• High School Diploma/GED or Associate Degree and a minimum of seven (7) years of experience including the following is required:
• Minimum of seven (7) years of related experience working in safety/security and/or with youths
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a school “dean” role (E.g., student advocate, school culture coordinator, youth intervention specialist) and/or district-level safety role (E.g., Network Safety specialist)
• Minimum of two (2) years of direct supervisory experience (E.g., security supervisor)
• Experience developing leadership capacity in staff, team members, or clients and/or equivalent work experience in managing and navigating crisis situations in collaboration with city agencies.
• OR
• Bachelor’s degree in Management, Public Administration, Business Administration or a related field of study and a minimum of five (5) years of experience including the following is required:
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a school “dean” role (E.g., student advocate, school culture coordinator, youth intervention specialist) and/or district-level safety role (E.g., Network Safety specialist)
• Experience developing leadership capacity in staff, team members, or clients and/or equivalent work experience in managing and navigating crisis situations in collaboration with city agencies.

• Master’s degree preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Successful experience in facilitating the development of leadership capacity.
• Adept at managing partnerships between and among external agencies and key stakeholders.
• Possesses a strong sense of integrity in all aspects of how they conduct themselves.
• Possesses excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Is a strong communicator; speaking, listening and writing.
• Demonstrates skill in the development and maintenance of effective working relationships with all levels of executive and managerial personnel, various governmental agencies and communities which will impact the operations of the Chicago Public Schools.
• Maintain fiscal accountability of assigned budgets.
• Demonstrates a sense of urgency in accomplishing goals and objectives to ensure success.
• Pursues and implements innovative ideas and methods, remains committed to seeking out and sharing current research and evidence-based best practices.
• Demonstrates an unyielding commitment to continuous improvement and an unwavering belief that all students deserve a safe environment.
• Must have own vehicle and valid IL Driver’s license.

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.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.