Director of Education

About Enlace Chicago:

Enlace Chicago convenes, organizes and builds the capacity of stakeholders of Little Village to confront systemic inequities and barriers to economic and social access. The organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of Little Village residents by fostering a safe and healthy environment and by championing opportunities for educational advancement and economic development. It is committed to accountability and transparency to ensure integrity, believes in building community power through collaboration and grassroots leadership, promotes livable communities with access and opportunity for all, and values social justice and systems change. Currently, our Education, Community Safety, Clinical Services, Community Health, and Immigration and Advocacy Departments work to provide vital services and support to the very valuable residents of the Little Village community. 

Position Overview:  

The Director of Education drives Enlace's participation and leadership in educational policy, programming and convening to build community and organizational capacity. The Director is responsible for guiding Enlace's involvement at education-focused tables and with partners in Little Village and with other local/state partners. The Director is also accountable for all stages of educational programs development; including planning, designing, implementation, and evaluation. The Director collaborates with other Enlace Directors and staff to align and connect work across departments to increase organizational impact in the community. This leader ensures education programs and initiatives champion opportunities for educational advancement and economic development of Little Village residents, building a strategic vision for growth and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities: 

Program Management and Supervision

• Provide strategic oversight of program planning, design, implementation and evaluation for the Education Department.
• Facilitate strategic planning for the Education Department, with a focus on integrating long-term community education goals outlined in the Little Village Quality of Life Plan, as well as Enlace's mission, vision, and core values.
• Ensure that programs comply with all federal, state, and local grant requirements including developing protocols, policies, and structures for monitoring on-going grant compliance; develop clear methods for maintaining key program documentation and position all programs to be audit ready at any time.
• Supervise Associate Education Director -provide overall direction, lead with willingness to listen, decisiveness, hold reflection sessions, and oversee work plans.
• Attend Enlace monthly Staff Meetings, Directors Meetings, Leadership Team meetings in addition to other relevant team and organizational meetings.
• Create and maintain a calendar of benchmarks and deadlines related to program implementations, deadlines and reports.
• Maintain and build new partnerships with school administrators, community partners, and educational networks ensuring a mutually beneficial partnership that prioritizes the needs of children and families and regularly assesses growth opportunities and grant compliance.
• Develop and nurture meaningful relationships with educational stakeholders to assess community needs and interests; connect schools, organizational and other local partners to new resources, and ensure that educational programming is tailored to the needs and interests of the constituencies it will serve.
• Cultivate a culture of leadership and growth, by facilitating consistent opportunities for reflection on educational policy and practices, as well as training that is relevant and consistent with Enlace's mission, vision and core values, and addresses the needs and interests of the team. 
• Design and lead the overall evaluation plans (models, theories, goals, outcomes, etc.) for Education programs, working collaboratively with the Director of Data and Impact and Deputy Director of Programs, to engage staff in continuous improvement practices that use data to inform program improvement strategies.

Core Competencies:

Communications, Community Relations, and Advocacy

• Develop and build well-structured partnerships in order to maximize resources for the community; work collaboratively with the Education team to identify partnerships and priorities for Education advocacy efforts.
• Represent Enlace at various tables city-wide, state-wide and county-wide, as well as locally.
• Commitment to lead and engage in challenging conversations that champion racial equity, social justice, and promote systemic changes.
• Build positive relationships with community residents and colleagues in order to successfully inform program planning, so that ideas for implementation directly address the needs and interest of the surrounding community.

Financial Planning & Management

• Develop, manage, and provide strategic direction for the education program budgets, with the support of the Deputy Director of Programs, Deputy Director of Institutional Advancement, the finance team, and program staff.

Fund Development & Management

• Collaborate with the development team, which includes supporting the grant writing process, and submit timely and accurate reports, in order to ensure continuity of programs in addition to strategic expansion.

Additional Qualifications: 

We are looking for a highly motivated, detail-oriented and dedicated self-starter that has:

• Minimum of 8-10 years of relevant management and leadership experience in a school, educational or non-profit setting; working with youth, parents, and community members.
• Management level experience in program management, budget management, grant compliance, and grant reporting.
• Master's Degree in an Education, Public Policy/Public Administration, Non-Profit Management or Social Services field preferred.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills; including strong writing, research and presentation skills.
• High level of understanding and/or experience with the community schools model, parent engagement, and best practices in youth development.
• Experience working with or within Chicago Public Schools.
• Demonstrated experience in providing training and mentorship to direct program staff preferred.
• Understanding of community development frameworks and practices.
• Commitment to social justice and racial equity.
• Experience and commitment to working with urban Latino and immigrant communities.
• Ability to work some evening and weekend hours.
• Valid driver's license and a car.
• Ability to speak, read, and write in both English and Spanish

Compensation: The salary range for this position annually is between $85,000 and $95,000. Salary is commensurate with experience in addition to the generous benefits package listed below.

Benefits:

• Health benefits. Enlace Chicago offers you and your family access to a low-cost comprehensive health care plan, which includes medical (Bluecross Blue Shield), dental (Guardian), and vision (VSP) coverage. 
• Enlace Chicago also provides life insurance coverage and short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost to you with options of additional coverage.  
• Retirement program. Enlace Chicago offers a voluntary 403(B) plan which begins at a 1% contribution. Enrollment is available after a 90-day grace period beginning on the first day of employment.  An enrollment packet will be mailed to you.
• Paid time off.  You will receive 96 hours of Upon Hire hours, which will be prorated depending on your start date. After your 3rd month, you will accrue 3.33 hours per pay period or a total of 6.66 per month . All vacation days are considered above and beyond the approved holiday schedule. Enlace has 12 paid holidays with a Holiday week between Christmas and New Year's Day that will not be deducted from your PTO.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion:

At Enlace Chicago, we are deeply committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued. We believe that diverse perspectives are essential to addressing the complex social challenges we seek to solve, and we strive to create a culture that promotes belonging, respect, and opportunity for all. Our mission is rooted in uplifting the stories of those who have been historically marginalized, and we actively work to ensure that our programs, partnerships, and workplace reflect these values. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and encourage candidates who share our passion for social justice, equity, and inclusion to apply.

Enlace Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Deadline for submission: Open until filled.