Director, Service Delivery

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 approximately 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.

 The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has set ambitious goals to ensure that every child—in every school and every neighborhood—has access to a world-class learning experience from birth, resulting in graduation from high school college- and career-ready

 Job Summary: 

The Director of Service Delivery will support the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services’ (ODLSS) partnerships by overseeing the Service Delivery team, including Vision Impairment, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Home and Hospital Instruction, Assistive Technology, and Transition Services.  The Director of Service Delivery will also oversee additional areas with a focus on improving parent partnerships and meaningful participation in the special education process. The Director of Service Delivery will serve as the ODLSS liaison to the ISBE special education department and support ISBE’s Results Driven Accountability (RDA) process and State Performance Plan indicator monitoring. The Director of Service Delivery reports to the Executive Director of ODLSS Service Operations.

 The Director, Service Delivery will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Facilitates high-level communication with Network Chief of Schools and school administration regarding school-wide decision-making to ensure the needs of students with disabilities are addressed in the schools.
• Provides strategy-driven leadership, direction, and supervision to the Service Delivery teams. This includes but is not limited to the development and performance management of a team of managers, specialists, and support staff to ensure the respective areas they support are following special education law and policies as well as best practice in alignment with the district’s vision and Board policy.
• Evaluates school implementation and provides feedback to district administration and ODLSS senior leadership on an ongoing basis.
• Builds the capacity of staff to effectively address issues related to services for students with disabilities including the resolution of parent concerns.
•  Assists ODLSS senior leadership team in their comprehensive assessment of needed areas regarding the development of compliant and data-driven IEPs on behalf of students with disabilities.
• Provides support to parents by informing them of procedural safeguards, directing them to appropriate ODLSS staff for assistance with service issues, and facilitating resolutions.
• Maintains oversight of parent-targeted training to ensure parental knowledge of special education and establish partnering relationships via Parent University and other family outreach avenues.
• Provides support and guidance to team members and stakeholders involved in the RDA process.
• Investigates, drafts, and submits written responses to ISBE regarding State Performance Plan indicator findings and support corrective action plans that might be ordered by ISBE pursuant to these monitoring processes.
• Monitors the effectiveness of special education services; collects and uses data to make decisions and target support.
• Supports opening and closing of new programs & classrooms throughout the district. 
•  Creates Continuous Improvement (CI)  documents with the service delivery team.
•  Leads opportunities for collaboration via weekly team meetings. 
• Monitors the completion and timelines for the service delivery team.
• Creates presentations (BOY, MOY, EOY) with the service delivery team. 
• Manages budget, including but not limited to purchasing, funds transfer requests, and payment reviews (Oracle).
• Serves as a subject matter expert on special education service delivery items.
• Provides the Executive Director with trend data to assist in the preparation of policy development and systemic improvement recommendations.
• Other duties as assigned.

 In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Director of Service Delivery must possess the following qualifications: 

 Education Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a concentration in Education or a related field of study.
• Special Education teaching certificate or Professional Educator License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education, or General Administrative (or out-of-state equivalent with the requirement that ISBE licensure be obtained within 6 months).
• Master’s degree is preferred.

 Experience Required: 

• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in the special education field. 
• Minimum of five (5) years of instructional experience or experience as a related service provider. 
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience.
• Legal experience in the field of special education is preferred.

 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Strong knowledge of the Aspen system and ability to navigate, with precision, the SSM system
• Knowledge of the Illinois School Code and special education regulations. Understanding of IDEA, ADA, and other laws supporting individuals with disabilities.
• Ability to work effectively with school-based staff, citywide staff, and governmental and community-based agencies.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic, and critical thinking skills with a focus on driving results.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills in order to meet continuous critical deadlines.
• Strong leadership, team building and communication skills (speaking, writing, and listening).
• Ability to manage professionals, review work effectiveness, and develop colleagues’ skills as needed.
• Demonstrates ability to collaborate.
• Proficient in using Google suite and Microsoft Office suite of tools (e.g. Docs, Sheets, Word, Excel).
• Strong staff development ability to provide continual training for the team.

 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.