Assistant Press Secretary

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving more than 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 Office of Communications promotes the CPS vision, mission, activities, and priorities for all internal and external communication. In addition, the office supports schools by promoting their work and assisting in crisis situations through a full range of tools, channels, platforms, and strategies designed to engage key internal and external stakeholders. 

Job Summary: 

Reporting to the Executive Director Media Relations, the Assistant Press Secretary supports excellent internal and external communication and collaboration for one of the District’s most public-facing teams. This frontline job offers a clear opportunity for career growth, skill development and internal promotion across the Communications department. The Assistant Press Secretary supports the press team’s daily operations, plans, and leads execution of successful CPS press events involving senior District and school leadership, faculty and staff.  This position requires a self-starter who can manage multiple tasks, strategize the efficiency of press operations and execute events that deliver clear storytelling about public education, taking into consideration the best visual, televised and livestream opportunities. Special projects will be assigned on a case-by-case basis. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Assistant Press Secretary will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Ensures detailed media inquiries are shared with the team that a timely response is delivered while also tracking daily published and broadcast stories on a number of metrics
• Manage logistics of a portion of the press events, as well as photo opportunities and media interviews to accomplish the following:

Coordinate with all partners to conceptualize and implement great press events or media opportunities/interviews

Develop the run of show for the event, identify speakers (E.g., senior/school leadership and other agency leaders), sequencing out the speaking program and organizing the development of talking points and organizing the development of talking points

Identify an appropriate location for the respective public appearance

Manage the setup of the event and coordinate with participating senior/school leadership to ensure they understand their role and responsibilities and have the materials they need to succeed 

Provide support during the event to ensure it runs smoothly and on-time 

Manage the space clean up in a timely manner

• Manage the press team’s monthly, weekly and daily calendar, considering annual school year milestones, storytelling opportunities, events and initiatives in collaboration with the executive director of media relations and take initiative to pitch and propose positive stories to media

• Write succinct and compelling press releases and media events and land related stories

• Other duties as assigned