Program Analyst – Chi-Rise [Crown Family Philanthropies]

Position Description

Crown Family Philanthropies (CFP or the Foundation) seeks a Program Analyst to serve as project manager for its Chi-Rise team.

Chi-Rise is a postsecondary success initiative within CFP’s Education Portfolio. Chi-Rise was established in 2020 to improve postsecondary access, persistence, and attainment rates for historically underrepresented students in Chicago. Since its inception, Chi-Rise has led a partner-driven strategy toward that goal, through deep relationships with Chicago Public Schools, non-profit organizations that specialize in college preparation and in-college support, and a robust network of advisors on research, evaluation, operations, and scholarship administration. Together, these partnerships allow Chi-Rise to offer a continuum of support that starts in high school and extends to college graduation. This approach includes three interconnected and mutually reinforcing efforts: Fit & Match, Finance, and Finish.

Chi-Rise partners with five neighborhood CPS high schools on the city’s south and west sides and invests in their capacity to improve the fit, match and affordability of the postsecondary options that students are exploring and ultimately selecting. The Chi-Rise Scholarship then helps college-bound students finance their college experiences and overcome financial obstacles on their postsecondary paths. Chi-Rise Scholarship recipients also receive the support of experienced and proven postsecondary persistence programming through partner organizations.

The new project manager position will report to the Director of Education on an interim basis (longterm reporting structure will be discussed in the hiring process). The project manager will work closely with the Program Officer(s), other staff, and partners to project manage and implement the multiple components of Chi-Rise. Once project management systems and structures are well established, the role will also support project management activities of CFP’s broader Education portfolio.

The ideal candidate will have strong project management, relationship, organizational, analytical, and communication skills. Experience in education and postsecondary success programming is a plus.

Responsibilities

Program Implementation: Support and collaborate with the Director of Education and Program Officer(s) to implement the full range of Chi-Rise programming, including:

• Review and coordinate the work of program partners (high schools, nonprofit partners, scholarship administrator, evaluation partner, design facilitation partners, etc.)
• Manage the overall Chi-Rise project plan, work streams, and calendar, ensuring mission-priority tasks are on-track to completion
• Track and communicate updates on Chi-Rise progress to internal and external stakeholders
• Gather and report on regular insights from Chi-Rise partners across program strategy, program implementation and support, and scholarship administration

Partner Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Support the Director of Education and Program Officer(s) on organizing and coordinating Chi-Rise partners to ensure effective implementation of the program
• Ensure external partners are completing promised project deliverables.
  Work to problem-solve and remove any obstacles external partners are experiencing in completing their deliverables.
• Support development and production of program reporting materials for internal and external stakeholders, including CFP trustees, grantee partners and Chicago Public Schools leadership
• Manage multiple deadlines leading up to relevant meetings with stakeholders
• Assist in the coordination of meeting planning, site visits, and other learning opportunities; coordinate with CFP administrative team on trustee committee meeting logistics

Grants Management

• Communicate reporting requirements with grant-funded Chi-Rise and Education portfolio partners
• Serve as liaison between program teams and Grants Management team to ensure grants database is accurate and current.
• Update the grants database each cycle to implement proper processes for proposals, grant recommendations, grant reports, and grant agreements
• Coordinate with Grants Management and/or administrative team to ensure timely updates and smooth transfer of data through both web and database platforms
• Review grantee progress reports and work with relevant program staff to determine if grant requirements have been satisfied
• Attend grantmaking and strategy meetings as needed and lead specified agenda items and related meeting tasks as assigned
• Provide input on funding recommendations and strategic priorities, in partnership with the team
• Assist with strategy development, research, and/or data analysis for Chi-Rise and portfolio grants
• Provide administrative and project support needed by Program Officer(s) to facilitate grantmaking and grant oversight

Qualifications

• Required Experience
  • Education: Bachelor’s Degree or commensurate field experience required
  • Years of Experience: 2-4+ years of relevant work experience in the nonprofit and/or education sector preferred

• Minimum Knowledge/Skills Required
  • Project Management Skills
    • Demonstrated ability to efficiently and effectively manage project and implementation plans
    • Adept at using and manipulating project management tools and software
    • Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
    • Exceptional time management and prioritization skills
    • Demonstrated ability to “manage up,” ensuring Director and Program Officer(s) and other team members understand and appreciate the dynamics of program implementation and their role in it
    • Ability to anticipate needs, identify risks, and solve problems independently and in groups
    • Demonstrated ability to understand the feasibility and potential impact of program strategy and implementation approaches

• • Analytical and Communications Skills
    • Strong analytical and writing skills, including the ability to assess and synthesize complex information from diverse and multiple inputs into a clear, concise path forward
    • Excellent communication and presentation skills, and confidence in these while engaging high-level stakeholders
    • Demonstrated ability to navigate complexity

• • Collaboration and Relationship Skills
    • Ability to work with partners and facilitate multiple workstreams
    • Willingness to take initiative, manage a high volume of work, and meet ambitious deadlines
    • Possess the characteristics of humility, modesty, and integrity
    • Commitment to collaboration, adaptability, flexibility, and teamwork

About Crown Family Philanthropies

Crown Family Philanthropies (“CFP” or the “Foundation”) is the philanthropic division of Henry Crown and Company and supports the Crown Family’s philanthropic and grantmaking endeavors. In 2009, after more than 60 years of family grantmaking under the name Arie and Ida Crown Memorial, CFP was developed to represent an array of family grantmaking practices. Today the legacy of Arie and Ida Crown lives on in the work continued by their descendants, who remain dedicated to the Jewish tradition of tikun olam, or “repairing the world.” Supported by a professional staff of experts, CFP is led by more than 50 family members across multiple generations who come together to set strategy and make grantmaking decisions.

About CC Industries, Inc.

CC Industries goes to market through a portfolio of companies in the following industries: Transportation Equipment & Logistics, Packaging, Capital Equipment, and Food. A primary focus across the portfolio is on manufacturing and distribution including metal fabrication, machining, reinforced composites, injection molding, lamination, and assembly.

Why work for us?

CC Industries, located in downtown Chicago, is a family owned business with more than a 100-year legacy and track record of creating an inclusive and engaging work environment. The company offers a rewarding workplace with a culture rooted in core values of integrity, trust, and empowerment. The workplace offers a high-level of self-direction and engagement with others to create a collaborative environment.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals experiencing disability and BIPOC are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At CC Industries we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.