Site Manager - Community Schools Initiative in Chicago, Illinois at Urban Initiatives

Urban Initiatives Overview

Founded in 2003, Urban Initiatives is a nonprofit organization that runs youth development programs in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Urban Initiatives’ mission is to use the power of sport and play to empower Chicago’s youth to achieve academic success, develop social-emotional skills, and build social capital. Currently, Urban Initiatives serves an estimated 85 schools throughout the City of Chicago.

Site Manager – Community Schools Initiative

Urban Initiatives is seeking an analytical self-starter to coordinate our Community Schools Initiative (CSI) Grant. The Site Manager oversees out-of-school time (OST) programming across two Community Schools Initiative (CSI) partner schools, ensuring consistent, accountable operations at both sites. Key responsibilities include recruiting students, coordinating developmentally appropriate activities, supervising staff, engaging families, and collaborating with community organizations to meet student and family needs. The role also manages financial and attendance records, markets the program for growth, and maintains relationships with school administrators and community vendors — all leveraging the 21st Century Learning Grant to maximize impact.

Our Culture: Our healing-centered approach to youth development helps young people reach their full potential and puts YOU right in the middle of making an impact that will shape generations of Chicago youth. We are coaches by trade and we bring this expertise into our work environment. You can expect us to deliver ample learning opportunities, growth mindsets, a culture of feedback and transparency, and fun as a core value. Our first-in-class benefits- including competitive salaries and medical, dental, and vision insurance - are guaranteed to keep you in the game.

Are you ready to put passion into action to build a stronger Chicago?

Reports to: OST Program Director

Work Location: This is an in-person position at school partners in Chicago's West Side neighborhoods.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities You Possess:

• Experience working with multiple communication platforms: The ideal candidate will be experienced communicating electronically, verbally, and virtually with various stakeholders.
• Experience managing youth programs: The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience managing youth development, after-school, and educational programs.
• Experience managing multiple projects: The ideal candidate will have demonstrated the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities, maintaining high-quality work.
• Budget management experience: The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience managing and maintaining a budget.
• Administrative experience: The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in organizing and maintaining accurate documentation and records including data collection, expenditures, rosters, and incident reports.
• Teamwork skills: The ideal candidate will be a team player who is able to work effectively with others.
• Commitment to culturally responsive practices: The ideal candidate will have a deep commitment to restorative practices and an SEL-informed culture.
• Spanish language proficiency: Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish is preferred for some sites.

What you would do:

1. Program Implementation & Access Focus

• Ensure daily program operations align with CSI goals: addressing academic gaps, providing enrichment opportunities, and supporting SEL.
• Prioritize enrollment of students with the highest needs.
• Track participation to ensure school-level and grant-wide student targets are met.

2. Academic & Enrichment Support

• Coordinate two daily program components:
• • FOCUS (hour 1): Academic support in reading and math.
  • EXPAND (hour 2): Enrichment activities (STEM, arts, SEL, sports, etc.).
• Support program staff in delivering trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.

3. Restorative Justice & SEL Integration

• Partner with school leadership to integrate restorative practices into after-school environments.
• Maintain an SEL-informed culture using Urban Initiatives’ Coach Behaviors and Program Activities (CBPA) model.

4. Grant Compliance & Operations

• Complete and submit all required documentation on time (e.g., student rosters, sign-in sheets, surveys, incident reports).
• Maintain accurate records in CitySpan and UI systems for all activities, expenditures, and participation.
• Participate in grant-required data collection, surveys, and program evaluations.

5. Leadership & Cross-Site Management Support

• Attend and support program-wide leadership meetings and events (e.g., Saturday programming, Community Play Cup).
• Provide light-touch support to additional sites, as needed, including participation in meetings, guidance on compliance, and staff coaching.
• Audit documentation and support grant performance metrics across both sites.

6. Team Collaboration & Development

• Provide feedback to the Program Director and contribute to continuous quality improvement.
• Participate in professional learning and help inform training content based on site needs.
• Maintain SOPs and site-specific resources in shared drives.

Compensation Package:

• Competitive Base salary of $52,000 [pending confirmation of budget in the grant]
• Health, dental, and vision insurance Options
• Retirement Plan Options
• Flexible Time Off and Additional Leave Options
• Comprehensive Training
• Employee Recognition Programs
• Support for Community Involvement
• Paid holidays (Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day)

Additionally, our values of Teamwork and Inclusion ensure that Urban Initiatives is an environment where you will be supported and welcomed by your coworkers and peers.