Laboratory Schools: FinOps Compliance and Data Manager/Coordinator (Part-Time)

Department

Lab School Finance and Operations

About the Department

At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.

No less than scholarship, Lab’s mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab’s student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members’ identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.

Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.

Job Summary

Reports to the Associate Director of Schools, Finance and Operations. Serve as the steward for Lab Schools regulatory and compliance needs. With Lab School leadership, co-chair ISACS (Independent Schools Association of Central States) mulit-year re-accreditation process. Provide support for Lab emergency preparedness. Provide analytical support for decision-making at all levels of the organization. Deliver insightful analytical support for strategic decision-making and tackle special projects as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Proactively track, collect, and analyze compliance data (State of Illinois, NCES, ISBE, IDPH, IHSA, NAIS/DASL, etc.).

• Ensure Lab Schools maintain required compliance through timely documentation, reporting, and tracking deviations.

• Prepare regular and ad hoc compliance reports for leadership, with actionable insights to address operational gaps or improve practices.

• Review and update policies and guidelines to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory standards.

• Stay informed of all Lab Schools activities and initiatives related to compliance.

• Co-chair the ISACS (Independent Schools Association of Central States)  reaccreditation process, including planning, coordination, and stewardship of a multi-year action plan.

• Co-lead the Lab Steering Committee made up of faculty and staff.

• Conduct data analysis, manage accreditation data systems, and produce comprehensive accreditation reports.

• Serve on Lab committees, including Emergency Management Group, Health & Safety Committee.

• Track and report on emergency closures.

• Develop and maintain schoolwide academic calendars and monitor instructional time to ensure compliance and continuity.

• Provide analytical support for organizational decision-making and special projects.

• Identify solutions to complex challenges, leveraging data for problem-solving and process improvement.

• Remain current on educational trends, best practices, and regulatory changes impacting N-12 education.

• Responsible for training office staff on office procedures and compliance protocols. Coordinates special projects.

• Res