Director of Human Resources

Director of Human Resources

Revised: April 2026

D97 Ideal Team Member Profile

The ideal team member in District 97 is a visionary and equity-centered leader who inspires excellence and fosters collective responsibility for student success. This individual:

• Champions the districts vision and drives forward-thinking innovative practices that anticipate future educational needs.
• Stewards public trust and resources with fiscal responsibility and ethical transparency.
• Demonstrates relentless commitment to student success ensuring that every decision supports equitable opportunities and outcomes for all learners.
• Organizes and empowers teams to work collaboratively toward shared goals recognizing the interdependence of roles across departments and schools.
• Fosters a culture of care learning and service grounded in authentic engagement with students families staff and community members.
• Models integrity professionalism and confidentiality serving as a role model for ethical and respectful conduct at all levels.
• Thrives in a culturally racially and linguistically diverse environment showing a deep passion for inclusive practices and building belonging for all team members.
• Seeks and embraces feedback especially when it challenges them to grow and improve in service of students and colleagues.
• Understands the powerful intersection of leadership learning and equity and aligns their work to dismantle systemic barriers.
• Courageously addresses unprofessional behavior holding self and others accountable to high standards in service to the community and students.

About the Role:

The Director of Human Resources is a strategic leader and trusted advisor responsible for guiding the districts human resources vision operations and compliance in support of student success workforce stability and an inclusive organizational culture. Reporting to the Assistant Superintendent the Director leads all HR functions manages a high-performing department and partners with district leadership labor groups and the Board of Education to provide sound guidance on personnel matters employee performance collective bargaining and workforce planning using data-informed and equitable practices.

The Director of Human Resources position will ensure that equity is at the center of the districts services in an effort to positively impact student learning and employee practicesas expressed inBoard Policy 7:12: Ensuring Racial and Educational Equity.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Provides strategic leadership in the development and implementation of short- and long-range human resources plans that support district goals a positive organizational culture and a diverse workforce.
• Advises the Assistant Superintendent administrative team and Board of Education on personnel matters labor relations staffing models and human resources policies.
• Attends Board of Education meetings and presents information and recommendations as directed by the Assistant Superintendent.

Human Resources Operations & Administration

• Builds develops and sustains a highly effective service-oriented Human Resources team that is trusted respected and recognized for professionalism consistency and sound judgment across the district.
• Directs and manages the day-to-day operations of the Human Resources Department including supervision evaluation and professional development of HR staff.
• Oversees personnel systems and records management including employee files payroll coordination leave management benefits administration onboarding and orientation.
• Develops manages and monitors the Human Resources budget ensuring fiscal stewardship and alignment with district priorities.
• Prepares and submits required federal state and local reports related to personnel staffing and labor compliance.
• Establishes monitors and analyzes Human Resources metrics and workforce data (e.g. hiring trends demographic data turnover leave patterns and vacancy rates) to evaluate equity in hiring assignment and retention; identify trends and risks; and support a stable and inclusive workforce.
• Designs implements and continuously improves a comprehensive onboarding and pre-employment process for all new employees including certified classified administrative and substitute staff.
• Ensures timely and accurate entry and maintenance of employee data in HRIS and personnel files in compliance with board policy collective bargaining agreements and state/federal regulations.

Recruitment Staffing & Workforce Planning

• Oversees recruitment selection and hiring processes for all staff to attract identify and secure high-quality candidates for open positions across the organization ensuring equitable transparent and compliant practices.
• Collaborates with district leadership to develop student enrollment projections and forecast staffing needs.
• Develops and maintains job descriptions for all district positions in compliance with EEOC ADA and applicable regulations.
• Partners with district staff to strengthen recruitment and retention practices that promote a diverse and representative workforce.

Performance Management & Employee Development

• Oversees the development implementation and monitoring of employee evaluation systems to support continuous improvement and accountability.
• Develops implements and standardizes disciplinary procedures and documentation templates; advises and supports administrators in the consistent and appropriate application of employee discipline.
• Serves as a resource to administrators and principals regarding employee performance evaluation procedures and professional growth.

Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining

• Analyzes and prepares confidential personnel data salary and benefit cost analyses and financial reports to support negotiations and Board decision-making.
• Advises and supports district administration in grievance procedures arbitration processes and contract interpretation.
• Fosters collaborative and effective relationships with employee groups and union representatives.

Employee Relations Investigations & Compliance

• Leads or supports employee investigations in collaboration with administration and legal counsel as appropriate.
• Ensures compliance with ADA requirements including accommodations and interactive processes.
• Oversees workers compensation unemployment claims and employee leave programs.
• Monitors changes in employment law and regulations and ensures district practices remain compliant.

Communication & Reporting

• Prepares reports analyses staffing projections and interpretive materials to support district objectives and compliance requirements.
• Facilitates meetings involving employment procedures regulatory requirements interdepartmental coordination and external agency requests.
• Communicates clearly and effectively with district leadership staff unions and the Board of Education.

Other Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent.

Leadership Compliance & Professionalism

• Assumes Administrative Responsibility:Act as the Assistant Superintendents designee in their absence.
• Ensures Compliance:Ensures fidelity and compliance with all Board of Education policies collective bargaining agreements administrative procedures and state/federal laws.
• Upholds Professional Ethics:Exhibits the highest standards of ethical behavior integrity and confidentiality in all school-related matters.
• Models Professional Growth:Assumes responsibility for ones own professional growth by reflecting on practice seeking feedback and staying current with educational research and best practices.
• Represents the District:Maintains proactive communication with district leadership and represents the school at required meetings committees and projects.
• Models Professionalism: Works a full professional day and has a visible presence throughout the district as well as at district sponsored community events. Shares information with other central office administrators ensuring districtwide engagement with school-based events.
• Performs Assigned Duties:Completes all reports records and other duties as assigned by the Superintendent or designee.

Content Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of human resources principles and practices including recruitment and selection employee relations performance management compensation benefits administration and workforce planning.
• Knowledge of federal state and local laws regulations and codes governing employment in public education including labor relations collective bargaining EEOC ADA FMLA and applicable school code requirements.
• Knowledge of collective bargaining processes contract administration grievance procedures and labor-management relations in a unionized environment.
• Knowledge of employee evaluation systems disciplinary procedures investigations and documentation requirements.
• Knowledge of human resources data systems personnel records management and HR metrics used to assess workforce trends equity retention and compliance.
• Knowledge of budget development financial analysis and cost modeling related to salaries benefits and staffing.
• Knowledge of best practices related to diversity equity inclusion and workforce stability in educational organizations.

Skills

• Strong leadership and management skills including the ability to build develop supervise and evaluate a high-performing human resources team.
• Effective communication skills both written and verbal with the ability to present complex information clearly to varied audiences including administrators staff unions and the Board of Education.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills including the ability to work collaboratively with labor partners administrators legal counsel and external agencies.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills including the ability to interpret workforce data identify trends and risks and develop data-informed recommendations.
• Skilled in negotiation conflict resolution and facilitation particularly in collective bargaining grievance resolution and employee relations matters.
• Organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities meet deadlines and ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Skill in developing policies procedures templates and guidance that promote consistency equity and legal compliance.

Abilities

• Ability to provide strategic guidance and sound judgment on complex personnel labor relations and employee relations matters.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality exercise discretion and handle sensitive information with professionalism and integrity.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws contracts policies and regulations consistently and appropriately.
• Ability to support and advise administrators and principals in managing employee performance discipline and investigations.
• Ability to use data and metrics to support equitable hiring retention and workforce planning decisions.
• Ability to adapt to changing laws regulations and organizational needs while maintaining effective operations.
• Ability to foster trust credibility and collaboration across the district and within the Human Resources Department.

Candidate Qualifications:

• Masters degree in Educational Administration Human Resources Public Administration Business Administration or a related field.
• Valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with an Administrative or Principal Endorsement.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in human resources educational administration or a related leadership role preferably within a public school district or other public-sector organization.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Illinois School Code ISBE regulations and applicable federal and state employment laws including EEOC ADA FMLA and labor relations requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with collective bargaining contract administration grievance procedures and labor-management relations in a unionized environment.
• Professional school human resources certification (e.g. pHCLE or eHCLE)

Physical Requirements:

This position requires the performance of light workï½which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. The position includes close visual acuity frequent talking hearing walking climbing stairs and standing occasional lifting carrying pushing and/or pulling some stooping kneeling crouching and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. The job is performed in non-hazardous environments and a clean atmosphere.

Apply through Frontline:

Applications are currently being accepted for this position via ourdistrict website. Please reach out to our human resources department at if you have questions about the application process.

We encourage interested applicants to apply as we continue to uplift our equity policy. Our goal is to recruit employ support and retain racially and linguistically diverse and culturally competent administrative instructional and support personnel. Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color national origin gender sexual orientation age marital status veteran status or disability status. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The mental demands physical demands and work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow an employee with disabilities to perform the essential functions.