Staffing Manager

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 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 Nutrition Support Services (NSS) offers all CPS students breakfast, lunch, and afterschool meals at no charge. Meals are offered every school day, during Saturday-school programs, and during the summer. Meals comply with nutrition standards set forth in the USDA’s Child Nutrition Program meal patterns. The Office of Nutrition Support Services provides a healthy, high quality meal program that supports a joyful and equitable daily learning experience for all students.

Job Summary: 

Reporting to the Executive Director of NSS, the Staffing Manager is responsible for managing the Nutrition Staffing team and leading the recruitment and staffing initiatives for 2,200 school-based lunchroom positions in over 600 sites. Beyond traditional hiring, this role will drive organizational results by aligning workforce planning with operational goals, ensuring that every school is staffed by high-performing, well-trained employees. This role will also be responsible for employee relations, proactive talent development, employee retention, and high-level performance management. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Staffing Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Manage the day-to-day Staffing Operations for NSS employees. Hire, train, develop, monitor, and evaluate performance of the staffing team, including direct reports.  

• Resolve routine employee matters, including disciplinary action for union employees. Assist in addressing performance and employee relations' issues through coaching, discipline and termination processes. Participates in the discipline and grievance hearings, as necessary.

• Report key performance metrics and maintain understanding of financial implications of these metrics. Communicates trends, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.

• Review employee data and employee relations matters to identify trends; implement strategies focused toward positive employee relations.

• Manage all internal and external recruitment activities, including the internal bid process, student internship program, and orientation for new employees.

• Partner with the CPS Payroll department and Staffing Services team to ensure employee status and rate changes are reflected in an accurate and timely manner.

• Support Labor Relations in the management of union contracts to ensure regulatory compliance.

• Develop and execute a strategic staffing plan to ensure the candidate pipeline meets the demands of projected growth of the organization. Develop, cultivate, and manage relationships with school leaders and vendor management partners, to understand and help fulfill their staffing and meet business goals.

• Liaise with the CPS Central Office Talent Management team to provide input to their strategic plan and to the development of policy and practice supporting recruitment, training, and coaching for Nutrition Support staff.

• Other duties as assigned.