Administrative Hearing Officer

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 325,000 students in 500 schools and employing nearly 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. In order to fulfill this mission we make three commitments to our students, their families and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership and continuous learning.

The Office of Administrative Hearing's (OAH) mission is to ensure effective administration of employee grievances, collective-bargaining provisions, Board policies and rules, and employee discipline to facilitate compliance with statutory and contractual requirements. The OAH’s main duties include presiding over discipline hearings and investigating and adjusting grievances filed by labor unions. The OAH also houses the Criminal Background Committee, which is responsible for reviewing the criminal background histories of applicants. With oversight from the Executive Director of Administrative Hearings, the Administrative Hearings Officer will report directly to the Director of Administrative Hearings.  This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Administrative Hearing Officer will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Conduct administrative hearings in discipline cases in order to elicit facts and determine whether discipline and/or dismissal is appropriate under Board policies, guidelines, rules and practices and other relevant considerations; draft memorandum with factual summary, analysis, and recommended disposition of disciplinary matter

• Conduct grievance meetings with labor organization representatives at the pre-arbitration step of the grievance procedure as the Chief Executive Officer’s representative; issue grievance dispositions consistent with collective bargaining agreements

• Counsel school principals, administrators and employees regarding compliance with collective bargaining agreements and Board policies, rules, and regulations

• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Administrative Hearing Officer must possess the following qualifications:

Type of Education Required:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law program required 

• Illinois license to practice law strongly preferred

• Degree in education or a related field a plus

Type of Experience and Number of Years:

• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in labor relations, human resources or related fields (may include experience in an organized public school setting as principal, administrator or as an employee representative)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to analyze fact patterns, identify inconsistencies or areas of concern, and recommend corrections

• Advanced ability to communicate clearly and succinctly both orally and in writing, and to write complex analysis of facts, law and policies/rules/contract in simple, coherent style

• Ability to preside over high-stakes adversarial hearings in which participants may have strongly held opposing views

• Interpersonal skills that enable school administrators and employees to have trust and confidence in your fairness, knowledge and skills

• Time management skills to prioritize caseload and issue prompt decisions 

• Demonstrate high levels of integrity, honesty, credibility, and the courage to make difficult yet necessary decisions

• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.