Chief People Officer

Oakton Community College; Des Plaines (IL); On-site; USD 158,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule option after 30 days

Tuition waivers and reimbursement

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Oakton College seeks a Chief People Officer to lead talent strategy, equity-minded practices, and HR operations across Des Plaines and Skokie campuses. You will drive recruitment, development, performance, and compensation programs while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws.

The role oversees Title IX, labor relations, and HR data management, with a focus on inclusive, student-centered culture. Expect strategic budgeting, leadership of HR staff, and partnership with executive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resource management, industrial relations or related field; Master's and/or professional HR certifications preferred.
• Minimum of ten years' experience in HR administration including employee/labor relations, recruiting, compensation, benefits and training.
• Five years of progressive supervisory experience leading professional HR staff.
• Two years of HR administration in higher education preferred; strong knowledge of HR policies and laws.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to present to large groups with tact and clarity.
• Experience working with multiple bargaining units and handling confidential assignments.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct the HR department with strategic direction aligned to institutional objectives.
• Advise the President and Administrative team on HR policy, labor contracts, legal requirements, and regulatory impacts.
• Develop strategic recruiting and retention plans to expand access and opportunity across the College.
• Collaborate with the President's Council to establish an institutional succession plan.
• Oversee Title IX matters and mandatory training for staff compliance; lead labor relations activities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

HR Knowledge

Conflict Resolution

Bargaining Experience

Education

Bachelor's in HR/IR or related field

Master's degree preferred and HR certifications

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

ERP systems

Job description

At Oakton College, we know education changes lives - and that starts with the people who make it happen. For more than 50 years, we've built a welcoming and inclusive community where students from all backgrounds and experiences thrive.

We're looking for passionate educators, professionals and leaders to join our team. Whether in the classroom, student support, or behind the scenes, your talents and expertise will make a difference and shape the future.

We provide dynamic learning environments that empower students and employees alike with campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie and a Health Careers Education Center in Evanston.

As a proud institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Oakton is more than a college - it's a place where innovation, equity and lifelong learning drive everything we do. We value diverse perspectives and embrace new ideas and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and student-centered culture.

Job Description:

Job Summary

The Chief People Officer is responsible for leading and executing the College's strategy to attract, develop and retain talent that supports the College's strategic goals. As part of shaping a thriving people-centered culture throughout the College, the Chief People Officer contributes to the development of equity-minded practices and policies to advance talent acquisition and retention and support a culture grounded in equity and inclusion.

Responsibilities include the oversight of the College's regulatory compliance on HR related matters, employee recruitment and hiring, performance management, employee development and training, compensation and benefit programs, HR information and records management, and employee and labor relations, ensuring a high-quality experience for all employees.

Job Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct work of the Human Resources department, providing transformational leadership and strategic direction in alignment with the college's mission and vision. Establish and implement HR initiatives that effectively communicate and support institutional objectives.
• Advise the President and Administrative team on policy, procedures, rules, regulations, labor union contract interpretation and negotiations, legal requirements, and impacts of legislation regarding issues pertaining to human resources.
• Develop comprehensive strategic recruiting and retention plans to meet the human resources needs in alignment with institutional goals, including ways to identify and eliminate barriers to access, opportunity, and advancement for all individuals.
• Collaborate with members of the President's Council to establish an institutional succession plan that corresponds to the strategy and objectives of the College.
• Oversee all employee matters related to Title IX and non-Title IX matters of sexual harassment, and other forms of harassment and discrimination, as defined by Board of Trustees and College policy including receiving and acting on complaints and ensuring mandatory training for employee compliance.
• Serve as the lead member of the negotiation team during collective bargaining contract negotiations and Memoranda of Understanding, promoting effective labor/management relations.
• Oversee all HR related data, including the completion of internal and external data requests.
• Analyze, interpret, and ensure compliance with state and federal laws, and Board policies and procedures. Liaise with outside legal counsel regarding all matters pertaining to HR as necessary.
• Assure the effective and efficient operation of the Human Resources department. Responsible for the development of accountability measures and tracking mechanisms to demonstrate productivity and progress of initiatives.
• Develop and manage the Human Resources budget, demonstrating accountability and good stewardship of funds.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Supervision Received

Direction is received from the President.

Supervision Exercised

Administrative and functional supervision is exercised over assigned administrative and professional staff.

Requirements:

Education, Work Experience, and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resource management, industrial relations or a related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired is necessary. Master's degree in one of the above fields and/or Professional Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR), or other relevant human resources related certification is preferred.
• Minimum of ten years' experience in human resource administration including employee relations, labor relations, recruiting, compensation, benefits administration, and/or training and development and supervision is required.
• Five years of progressive supervisory experience as a leader of professional staff in a Human Resources department.
• Two years of human resource administration in a higher education environment is preferred.Thorough knowledge of policies, federal and state laws as they relate to HR policies, practices and procedures, benefit programs, employee and labor relations, salary administration, and recruitment techniques.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to write and present educational programs, make presentations to large groups, and be able to give and receive advice and opinions in situations requiring sensitivity and tact.
• Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution, coaching, and/or mediation.
• Demonstrated professional experience in a working environment with multiple bargaining units, preferred.
• Ability to exercise considerable judgment and discretion in establishing and maintaining good working relationships.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and confidential assignments, organize work, and function independently and effectively under heavy workloads and during peak periods.
• Ability to interact professionally and respectfully with people of different levels of education, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences.
• Skill in the use of personal computers and general office software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and enterprise resource planning systems.

Working Environment and Physical Demands:

Mobility to move from building to building on-Campus, between campus locations, and to visit off-Campus entities. Work is performed in a general office environment and is sedentary in nature. Little or no exposure to adverse working conditions.

Additional Information:

Salary Range: $158,000 - $193,000

A comprehensive benefit package is available which includes medical, vision, and dental insurance; flexible spending; term life insurance; tuition waivers and reimbursement; retirement; paid holidays; sick days.

Appointment to a Administrator position is contingent upon approval by the College's Board of Trustees

Based on the needs of the college and with Administrator approval, some positions at the college may have a hybrid schedule option available after 30 working days.

To become an applicant, interested individuals must complete the online application linked from the posting found on the Oakton website. Electronic copies of a cover letter, resume/cv, list of three (3) references with contact information and transcripts must be submitted by the applicant via uploading to the Oakton employment website. Please indicate the position code (CPO-26) on the cover letter. Uploaded documents need to be under 2 MB in size and in either .doc, .txt, or .pdf format. A total of 8 separate documents may be uploaded to an application file that has been successfully submitted to the College.

TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED:

An UNOFFICIAL copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application by the applicant.

***Official transcripts for all degrees earned are only required prior to appointment. *** Official transcripts or a placement/credential file should be e-mailed to [e-mail].

Official transcripts or placement/credential files sent by postal mail should be sent to:

Oakton College

Chief People Officer (CPO-26)

c/o Human Resources Department

1600 East Golf Road

Des Plaines, IL 60016

Interviewees will be reimbursed for expenses associated with travel in excess of 50 miles to the interviews.

Oakton College conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Convictions are not a bar to employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with state and federal law and in accordance with the Illinois Department of Human Rights Conviction Record Protection Act of March 2021.

Posted positions may be removed from the Oakton website without notice when it is determined that no additional applicants are required.

Oakton College does not utilize E-Verify for employment eligibility verification.