Deputy Chief of Labor Relations

4 days ago

Chicago, United States Chicago Public Schools Full time

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 40,000 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 Labor Relations team is located within the CPS Law Department. The Law Department provides a full array of legal services to the Chicago Board of Education and the various departments and divisions of the Chicago Public Schools. The Labor Relations team negotiates, administers, and implements all collective bargaining agreements, maintains strong partnerships with the District’s various unions, including its largest: the Chicago Teachers Union, advises principals and department leaders on matters related to collective bargaining agreements and labor relations, and generally represents CPS in engagement with its labor partners.


Job Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Labor Relations Officer (CLRO), the Deputy Chief of Labor Relations will assist in the oversight of all aspects of labor relations for CPS. In addition, the Deputy Chief will assist in the supervision, management, and leadership of the Labor Relations team.


The Deputy Chief, Labor Relations will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with the CLRO, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), other senior leaders, and school administrators to help develop labor relations and bargaining goals and strategies
  • Represent CPS in contract negotiations, other collective bargaining sessions, and impact bargaining discussions with eight labor organizations representing CPS’ 40,000 plus public sector unionized employees, most of whom are licensed professional educators and related service personnel
  • Represent CPS in the negotiation and drafting of its inaugural collective bargaining agreement with the newly formed principals and administrators union
  • Support the CLRO in the management of contract administration, including but not limited to, drafting contracts and any supplemental agreements, implementation of all contract terms, mid-term bargaining with all unions, and oversight of joint contractual committees
  • Meeting regularly with labor representatives to establish effective labor/management relations and to preemptively address contractual issues in order to avoid unnecessary grievances
  • Assist in leading the engagement with district principals and union representatives on labor issues, including advising CPS managers on best practices, contractual obligations, and creative problem-solving
  • Advise and train 1,200+ administrators impacted by collective bargaining agreements and related labor issues
  • Provide regular briefings and updates to the CEO, senior leaders, and the Board of Education on labor issues and developments
  • Support the CLRO in the supervision, management, and leadership of the attorneys and support staff assigned to the Labor Relations team
  • Other duties as assigned


In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Deputy Chief, Labor Relations must possess the following qualifications:


Education Required:

  • Bachelor’s degree required
  • Juris Doctor or Masters Degree in Labor Relations, Human Resources, Public Administration, or Employment Law strongly preferred
  • Professional certification such as SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, SPHR or relevant credentials strongly preferred
  • Illinois Professional Educator License endorsed with Administrative (PK- Age 22) preferred

Experience Required:

  • Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in labor relations, employment law, human resources, or school leadership
  • Minimum of four (4) years of direct collective bargaining experience required or a minimum of four (4) years as a school principal is required.
  • Minimum of three (3) years in a supervisory or leadership capacity with experience and knowledge of public sector financial matters, including public sector budgeting
  • Experience constructively engage external stakeholders with diverse viewpoints


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of implications of collective bargaining agreement provisions affecting schools, labor organizations, and employees
  • Strong negotiation skills, including the ability to persuade, plan, strategize, and cooperate with operational goals in mind
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively, and to communicate effectively, with multiple and diverse constituencies and before large audiences and groups, including but not limited to: educators, staff, students, and union leaders
  • Ability to build effective relationships throughout the District and with sophisticated labor organizations in sometimes politically charged environments
  • Demonstrated ability to take ownership of and solve problems, to expeditiously assess issues, and provide sound advice
  • Ability to be a strategic thinker, analyze issues, formulate and evaluate alternatives, make sound, decisive recommendations, and accurately decide when to escalate
  • Strong leadership skills, including in relationship building, employee motivation, conflict management, decision-making, and delegation
  • Sound organizational skills with the ability to build efficient processes
  • Ability to manage numerous projects, cases, and subordinates simultaneously under pressure


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.

Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.

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