Administrative Hearing Officer

Chicago Public Schools • Chicago, IL

3d

About The Position

The Administrative Hearing Officer works in the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), whose mission is to administer employee grievances, collective-bargaining provisions, Board policies and rules, and employee discipline in accordance with statutory and contractual requirements. The OAH presides over discipline hearings, investigates and adjusts labor-union grievances, and houses the Criminal Background Committee, which reviews applicants’ criminal background histories.

With oversight from the Executive Director of Administrative Hearings, the Administrative Hearing Officer reports directly to the Director of Administrative Hearings. This is a full-time, exempt position paid on a salary basis. The role conducts employee discipline hearings and pre-arbitration grievance meetings, provides guidance on compliance with collective bargaining agreements and Board policies, rules, and regulations, and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law program.
• At least three years of experience in labor relations, human resources, or related fields; experience may include work in an organized public school setting as a principal, administrator, or employee representative.
• Ability to analyze fact patterns, identify inconsistencies or concerns, and recommend corrections.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex analysis of facts, law, policies, rules, and contracts in a simple, coherent style.
• Ability to preside over high-stakes adversarial hearings involving participants with strongly held opposing views.
• Interpersonal skills that foster school administrators’ and employees’ trust and confidence in the officer’s fairness, knowledge, and skills.
• Time-management skills to prioritize a caseload and issue prompt decisions.
• High levels of integrity, honesty, credibility, and courage to make difficult but necessary decisions.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
• Employees must establish Chicago residency within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain it throughout employment. All CPS employees must be Illinois residents; the Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary or part-time positions.

Nice To Haves

• Illinois license to practice law is strongly preferred.
• A degree in education or a related field is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct administrative discipline hearings to elicit facts and determine whether discipline and/or dismissal is appropriate under Board policies, guidelines, rules, practices, and other relevant considerations.
• Draft memoranda summarizing facts, analyzing the matter, and recommending a disposition in disciplinary cases.
• Conduct pre-arbitration grievance meetings with labor organization representatives 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.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree