Description

The Director of Talent Acquisition provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all recruitment, selection, and hiring activities for Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS). This role is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive, data-informed talent acquisition strategy that ensures the timely hiring of a diverse, highly qualified workforce while maintaining compliance with collective bargaining agreements, civil service requirements, district policies, and applicable employment laws.

The Director partners closely with labor leaders, school administrators, and district leadership to balance operational staffing needs with contractual obligations related to seniority, transfers, posting timelines, and recall rights. This role ensures recruitment systems and practices are transparent, equitable, legally defensible, and responsive to the evolving needs of schools and departments across the district.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to the Executive Chief of Human Resources.

To review the full job duties, please click apply and visit our SPPS Careers webpage.  It is job number 1022272. 

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and at least six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in talent acquisition or human resources.
At least three (3) years of experience leading or supervising recruitment or HR team.
At least two years of experience managing full-cycle recruitment in a large, complex organization.
Professional certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, PHR, or equivalent.
 

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in Human Resources, Education Leadership, Public Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in talent acquisition, recruitment, or human resources.
Two years of experience leading process improvement initiatives, such as ATS implementation, workflow redesign, or the development of standardized hiring protocols.
Experience leading employer branding, recruitment marketing, and outreach initiatives.
Experience in an urban K¿12 school district or comparable public-sector organization.
Experience working directly with labor relations staff and union leadership on recruitment, staffing, or workforce planning issues.
Experience developing and implementing district-wide talent acquisition or workforce planning strategies.
Experience recruiting for high-need or hard-to-fill instructional, operational, or leadership roles.
Experience managing vendor contracts, and recruitment technologies.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical and mental demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Physical Requirements
Ability to perform work primarily in an office environment, including prolonged periods of sitting, standing, and walking.
Ability to operate standard office equipment, including computers, keyboards, monitors, telephones, and multi-function devices.
Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and in virtual meeting environments.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents, data reports, policies, contracts, and regulations.
Ability to attend meetings, recruitment events, job fairs, and site visits, including travel to schools, district offices, and community locations.
Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull materials and equipment weighing up to approximately 25 pounds (e.g., recruitment materials, files, or presentation equipment).
Ability to work extended hours as needed during peak recruitment periods, including occasional evenings and weekends.

Mental Requirements
Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality in handling sensitive personnel, labor relations, and candidate information.
Ability to analyze complex information, including labor agreements, employment laws, recruitment data, and workforce trends, and make informed recommendations.
Ability to manage multiple, competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment with frequent interruptions.
Ability to plan, organize, and lead long-term strategic initiatives while also addressing urgent operational staffing needs.
Ability to communicate complex policies, contractual provisions, and procedural requirements clearly and effectively to diverse stakeholders.
Ability to manage conflict, navigate politically sensitive situations, and collaborate with union representatives, administrators, and executive leadership.
Ability to lead teams through change, problem-solve effectively, and maintain composure under pressure.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, demonstrating initiative, accountability, and adaptability.