Classifications Specialist - Lead Worker

Essential Functions

• Serves as the Classifications Specialist within the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC).
• Supports Hiring and Recruitment functions of IDEC.
• Serves as the designated lead worker to lower-level staff.
• Monitors, evaluates, manages, reviews, approves/disapproves, and verifies IDEC personnel-related transactions.
• Prepares confidential written reports, statistical spreadsheets, and other correspondence involving staffing plans and employee candidate information in order to manage the development, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive continuous quality improvement activities of Human Resources and Classifications workflows.
• Conducts special projects, initiatives, and related research studies regarding classification transactions.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonable within the scope of duties enumerated above.

Specialized Skills

• Working knowledge of hiring and employment policies and procedures outlined in the Personnel Code, Rules, Position Classification Plan, Pay Plan, Collective Bargaining Contracts, Federal Merit Standards, Equal Employment Opportunity Act, Civil Rights Act, and other related human resources policies, procedures, processes, and guidelines derived therefrom?
• Two (2) years professional experience establishing and revising position descriptions for a State Agency including the development of minimum and preferred qualifications.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college.
• Requires two (2) years of professional human resources experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers working knowledge of hiring and employment policies and procedures outlined in the Personnel Code, Rules, Position Classification Plan, Pay Plan, Collective Bargaining Contracts, Federal Merit Standards, Equal Employment Opportunity Act, Civil Rights Act, and other related human resources policies, procedures, processes, and guidelines derived therefrom.
• Prefers two (2) years’ professional experience establishing and revising position descriptions including the development of minimum and preferred qualifications.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional experience in a position classification field, e.g., conducting studies of position descriptions, conducting inquiries to obtain crucial information, analyzing allocation factors, and organizational charts to determine a position’s proper classification, and providing written analysis of a position’s allocation.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional experience advising an agency and/or human resources office or labor relations office in the proper utilization of a classification plan.
  Prefers two (2) years of professional experience in processing reorganizations and layoffs, planning organizational structures, processing and documenting realignments, and masses of position movements.

Conditions of Employment

All applicants must be able to meet the following Conditions of Employment to be considered for this position. The State of Illinois complies with federal and state disability laws and will make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

• Requires a criminal history check.
• Requires the ability to work from the office regularly.
• Requires the ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime, including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Requires the ability to use agency-supplied equipment (e.g., laptop, monitor, personal computer, and work cell phone).

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) was signed into law in June of 2024 with the focus of making early childhood education and care services simpler, better and fairer for families with young children across the state. During fiscal years FY25 and FY26, IDEC will be working through transitioning data, programs and services from three state agencies – the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), – to IDEC in order to be fully operational by July 2026.    

Illinois strives to be the best state in the nation to raise a family with young children and IDEC is committed to continue putting children and families center while reducing complexities and finding efficiencies in the system and advancing equity.