HR Manager

One Million Degrees accelerates community college students’ progress on career pathways to economic mobility.

Over 60% of students who start community college do not complete a degree or successfully transfer to a four‑year institution. However, 84% of jobs in the US require skills training beyond high school. OMD’s holistic support model is designed to support community college students as they work toward degrees and careers. From tutors and coaches to financial assistance and professional development, OMD helps community college students succeed in school, work, and life, transforming their futures and the futures of those around them for generations.

The OMD student support model is rooted in evaluation and evidence: A randomized controlled trial conducted with the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab shows that OMD scholars are 70% more likely to enroll, 94% more likely to persist, 73% more likely to earn a degree.

Currently, OMD serves scholars in all 7 of the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and is scaling to reach over 3000 community college scholars by 2026 through our unique partnership with CCC. In addition to direct services, OMD partners with employers across industries to build on‑ramps to in‑demand jobs through internships and apprenticeships, and supports institutions nationwide to design and implement models of holistic student support.

Through this growing body of work, OMD continues to have a profound impact in Chicagoland while becoming a national model for sustainable, scalable, and systemic change.

• Equity:
  We address historical and existing systemic inequities by taking a holistic approach to supporting students on their path to economic mobility.
• Excellence:
  We hold ourselves to a high bar and provide exceptional support so that students are empowered to achieve their ambitions.
• Community:
  We unite around putting students first, collaborating with partners, and celebrating our collective wins.
• Learning:
  We each adapt to a changing world and refine our approach to support students, community members, staff, and stakeholders along the way.
• Amplify:
  We advocate for our students and share what we've learned as leaders in the field.

One Million Degrees (OMD) is seeking a hands‑on, solutions‑driven HR Manager to help strengthen and modernize our people operations. Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, this role is ideal for a builder—someone who thrives on creating order out of complexity, designing and implementing systems, and putting scalable processes in place. The HR Manager will take a proactive, customer‑service‑oriented approach to supporting employees and leaders, balancing compliance with creativity to solve problems and improve the employee experience.

Success in this role requires exceptional judgment, strong critical thinking, and a high comfort with ambiguity—knowing how to figure things out when no guidebook exists and then creating the guidebook and playbook for others to follow. The ideal candidate is resourceful, detail‑oriented, and skilled at developing SOPs, while also maintaining an end‑to‑end perspective on how HR connects across the organization.

We’re looking for someone with a “get it done” mentality who can roll up their sleeves, establish strong foundations, and elevate HR into a trusted, high‑functioning partner for the organization. Specific duties and responsibilities are listed below.

• Enhance OMD’s recruitment and hiring practices to attract and retain high‑quality, diverse talent across all levels.
• Partner with managers to identify the skills, competencies, and qualifications needed for open roles.
• Facilitate a seamless and supportive hiring journey for managers and candidates, combining expertise with a customer‑first approach.
• Standardize and document recruitment workflows, creating scalable SOPs for consistent practices across departments.

• Handle employee concerns and complaints, conducting investigations as needed.
• Process FMLA paperwork and other employee leave requests in accordance with policy and law.
• Partner with managers to support performance improvement plans (PIPs)…