Early Childhood Education Recruitment Specialist

Recruitment Specialist Kido is seeking an experienced Recruitment Specialist to lead full-cycle recruiting, hiring, and onboarding for our growing network of early childhood education centers. This role is ideal for a former Child Care Center Director who understands the unique challenges of recruiting and hiring teachers, assistant teachers, administrators, and school leaders. This position works primarily onsite at one of our Chicago‑area schools and partners closely with Center Directors and school leadership to build strong teams across multiple locations. Periodic travel to our schools in Houston and Austin, Texas is required to support recruiting initiatives, hiring events, and operational needs. Responsibilities Talent Acquisition & Recruiting Manage full-cycle recruiting for teachers, assistant teachers, Center Directors, administrators, and support staff. Source candidates using Indeed, job boards, referrals, social media, networking events, colleges, and community partnerships. Build and maintain a pipeline of qualified early childhood education professionals. Screen resumes, conduct phone interviews, and coordinate interviews with hiring managers. Attend career fairs, recruiting events, and community hiring events. Develop recruiting strategies to attract high‑quality child care professionals. Hiring & Onboarding Prepare and send offer letters. Guide candidates through the hiring process. Complete onboarding in Rippling. Collect employment documentation and I‑9 paperwork. Process fingerprinting, background checks, and employment clearances. Coordinate start dates with Center Directors. Set up employee accounts and system access. Coordinate laptop distribution for administrative hires. Ensure every new employee has a positive onboarding experience. Collaboration Partner with Center Directors and school leadership on staffing needs. Travel to schools in Houston and Austin as needed to support recruiting, onboarding, and operational initiatives. Track recruiting metrics and hiring progress. Maintain compliance with company policies and state licensing requirements. Support additional People Team initiatives as needed. Will occasionally be asked to support with DQ coverage at schools Qualifications Required Minimum five (5) years of experience serving as a Center Director in the state of Illinois (required). Bilingual in English and Spanish (Preferred). Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Education, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Minimum two years of recruiting, talent acquisition, or related HR experience. Strong understanding of early childhood education operations. Knowledge of teacher development programs, including CDA credentials. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship‑building skills. Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment. Experience using HRIS systems (Rippling experience is a plus). Physical & Essential Requirements Be at least 18 years of age. Hear conversational speech with or without accommodation. Read printed materials with or without corrective lenses. Speak clearly and effectively. Lift and carry children or other items weighing up to 50 pounds. Use arms, hands, legs, and feet to safely perform job duties, including emergency evacuations. Push, pull, bend, reach overhead, and move throughout the school environment. Respond quickly and effectively during emergency or crisis situations involving children. Background Screening As part of our commitment to safeguarding children, all offers of employment are contingent upon successfully completing an enhanced fingerprint-based background check and all required pre‑employment clearances. Kido is an equal opportunity employer. Pay Range 60,000 – 70,000 USD per year (Chicago) #J-18808-Ljbffr Kido USA