The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Village goes local with new human resources director

Aug. 22, 2019 – An Oak Parker with more than a decade of experience has been selected as the new Assistant Village Manager/Director of Human Resources for the Village of Oak Park.

Kira Tchang, who most recently served as the Chief People Officer for Civitas Education Partners in Chicago, is scheduled to assume her new role with the Village on Aug. 26.

“We were fortunate to find an individual who not only has the knowledge, training and experience needed to effectively manage the Village’s human resources programs, but who also calls Oak Park home,” said Village Manager Cara Pavlicek.

“The municipal government of Oak Park manages a complex system of services delivered by a talented staff of 370-plus employees represented by nine collective bargaining units. Ms. Tchang has a unique work experience in large and complex environments. A Human Resources Director who thinks strategically and supports our employees is essential to our organization. Kira’s experience will be a great fit for the organization.”

Tchang, who has lived in Oak Park since 2016, was among 94 candidates who applied for the post after the June departure of Julia Scott-Valdez who had held the Village’s top HR post for three years.

“I love Oak Park and I am excited for the opportunity to give back to this amazing community,” Tchang said. “My leadership experience has been largely focused on relationship building and employee/labor relations. But a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace is so vital. Making this commitment an integral part of the mission of the Village’s Human Resources Department offers many possibilities. I am eager to get started.”

As Chief People Officer at Civitas, a school management organization, Tchang managed human resources for more than 300 employees in five locations, including overseeing labor negotiations, contract implementation and grievance processes.

Her other past professional experiences include serving as human resources director for the United Neighborhood Organization, which focuses on assimilating Hispanics into American society. She also served as benefits coordinator for Community Unit School District 300 in Algonquin.

Tchang has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northern Illinois University and is a certified trainer in Crucial Conversation and Crucial Accountability.

In her new role, she will oversee the Village’s human resources functions and provide internal services to all Village departments to recruit and retain exceptional employees, administer employee benefit programs and coordinate internal training and development programs.

A key focus of her activities will be to incorporate personnel management systems and activities that support an organizational culture based upon communication, customer service, diversity, racial equity, fiscal stewardship, integrity, learning, professional management, recognition and teamwork.

For more information about the Village’s Human Resources Department visit www.oak-park.us/humanresources.

Photo of new HR Director Kira Tchang
Kira Tchang