Director of Human Resources

Reports To: Chief Financial Officer
FLSA Status: Exempt
Employment Status: Full-Time, 12-Month Position

Pay: $79,216-$95,897 based on experience

Position Summary

The Director of Human Resources provides leadership and oversight for all human resources functions of the school. This position is responsible for developing and administering effective HR practices that support the recruitment, development, retention, and well-being of employees while ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state employment laws and school policies.

The Director of Human Resources serves as a trusted resource to employees and school leadership and works closely with administrators to address staffing needs, employee relations, performance management, benefits, certification requirements, and other employment matters.

The successful candidate will be highly organized, responsive, approachable, and able to handle confidential and sensitive information with sound judgment and discretion.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Recruitment, Hiring & Onboarding

Coordinate and oversee the recruitment and hiring process for school employees.
Work with administrators to identify staffing needs and develop effective recruitment strategies.
Manage job postings, applicant tracking, interview processes, reference checks, background checks, and other pre-employment requirements.
Prepare and coordinate employment offers, contracts, and other employment documentation.
Oversee new employee onboarding and orientation.
Ensure all required employment documentation is completed and maintained.
Monitor vacancies and hiring progress and provide regular staffing updates to leadership.
Develop strategies to improve employee recruitment and retention.

Employee Relations

Serve as a primary HR resource for employees and supervisors regarding workplace questions, concerns, policies, and procedures.
Provide guidance to administrators regarding employee performance, corrective action, attendance, workplace concerns, and disciplinary matters.
Assist with employee investigations and document findings and recommendations.
Help resolve employee concerns fairly, consistently, and professionally.
Promote a positive workplace culture and effective communication between employees and administration.
Identify employee-relations trends and recommend appropriate actions or policy changes.

Performance Management

Oversee processes related to employee evaluations and performance management.
Assist supervisors with performance improvement plans, disciplinary documentation, and employee coaching.
Maintain appropriate documentation related to employee performance and corrective actions.
Work with leadership to ensure performance expectations and employment practices are applied consistently.

Compensation & Benefits

Assist the CFO and leadership with salary administration, compensation analysis, salary schedules, and employee benefit programs.
Coordinate employee enrollment and changes for health insurance, retirement, and other benefit programs.
Serve as a resource for employees regarding benefits and eligibility.
Coordinate annual open enrollment and employee benefit communications.
Work with benefit providers and other outside vendors to resolve employee issues.
Ensure employee benefit deductions and changes are communicated accurately to payroll.
Assist with compensation and benefit benchmarking to support recruitment and retention efforts.

Payroll & HR Systems

Maintain accurate employee information within the school's HR/payroll system.
Coordinate employee changes with payroll, including new hires, terminations, salary changes, benefit deductions, leave, and other personnel actions.
Review HR information for accuracy prior to payroll processing as appropriate.
Maintain electronic personnel records and ensure appropriate access and confidentiality.
Identify opportunities to automate and improve HR processes and reduce unnecessary paperwork.

Certification & School-Specific Compliance

Coordinate and monitor educator certification requirements and maintain appropriate documentation.
Assist employees with certification, renewal, alternative certification, and other credentialing requirements.
Monitor certification status and communicate upcoming requirements or deficiencies to employees and administrators.
Maintain required personnel documentation for audits, accreditation, authorizer requirements, and regulatory reviews.
Coordinate required employee training and track completion.
Maintain knowledge of employment requirements applicable to South Carolina charter and public schools.

Leave & Attendance Administration

Administer employee leave programs in accordance with applicable laws and school policies.
Coordinate FMLA and other protected leave when applicable.
Maintain appropriate leave documentation and communicate necessary information to employees, supervisors, and payroll.
Assist administrators with attendance concerns and consistent application of attendance policies.

Policies, Procedures & Compliance

Maintain and update personnel policies, procedures, forms, and employee handbook provisions.
Monitor changes in federal and South Carolina employment laws and recommend policy or procedural changes when necessary.
Help ensure compliance with applicable requirements including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, workers' compensation, unemployment, and other employment laws.
Coordinate required employment notices and documentation.
Assist leadership in ensuring employment practices are applied fairly and consistently.

Workers' Compensation & Unemployment

Coordinate workers' compensation claims and required documentation.
Communicate with employees, supervisors, insurance carriers, and medical providers as appropriate.
Monitor employee return-to-work status and restrictions.
Coordinate unemployment claims and provide required employment documentation.

Employee Records & Reporting

Maintain complete, accurate, and confidential personnel files.
Ensure required documentation is retained in accordance with applicable laws and school policies.
Prepare HR reports related to staffing, vacancies, turnover, compensation, benefits, attendance, and other workforce metrics.
Analyze workforce trends and provide recommendations to leadership.
Assist with HR-related audits and information requests.

Employee Engagement & Retention

Work with leadership to identify opportunities to improve employee satisfaction and retention.
Coordinate employee recognition and engagement initiatives.
Conduct or coordinate employee surveys and assist with analyzing results.
Participate in exit interviews and analyze reasons for employee turnover.
Recommend practical strategies to improve the employee experience.

Leadership Responsibilities

The Director of Human Resources is expected to:

Serve as a trusted advisor to school leadership on personnel matters.
Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive information.
Approach employee concerns objectively and consistently.
Balance the needs of employees with the operational and legal responsibilities of the school.
Identify problems proactively and recommend practical solutions.
Establish effective HR processes that are responsive, efficient, and easy for employees and administrators to navigate.
Provide a high level of customer service to employees while maintaining appropriate policies and standards.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or a related field.
Minimum of five years of progressively responsible human resources experience.
Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR best practices.
Experience handling employee relations and confidential personnel matters.
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Proficiency with HR information systems, payroll systems, Microsoft Office, and related technology.

Preferred Qualifications

7 years of HR experience with 2-3 years in an HR leadership role.
Experience with South Carolina public school or charter school employment practices helpful but not required.
SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
Experience with ADP or a comparable HR/payroll platform.
Experience administering employee benefits.
Experience with educator certification requirements helpful but not required.
Experience conducting workplace investigations and advising supervisors on employee relations matters.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

Strong knowledge of human resources principles and employment practices.
Excellent judgment and discretion.
Ability to communicate effectively with employees at all levels of the organization.
Ability to have difficult conversations professionally and respectfully.
Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
Ability to interpret and consistently apply policies and procedures.
Ability to work independently and take ownership of responsibilities.
Strong technology skills and an interest in improving HR processes through automation.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
A service-oriented approach while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
Ability to build trust with employees and administrators.

Physical and Work Requirements

The position primarily operates in a professional school and office environment. The employee must be able to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and electronically and perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Other Duties

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications. Responsibilities may be modified or assigned based on the needs of the school.

York Preparatory Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer