Director of People Experience

Description: 

As the Director of Employee Experience for our charter school network, you will lead the development and implementation of strategies to enhance the overall employee experience across our network of schools. Reporting to the Vice President of Employee Experience, you will be responsible for fostering a culture of engagement, growth, and well-being among our faculty and staff. This role involves a blend of strategic planning, program development, and on-the-ground engagement, with three days a week spent at Democracy Prep New York Charter School sites (located in Harlem and/or the Bronx) or the Central CMO Office.

The Director is responsible for working collaboratively with stakeholders to foster a positive, professional, and supportive work environment. The Director will coach leaders and managers in the proper implementation of policies across the full spectrum of employee life cycle needs and challenges. The Director will be a pillar in their school community serving as a strategic partner, project-manager, and as a safe space for all staff to be heard. This role requires significant time spent with staff and leaders and the ability to work independently and influence leaders of all levels to effectively support behavioral change.

Who You Are

This role requires a proactive and detail-oriented individual who can effectively navigate complex people issues and drive positive employee relations within the organization. It also requires a determination to work through gray and sometimes ambiguous people-challenges with informed determination, ingenuity, and solutions oriented mindset.  If you have a passion for supporting employees and ensuring a fair and inclusive work environment, we encourage you to apply.

• Strategic Leader: You are a visionary leader with a passion for driving positive change and enhancing the employee experience within our charter school network.
• Culture Champion: You are dedicated to fostering a culture of engagement, growth, and well-being among our faculty and staff, serving as a champion of our organizational values.
• HR Policy Expert: You possess a deep understanding of HR policies and procedures, ensuring their consistent and fair application throughout the organization.
• Problem Solver: You excel in providing guidance and support on complex and sensitive HR matters, conducting thorough investigations and implementing effective solutions.
• Collaborative Partner: You thrive in collaborating with leaders and stakeholders across the organization, working together to navigate disciplinary actions, performance improvement plans, and other HR challenges.
• Coach and Mentor: You are committed to providing consultation, coaching, and mentorship to leaders and employees, empowering them to succeed and thrive within our organization.
• On-the-Ground Advocate and Engager: You are willing to dedicate a significant portion of your time to local travel, engaging directly with employees across our various school locations to understand their needs and drive meaningful change.
• Expert Communicator: Skillfully convey subtle or complex messages clearly, as appropriate for the topic and audience.

What You’ll Do

Strategy, Culture Development, & Collaboration

• Lead the development and implementation of strategies to enhance the overall employee experience across the campus’ you serve
• Foster a culture of engagement, growth, and well-being among faculty and staff.
• Collaborate with leaders on disciplinary actions and performance improvement plans.
• Create and deliver professional development to leaders and/or staff as needed 
• Continuously review people team related data to develop insights and co-create strategic and data informed responses with leaders and the Regional Superintendent; proactively keep senior leadership informed on trends and possible interventions 
• Consult with the Regional Superintendent to execute adult culture goals
• Work in tight collaboration with Managing Directors of New York and School Leaders to ensure that people related matters are handled with timeliness, sensitivity, and sound judgment
• Engage in strategic planning, program development, and on-the-ground engagement to support employee experience initiatives.
• Develop coherent resources for staff
• Report to the Vice President of People Experience and collaborate closely with the other people team departments (Talent Acquisition, and People Ops and Total Rewards) to ensure that people team initiatives meet regional needs.
• Engage and manage  People Team projects as assigned with a regional perspective
• Serve as the expert for your region and remain informed of regulations and rules that impact the networks strategic approach within the region
• Oversee the application, interpretation and implementation of network policies and procedures ensuring fair and consistent application across all employees.
• Provide guidance on complex and sensitive employee matters, including conducting beginning to end investigations, as needed.
• Provide consultation and coaching to support effective employee management.
• Serve as trusted advisor to staff on professional and  interpersonal challenges
• Conduct exit interviews and annual People Team check-ins with employees; advise leaders and regional superintendent on how to leverage the data to improve school culture.
• Provide consultation and coaching to support effective employee management.
• Dedicate a significant percentage of time to local travel to various school locations within the network.
• Collaborate closely with the People Operations and Total Rewards Team to ensure correct Implementation of People Related systems and procedures including but not limited to PTO, vacation, leaves, and other assigned processes 

Key Responsibilities:

1. Develop communication and training  materials: proactively and annually develop materials to communicate messages, policies, and data. Skillfully organize information so that it is clear, digestible, and with the most important information communicated (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint presentations, termination letters, reprimands, and other correspondence)
2. Suggest and collaboratively Implement Strategic Interventions: Identify root causes and conduct relevant data analysis in order to propose both short-term and long-term interventions and solutions
3. Policy Implementation and Administration: Ensure people team policies and procedures are applied consistently and fairly to all employees. Work with leaders to implement disciplinary actions and performance improvement plans.
4. Investigations and Issue Resolution: Investigate and resolve complex or sensitive complaints, issues, and concerns in a responsive and fair manner. Fully document findings and recommendations.
5. Compliance and Legal Support: Promote compliance with relevant employment laws and school policies. Strategize with General Counsel to limit organizational liability in employment issues.
6. Employee Relations: Oversee all aspects of separations, manage unemployment insurance claims, and represent the organization at hearings. Provide guidance on routine employee relations issues.
7. Performance Management and Training: Work with leaders to develop and implement performance improvement plans. Provide training on the Employee Management Cycle and other HR processes.
8. Strategy: Align HR strategies with organizational goals, develop a cohesive HR vision, and translate it into actionable plans for implementation, monitoring, and adjustment.Evaluate current HR performance by establishing and tracking metrics, analyzing data, and gathering employee feedback.
9. Employee Accommodations and Workers' Compensation: Lead the interactive process to respond to accommodation requests in compliance with the ADA. Serve as the primary contact for workers' compensation at assigned campuses.
10. Perform other related duties as assigned, including participation in network-wide or department specific initiatives and/or projects.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 6-8 years of experience in human resources, with a focus on employee relations and compliance.
• Strong understanding of employment laws and regulations.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• SHRM or HRCI certification is a plus.

Compensation

Salary range is $90,000-$100,000, commensurate with your experience. Democracy Prep employees are provided with a benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, 403B matching, and parental leave.