ABOUT ASPIRE
Aspire Public Schools operates a network of high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving TK-12 scholars in communities across California. Founded in 1998—in an effort to transform the inequitable racial, social, and gender outcomes that our communities persist through—Aspire is one of the largest and most forward-thinking open-enrollment public charter school systems in the nation.
Our purpose is to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives. Every day, our community of students, families, teachers and staff comes together to learn, work, and play in an environment grounded in our values of Bienestar (Well-Being), Culture of Belonging, Community Partnership, Agency & Self-Determination, and Joy.
JOB SUMMARY
The Human Resources Manager will manage employee relations and support HR functions to ensure a positive, compliant, and productive workplace. This role involves resolving employee concerns, guiding managers on performance issues, and ensuring alignment with Aspire’s policies and California labor laws. The HR Manager will also assist in developing and implementing HR policies, driving employee engagement initiatives, and supporting performance management processes. Additionally, they will analyze employee relations data, provide strategic insights, and collaborate with leadership on retention strategies and improving workplace culture. Strong conflict resolution skills, knowledge of California labor laws, and the ability to build relationships across the Bay Area schools and leadership team is essential.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Employee Relations Management:
Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and management on employee relations issues, addressing concerns, complaints, and workplace conflicts.
Provide guidance and counsel to managers on employee behavior, performance issues, and resolving disputes constructively.
Investigate employee grievances and complaints, document findings, and recommend appropriate actions in alignment with Aspire’s policies and applicable labor laws.
Advise on conflict resolution strategies, facilitating communication and collaboration between employees and management.
Support and mediate difficult situations, ensuring a fair and unbiased approach to resolutions.
Policy Development and Implementation:
Support the development and implementation of HR policies and procedures related to employee relations and compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws.
Partner in the review and update of employee handbooks and other relevant documents to ensure they align with current legal requirements and Aspire Public School values.
Educate employees and managers about Aspire’s policies, ensuring consistent application.
Performance Management:
Partner with managers to provide performance management guidance, including developing improvement plans and offering ongoing support for both managers and employees.
Monitor employee performance and ensure alignment with Aspire’s expectations, offering solutions for improvement when necessary.
Oversee and support the performance evaluation process, providing resources to help managers conduct effective evaluations.
Legal Compliance:
Ensure compliance with all labor laws, regulations, and industry standards related to employee relations, ensuring proper documentation and record-keeping.
Stay current on relevant legislation and regulations to proactively mitigate risks and provide expert advice on compliance-related matters.
Assist in handling any legal matters related to employment disputes, including responding to complaints and working with legal counsel when necessary.
Employee Engagement and Retention:
Foster an environment of employee engagement and inclusion.
Proactively review data for schools and/or regions to determine and develop initiatives aimed at improving employee morale and job satisfaction.
Partner with the Bay Area leadership team to create employee surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one meetings to assess employee sentiment and identify areas for improvement.
Provide recommendations and collaborate with Human Resources leadership to implement retention strategies to minimize turnover.
Training and Development:
Design and conduct training sessions on topics related to employee relations, workplace culture, conflict resolution, interpretation of policies, and leadership development.
Provide guidance to management on handling sensitive employee issues, performance challenges, and disciplinary actions.
Assist in building a supportive and respectful workplace culture by ensuring employees understand their rights and responsibilities.
Reporting and Documentation:
Maintain accurate records of employee relations issues, investigations, and resolutions, ensuring compliance with record-keeping regulations.
Generate quarterly reports on employee relations trends, offering insights and recommendations to HR leadership, school site leadership, and Bay Area senior leadership.
Track and report on grievance resolutions, performance management, and disciplinary actions to identify trends or systemic issues.
Additional:
Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, the Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, and value statements, including antiracism, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior.
Perform other related duties as required and assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Competencies:
In-depth knowledge of employment laws, recruiting, benefits, compensation, and training.
Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to handle confidential and sensitive issues with diplomacy and fairness, and work effectively with employees at all levels.
Strong communication skills, with the ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively.
Excellent organization, time management, and follow-up skills; ability to handle multiple projects concurrently with a high sense of urgency and work independently.
Ability to research complex problems and develop cost-effective solutions; strong analytical skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions.
Proven leadership skills, with the ability to attract, develop, and inspire a team and build cooperative working relationships.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HRIS databases.
Positive, can-do attitude, customer service-oriented, and professional.
Light travel throughout California.
Comfort with a fast-paced work environment within a growing nonprofit.
Minimum Educational Level:
Experience Required:
2+ years of management experience in Human Resources.
2+ years of HR Generalist experience or 5+ years of people management experience.
Experience or strong interest and passion for K-12 public education.
Compensation:
Aspire Public Schools is dedicated to our teammate's well-being! In addition to a competitive base salary that is benchmarked against local districts and charter schools, we offer employees exceptional benefits, including paid time off, 100% core health benefits coverage on select plans, life insurance/long-term disability, participation in a CA state retirement plan, tuition reimbursement plan, and adoption assistance program.
Our salary schedule is based on years of experience for this position type; the salary range for this position is $100,851 - $129,464
EEO STATEMENT
Aspire Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
