Director, Human Resources--Head Start at Save the Children in Burlington, NC

Summary

Save the Children provides high-quality early learning interventions to children through Head Start and Early Head Start programs in rural communities, primarily in the South. As we continue to grow our program portfolio, we must ensure new programs are staffed quickly with high quality teachers, family support workers, administrators and operational personnel. The primary purpose of the Director, Human Resources for Head Start (HS) is to lead the HR strategy of the Head Start division, providing leadership and direction for Head Start- HR functions, including recruitment, retention, development and performance management. In this role, you will serve as a member of the Head Start Senior Management Team and provide guidance and support to a team of local HR Managers at the program level in the development and implementation of the HR strategy. You will supervise the HR staff for each Head Start program and create development plans to build capacity within the program over time. Working closely with Head Start leadership and local Head Start HR Managers, you will provide effective support and ensure compliance with the Head Start regulations and appropriate employment laws.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

Employee Relations (30%)

In conjunction with local Head Start HR Managers and the Head Start leadership team, establish strong engagement across Head Start programs.

Work with local Head Start HR Managers and supervisors to ensure the successful onboarding of new staff and start-up of new programs.

Serve as the key escalation point for all employee relation matters including but not limited to selection, development and termination.

Act as key contact and resource for the broad range of HR matters from policy communications and interpretation, to relationship and change management.

Utilize, collaborate with, and refer to HR resources including the SCUS HR team.

Talent Attraction and Acquisition (30%)

Establish the overall direction and strategy for recruitment at all levels of the Head Start program to include building the Head Start employer brand, and leading the charge to make our Head Start program a diverse, equitable and inclusive employer of choice in the local communities that we serve.

Understand current and future staffing needs and oversee execution of processes to ensure positions are filled with qualified candidates with an eye to continuous improvement around key metrics such as time to fill, diversity recruitment, and others.

Work closely with Head Start leadership and HR partners to ensure the right organization structure, right job descriptions, grading, and best recruitment practices and processes that align with Save the Children and Head Start policies and practices.

Work closely with local Head Start HR Managers to develop proactive annual staff recruitment plans that are continously assessed and recalibrated for effectiveness.

Support building pools of ready candidates through internal succession planning and external sourcing efforts.

Develop and maintain tools to monitor, evaluate and report on the recruitment process across all Head Start programs

Establish metrics and accountability systems that chart performance and continuous improvement around Head Start Talent Attraction and Acquisition.

Performance Management (15%)

Gain a thorough understanding of, monitor, and assess USPA and HS organizational capabilities and individual competency needs, and help leadership build a strategy and implementation plan for talent development, leadership development, succession planning, etc.

Provide supervision, support, leadership, development and coaching to local Head Start program HR Managers and other Head Start managers, as needed, through the performance appraisal process each year including guidance in setting performance expectations, employee development plans and communications;

Assist managers in assessing employee performance and addressing deficiencies.

Serve as the key escalation point for performance and development plans to include performance improvement (corrective-action) plans, Head Start employee/labor disputes and major employment decisions.

Staff Management (15%)

Provide strategic and tactical direction to Head Start Human Resources staff, setting goals, defining scopes of work, overseeing deliverables, and ensuring quality HR support from the local Head Start HR Managers.

Provide overall leadership and counsel to assure successful implementation of HR strategies, programs and procedures, as well as to ensure compliance with labor codes and agency HR policy and standards

Build a strong network of HR leadership through continuous improvement, experience sharing, knowledge management and promoting best practices.

Contribute to professional development and career advancement of the Head Start HR team.

Work closely with local Head Start HR Managers to develop a tracker to monitor the training/professional development requirements for all staff (including conditional credentialing requirements put in place at the point of hiring)

Policy and Compliance (10%)

Ensure compliance with Agency, State and Program-wide policies, labor codes and standards, and Head Start Program Performance Standards

Partner with HR Advisory staff to provide a united and consistent, Agency-wide HR approach to the clients.

Provide expert guidance on Head Start performance standards, grievances, disciplinary issues and child safeguarding protocols.

Work with local Head Start HR Managers to prepare HR update reports for Policy Council and Head Start board meetings

Required Qualifications

Minimum 7- 10 years of relevant experience.

Bachelor degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Demonstrated working knowledge of Federal, State, and local labor laws, including EEOC, FMLA, Wage and Hour, Workers Compensation, and FLSA.

Proven success in working collaboratively at all levels

Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as it relates to our staff and programs.

Demonstrated success in employee relations, recruiting, talent management, compensation & benefits, and organizational development within a complex, multi-site organization.

Experience working with minimal support resources and able to influence HR outcomes using established tools, best practices and labor laws.

Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills

Demonstrated ability to work creatively and strategically to resolve issues.

Willingness and ability to travel up to 25%

Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

PHR/SPHR certification is preferred.

Experience and/or familiarity with Head Start programs is a plus