Director of Human Resources

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Reports to
Head of School and CFO

William Penn Charter School is a Quaker, all gender, pre-K-12 independent, day school in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Established in 1689 by William Penn and members of the Religious Society of Friends, Penn Charter is a community guided by Quaker testimonies and the central belief that there is "that of God" in every person. A school community that honors difference, Penn Charter seeks to be a place where diversity is understood, represented and valued. Our curriculum embraces a plurality of cultures and celebrates an array of voices, instilling in us a deeper understanding and empathy for individuals in this community and the world.

As our mission states, we value scholarship and inquiry. With excellence as our standard, we challenge students in a vigorous program of academics, arts and athletics. Through global connections, civic engagement and a focus on environmental sustainability, we inspire students to be thinkers, collaborators, innovators and leaders. We educate students to live lives that make a difference.

POSITION SUMMARY

Penn Charter seeks a full-time Director of Human Resources to begin on or around February 2025. The Director of Human Resources oversees all HR functions including, but not limited to, the implementation of the School's employment policies and procedures, employee relations, and recruitment. They also ensure that all federal, state and local laws pertaining to employment matters are followed and create a supportive, inclusive, and respectful environment for all faculty and staff. Major areas of focus for the Director and their team will include employee recruitment as well as leadership and organizational development, employee relations, policy development and administration, and compliance with policies. In collaboration with the CFO, payroll and benefits administrator and Associate Head of School, the Director will provide strategic leadership related to compensation and benefits packages. The Director will be a resource for all school employees, and will support School leaders and managers in their roles as supervisors.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker who will exhibit a desire to build positive and professional relationships with community members in a manner consistent with the School's mission. They will demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in their professional practice and model curiosity and a desire for professional growth. They will also possess an ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Familiarity with the principles and practices of Quakerism and Quaker education is desirable.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Employee Relations

• Works with all employees to foster a positive working environment.
• Resolves problems in a manner that is fair to the employee and the School, balancing both parties’ needs.
• Determines, recommends and designs employee relations practices and programs necessary to establish a positive employer-employee relationship and promote a high level of employee morale.

Leadership

• Provides leadership and direction to the human resources staff to ensure the use of best practices in their respective functions.

Centralize HR Policy and Procedures and Ensure Compliance

In support of continuous improvement initiatives, the Director:

• Ensures all human resource functions operate in conformance with generally accepted HR standards and the requirements of the school, the state and applicable laws.
• Enhances Penn Charter’s human resources by planning, implementing, and evaluating human resources policies, programs, and practices. This includes:
  • Oversight of the Employee Handbook
  • Maintaining job requirements and job descriptions for all positions.
• Ensures that all employees complete training that is required by the State of Pennsylvania.
• Ensures legal compliance by monitoring and implementing applicable human resource federal, state, and city requirements and clearances, conducting investigations, maintaining records, and  representing the organization at hearings.
• Conducts periodic compensation reviews and suggests updates.
• Supports the payroll and benefits administrator to educate and assist employees in understanding their benefits, including health, retirement, and other school-sponsored programs.
• Manages overtime for non-exempt employees
• Conducts 90-day stay interviews and exit interviews and analyzes data to recommend changes.

Recruitment and Hiring 

• Supports organization staff by reviewing and updating the School's recruiting and interviewing program that ensures a diverse community.
• Assists administrators with all aspects of faculty and administrative hiring including: the posting of positions, candidate selection, and correspondence with candidates.
• Oversees the recruitment and hiring of non-faculty personnel.
• Ensures that all background and reference checks are complete.

Employee Orientation, Training, and Supervision 

• Coordinates and manages the onboarding process for all new faculty and staff.
• Lead training sessions on compliance and school policies, including safe and inclusive workplace practices.
• Partners with the administration on all aspects of faculty and staff supervision including performance evaluations and coaching protocols.
• Provides human resources related professional development to school leadership on such topics as proper implementation of school policies and documentation.
• Retains historical human resource records by designing a filing and retrieval system and keeping past and current records up to date.

Internal Relations

• Reinforces school and Quaker values ensuring that organization's ethics are defined, understood, and practiced.
• Partners with the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging to promote an inclusive work environment based on consistent practices throughout the community.
• Forges strong connections and maintains open lines of communication with employees at all levels to maintain trust and inspire a culture of personal accountability, collaboration and positivity.
• Hears and resolves employee grievances.

Other Responsibilities

• Serves as a key member of the School's Leadership Team.
• Serves as a liaison to the Board of Trustees Personnel Committee.
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of School or their designee.

Competencies

• An appreciation for Penn Charter's mission and an understanding of and commitment to Quaker values.
• Demonstrate practices that directly reflect a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of service to Penn Charter.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships and influence at all organizational levels.
• Knowledge of HR laws and best practices, including experience with HRIS systems.
• Ability to manage complex employee relations issues with sensitivity, confidentiality, and integrity.
• High energy, initiative, and strong work ethic.
• Strong organizational skills and patience.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration or a related field. A Masters degree is preferred.
• 10+ years of HR leadership experience, preferably in an educational or non-profit environment
• Knowledge of current federal, state and local employment law.
• SPHR and/or SHRM-SCP certification preferred.

Salary and Benefits 

• William Penn Charter School offers competitive salaries and benefits including comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• William Penn Charter School is also a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer.

We will review application materials as they are submitted and interview candidates on a rolling basis until the position has been filled.

William Penn Charter School 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.