Head of Human Resources
About ASUA
A Step Up Academy (ASUA) is a private, licensed special education organization serving students from Pre-K through age 21 with Autism and Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Through innovative academic, clinical, behavioral, and transition programming, ASUA prepares students to become engaged participants in society while also working to prepare the world for inclusive futures.
ASUA is intentionally different. Our work is rooted in compassion, dignity, individualized support, and evidence-informed practices. We value collaboration, thoughtful systems, and human-centered leadership, and we are deeply committed to equity, accessibility, and inclusive workplace culture for both students and staff.
As the organization continues to grow, we are building leadership capacity that reflects the complexity, care, and mission of our work.
About the Position: Head of Human Resources
ASUA is seeking a Head of Human Resources to lead the organization’s entire HR function and serve as a member of the Strategic Leadership Team. This newly created role reflects ASUA’s continued growth and investment in strong, compassionate, and mission-aligned people systems.
The Head of Human Resources provides both strategic and operational leadership across all HR domains, including people and culture, compliance, employee relations, investigations, DEI for faculty and staff, benefits administration, HR systems, and leadership support. This role directly supervises the HR team and partners laterally with senior leaders across the organization.
We are seeking a seasoned HR leader who brings deep mission alignment, strong judgment, and a commitment to compassionate, equitable, and legally sound HR practices.
Key Responsibilities
The Head of Human Resources is a new role that will lead ASUA’s full HR function, providing strategic and day-to-day leadership across people and culture, compliance, employee relations, investigations, and HR systems. This role partners closely with senior leaders to support staff, guide organizational growth, and ensure HR practices are thoughtful, equitable, and legally sound. The Head of Human Resources supervises the HR team, leads faculty and staff DEI efforts, and escalates high-risk matters to the Executive Team as needed.
Required Qualifications
Candidates must hold an active SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification; comparable credentials such as SPHR may be considered. A bachelor’s degree is required, with a strong preference for a degree in Human Resources or a related field and experience in an independent school or similarly complex environment. The ideal candidate brings strong HR judgment, deep knowledge of employment law, excellent communication skills, and a genuine commitment to compassionate, mission-driven people practices.
Why Join ASUA?
This is an opportunity to step into a senior leadership role within a growing, mission-driven organization that values humanity, inclusion, and thoughtful systems. ASUA offers a collaborative environment where HR is seen as a strategic partner, not just a function, and where leaders are empowered to lead with care, clarity, and purpose. If you are looking to do meaningful work while supporting people and culture at scale, we encourage you to apply.
Questions
Please see the formal listing at https://www.asua.org/careers or click "Quick Apply" above. Questions may be directed to Kay Stauffer, SHRM-CP, Chief Operations & Innovation Officer at [email protected]
