Director of Human Resources

Position Description: Director of Human Resources

Castilleja is a dynamic, diverse, and intentional educational community for students in grades 6–12 that believes in the power of women learning and women leading. Founded in 1907, Castilleja fulfills its mission to educate young women to become confident thinkers and compassionate leaders with a sense of purpose to effect change in the world. Every member of the Castilleja community is responsible for fostering an equitable, respectful, and just community. We value building and sustaining authentic relationships and work together to create a collaborative learning and working environment. We are dedicated to a program that is responsive to students’ needs and identities and demonstrates a commitment to antiracist values and pedagogy.

We are seeking an experienced Director of Human Resources. A successful Director of Human Resources at Castilleja will have a high level of cultural responsiveness and will be eager to support and endorse the school’s commitment to these ideals. The Director of Human Resources will have a deep understanding of faculty and staff culture - what motivates them and what they need to be successful in their roles. The Director will be an exceptional communicator, inclusive leader, and a strategic thinker. 

The Director of Human Resources supervises the Payroll and Benefits Manager and is a member of the school’s Finance & Operations Team. This is a full-time, onsite, exempt position reporting to the Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations. 

Strategic Priorities for the Director

The Director of Human Resources provides strategic and tactical direction and oversight of the full employee life cycle. The Director of Human Resources, in collaboration with other administrators, will help improve and advance Castilleja’s commitment to strengthen the hiring and retention of faculty and staff.
 

Key Competencies

• Project Management: Ability to lead, analyze, and execute complex projects to achieve goals by understanding the nature of the activities, overcoming obstacles, monitoring progress, and evaluating impact.
• Self-Development: Demonstrated commitment and curiosity to think more deeply and rationally in coming up with increasingly creative solutions. 
• Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development and has awareness of common biases. Is dedicated to consistently learning; eager to pick up new knowledge and skills quickly.
• Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrates high levels of self/social awareness, self-management empathy, and curiosity. Consciously seeking to understand diverse values and rationales. Is eager and able to recognize and respond to the needs and feelings of others.
• Relationship Management: Positively collaborates and builds/maintains authentic and trusting relationships. Demonstrates high levels of discretion and confidentiality.
• Communication: Exceptional ability to articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed. Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
• Cultural Responsiveness: Recognizes the unique value, perspectives, strengths, and challenges of every person in the community. Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect.
• Developing Others: Effectively supports the growth and development of employees across all levels of the organization. Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback, challenging assumptions, empathizing with people, and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Personnel Management

• Ensure regulatory compliance with Federal, State, Local agencies for employee relations, recruitment activities and benefits
• Annually review and make recommendations for improvement of the school’s policies, procedures, and practices on personnel matters.
• Coordinate, update and disseminate Employee Handbook information annually, and as needed.
• Provide strategic direction and overall guidance with respect to performance management standards and evaluation processes.
• Develop and maintain a human resources information system that meets School personnel information needs.
• Complete employment verifications and participate in external surveys in all areas of Human Resources, including compensation, benefits and trend setting.
• Coordinate and conduct exit interviews to determine the reasons behind separation.
• Provide support and guidance to the Head of School and/or ( or Assoc HOS for F&O) regarding sensitive personnel issues.
• Facilitate productive discussions between employees experiencing challenges working together.

Benefits Administration

• Assist employees with benefits resolutions regarding claims or coverage.
• Coordinate annual open enrollment meetings to communicate benefit programs and deliver information and materials to employees. 
• Assist in the design of the employee benefits plan, including researching appropriate benefits to be included in the plan and joining the Assoc HOS for F&O in benefit renewal discussions and negotiations.
• Coordinate 403(b) retirement program, disability, and unemployment procedures, and more.
• Administer Leaves

Compensation Administration

• Assist the Associate Head of School for F&O in the annual review, preparation and administration of the school's wage and salary program; provide historical and appropriate benchmark data, ensure compliance with State salary and wage regulations.
• Generate employment contracts annually and mid-year as required for employment changes, including coaches and Summer program teachers.

Recruiting and Onboarding

• Develop, implement, and oversee an overall employee recruitment and hiring process
• Coordinate with search firms or other recruitment sites to assist the Administration in identifying appropriate candidates for each open position.
• Oversee candidate recruiting process, working with hiring managers to ensure equity and alignment in processes. 
• Participate in Staff candidate interviews, and observe and participate in faculty interviews on occasion.
• Provide guidance and training to employees with regards to conducting legal, appropriate, and effective interviews. 
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive and effective onboarding process upon hiring, including employment contract, benefits enrollment, health and background screening, and required coursework.
• Work with Administrators to develop an employee orientation program for all newly hired employees.
• Ensure alignment in hiring processes and onboarding to School culture across departments.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job.

Requirements:

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, (HR) Legal, Business, Psychology, or related field AND extensive experience with HR or related experience (e.g., hiring, training, performance management) involving applicable employment laws and policies
• PHR/SPHR or equivalent combination of education and experience. (Professional in Human Resources Certification; Senior Professional in Human Resources Certification)
• Extensive people management experience.
• Experience with applicability of all state and federal regulations including ERISA, COBRA, FMLA,CFRA, EDD
• ADA as well as wage and hour laws as they relate to payroll
• High level of discretion and business ethics
• Ability to maintain confidential information

Preferred Experience

• Independent school or non-profit experience

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Able to work in a dynamic environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts
• Able to climb stairs
• May work at a desk and computer for extended periods
• Able to lift 20 pounds

Work site: On-campus at 1310 Bryant St, Palo Alto, CA

Travel: 0-25 %

Salary Range: $165,000 - $185,000