Director of Human Resources

Job Details

Job Location

Westchester Lower School - WHITE PLAINS, NY

Description

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

THE WINDWARD SCHOOL

The Windward School, a co-educational, independent day school serving students in grades 1-9 with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities, is seeking a Director of Human Resources to begin July 1, 2024, or earlier.

The Director of Human Resources oversees the Human Resource functions across the three Windward campuses with the main office located at the Westchester Lower School in White Plains, New York.

This position handles executing and overseeing the administration of the hiring process, compensation, benefit administration, retention, termination, personnel records, legal compliance, management training, HR information system maintenance, payroll processing, staffing strategies, and monitoring and supporting the faculty and staff culture at The Windward School.

The Director of Human Resources is a key strategic partner reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer and aiding the Senior Administrative Team in evaluating the direction of the school's personnel, compensation practices, compliance with regulations, and culture.

The Director must be an adept communicator with a strong knowledge of the employment lifecycle and employment law as well as payroll and benefits administration, preferably in a not-for-profit and / or education environment.

Qualified candidates should not only have the experience and expertise detailed below but also should have a deep understanding of and a passion to support The Windward School's mission, and display a proven commitment to diversity work and fostering an inclusive culturally competent school environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and supervision in the day-to-day operation of the Human Resource function. Implement all applicable personnel laws and regulations.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state statutes / laws including, but not limited to, FMLA, ADA, Sexual Harassment, OSHA, Workers Compensation, and ERISA.
• Coordinate performance management processes.
• Support the recruiting lifecycle, including posting job openings, coordinating candidate visits, and conducting interviews and evaluations for all non union staff positions including off-site recruiting at job fairs, and conducting new hire orientations.
• Work in conjunction with the Director of Teacher Training Program to plan all logistics of the annual NewFaculty / Staff orientation.
• Provide support for all employee based legal issues including working with the school's legal counsel to dispute EEOC and other potential legal action taken against the school.
• Manage employee separation process for both voluntary and involuntary terminations.
• Manage all employee relations issues, conducting investigations as necessary, documenting conversations, and working with all parties to find resolutions.
• Assist supervisors with all write ups, performance improvement plans, etc, to ensure appropriate language, limiting liability to the school.
• Develop / edit / update job descriptions for all employees. Complete periodic job description audits and classify employees exempt or nonexempt status as appropriate under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Aid in development and maintenance of the salary / compensation scale.
• Supply training for department heads and team leaders on various HR topics including interviewing skills, performance management and employee coaching.
• Oversee training process for all employees such as annual training on sexual and other forms of harassment, sexual abuse reporting, and other applicable topics.
• Maintain personnel files for each employee in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Maintain and improve the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) to support the needs of the schools management and employees.
• Manage logistics for all employee engagement activities including the annual Gallup employee engagement survey process and debriefing, Faculty & Staff Appreciation week, School Nurse Appreciation Day, Administrative Professionals Day, Holiday Party, Platinum Circle Dinner, End of Year Luncheon, and other Windward Wow events scheduled throughout the year.
• Represent the school at various functions both internally and externally, as a champion of the brand.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School

Benefits Administration

• Manage and coordinate benefits programs (Health, Dental, Vision, Section 125, 403(b) Retirement Plan, STD, LTD, Life / AD&D and COBRA) for employees, including all employee communication, problem-solving, and claims resolution.
• Collaborate with insurance brokers to develop a benefit strategy that maximizes benefits options foremployees and limits the increased cost.
• Ensure all plans follow applicable laws and statutes (HIPAA, ERISA, and IRS guidelines).
• Prepare / edit Summary Plan Descriptions and other regulatory reporting as needed for plan changes and legal compliance.
• Manage annual open enrollment for benefits plans.
• Manage employee qualifying events or changes in coverage in all carrier sites and payroll system.
• Resolve discrepancies or errors on carrier billing invoices with benefits broker or the carriers directly.
• Compile and support correct list of all benefits offered or enrolled in, including dependents for ACA reporting purposes.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications and Experience :

• Minimum of three years of related experience, preferably in a not-for-profit environment.
• Minimum of Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources or related field; PHR, SPHR, CP or SCP certification preferred.

Personal and Professional Qualities :

• Understanding of and commitment to Windward's mission and core values
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• An ability to interact comfortably with individuals of diverse social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
• An ability to accurately interpret procedures and regulations along with the ability to ensure proper implementation.
• Ability to balance multiple tasks and projects, and handle time deadlines.
• An ability to assess and solve problems.

Salary Range : $150,000.00 - $170,000.00

About Windward :

Windward is dedicated to providing a proven instructional program for children with language-based learning disabilities.

The multisensory curriculum is designed for students of average to superior intelligence who can benefit from the unique educational experience provided.

Through direct instruction in small class settings, a trained staff assists students to improve their language skills. Academic success, combined with opportunities for social and emotional growth within an intentionally diverse and inclusive setting, enables students to understand their learning differences, build confidence, and develop self-advocacy skills.

Windward is committed to helping students achieve their full potential in preparation for a successful return to a mainstream educational environment.

To meet these goals, the School provides ongoing training to its faculty based on the most current research and shares its expertise with the parent body, other educators, and the broader community

Windward is situated on two Westchester campuses, located in White Plains, NY, and the Manhattan campus, located on the Upper East Side.

There are more than 400 part-time and full-time faculty and staff members across four divisions and three campuses, giving employees a small, tight-knit community at their campus while feeling part of a larger organization.

Additionally, two divisions support the School's missionWindward Teaching Training Program and The Windward Institute.

For Consideration :

The Windward School is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, national and ethnic origin, citizenship, age, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law to all employees and applicants for employment.

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a formal letter of application, current resume, and a list of three references with contact information to :

Carolyn Stiles

Please do not contact the school directly.

Applications will be considered until the position is filled.