Description:
Position Title: Director of People and Culture
Reports To: Chief Finance and Operations Officer
Organization Overview:
Steppingstone prepares students from marginalized communities to access, navigate, and graduate from college through two initiatives, the Steppingstone Scholars Program and the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA). The Steppingstone Scholars Program is a direct-service program in Boston that provides academic, social-emotional, and college-readiness services to students, called Scholars, beginning as early as fifth grade and continuing all the way through college graduation. The Steppingstone Scholars Program consists of five components: Admissions, the Academy, Middle School Success, High School Success, and College Success. NPEA connects the people, practices, and innovations for eliminating barriers to educational access, and college and career success for underserved students.
Position Summary:
The Director of People and Culture is responsible for managing and implementing human resources policies and procedures and for fostering staff development and satisfaction so that Steppingstone’s mission is upheld in its practices and people. This position manages all aspects of human resources including the talent lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to performance evaluation, professional development, benefits, leaves, and offboarding. The Director of People and Culture will serve as a strategic thought partner and leader and will provide recommendations and coaching on organizational learning and development, employee engagement, while fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizational culture.
The Steppingstone office is hybrid with the expectation that employees will work in the office a minimum of two days per week, with some flexibility around work hours. A $500 home office set-up stipend will be provided upon hire, followed by quarterly stipends of $50. Laptops are provided to each employee to enhance the hybrid experience.
The Steppingstone office is accessible by public transit and has very limited parking availability.
Salary Range: $95,000 - $100,000
Start Date: September 2024
Responsibilities:
Staff Development and Retention
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Provide training to supervisors via programming and coaching to help strengthen their management skills; proactively work to address employee relations issues; ensure that managers are up to date on HR best practices
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Manage the performance evaluation process, serving as a resource to supervisors on performance issues and conducting ongoing reviews of the process
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Direct the design and ongoing implementation of programs to promote employee engagement and the professional development, retention, and satisfaction of staff
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Conduct staff surveys and collect and disseminate data to inform decision-making
Compensation and Benefits
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Participate in salary and benefits planning and budget development; complete salary and benefits surveys and analyses as appropriate
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Work with benefits vendors to review and manage plan design and budgets; manage reporting requirements and documentation; oversee benefits open enrollment and continuing benefits education for employees
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Manage leave plans so they are consistent with the Steppingstone mission and employee needs; manage workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, FMLA, PFML and other leaves, respecting both the needs of the employee and those of the organization
Candidate Recruitment, Hiring, and On-Boarding
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Oversee the recruitment needs for the organization, including implementing and continually developing recruitment strategies to ensure a robust and diverse applicant pool for all openings
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Oversee the process for the hiring of full- and part-time staff and temporary seasonal faculty. Ensure the hiring and onboarding processes align with Steppingstone's mission & values and conforms with human resources best practices
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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Ensure that HR policies and processes promote Steppingstone’s organizational values, support strategic goals, and nurture the development of a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming culture
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Promote community building through All Staff meetings, events, and committees that promote staff cohesion and morale
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Work with Equity and Culture Specialist to support the implementation of team Racial Equity Action Plans and other opportunities to Advance DEI values across the organization
General HR Administration and Systems
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Supervise and mentor the Human Resources Manager; Work collaboratively with the Equity and Culture Specialist
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Act as system admin for the Paylocity database to effectively integrate all database and record keeping; ensure that all personnel files, payroll, and human resources information and documentation is captured accurately
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Provide backup coverage for payroll processing
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Update personnel policies and procedures and keep the employee handbook up-to-date and compliant; ensure staff are aware of and compliant with policies and procedures
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Ensure timely and accurate compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations governing human resources, including filing required government reports, forms and survey
Requirements:
Required Skills, Abilities, Competencies:
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Demonstrated commitment to educational and racial equity in college access and success
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5+ years of human resources experience as a subject matter expert
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Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations including EEOC and compliance
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Management/leadership experience, including relevant experience collaborating effectively with all staff levels in developing and implementing org-wide diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives
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Excellent interpersonal skills including a high level of emotional intelligence, the ability to exercise discretion dealing with confidential and sensitive information, and to contain and facilitate difficult conversations
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Demonstrated excellence in effective communication (verbal, written, listening skills); ability to effectively present complex and sensitive information in a variety of settings with simplicity and compassion
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An independent and strategic thinker capable of understanding the full scope of projects while seeing individual tasks through to completion; ability to manage multiple projects under pressure and adhere to deadlines
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Exceptional relationship-building and group facilitation capabilities, incorporating cross-cultural sensitivity
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Orientation towards continuous learning for self and others
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Expertise in human resources-related technology and databases; familiarity with Paylocity and/or Culture Amp would be beneficial
Education and Work Experience:
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Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience required
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5+ years of human resources experience as a subject matter expert
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Experience in the non-profit or education field preferred
Physical Demands:
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Lifting up to 20 pounds, standing, walking, sitting, reaching, operating computer and office equipment
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Pursuant to the ADA, Steppingstone will provide reasonable services and accommodation(s) to employees with qualified disabilities in order to perform the essential functions of their employment, except when doing so would be unduly disruptive and/or result in undue hardship to the organization.
To Apply: Please input your resume and a thoughtful cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position, and how you learned about this position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
As a condition of employment, all Steppingstone employees, including full-time, part-time, temporary and contract employees, and interns, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To be considered fully vaccinated, individuals must have received two doses of the approved Pfizer/Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, and remain up to date with all boosters recommended by the CDC prior to the finalization of the hiring process. Finalists will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination.
Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exemptions to this requirement in accordance with applicable law. Applicants should be aware that for external-facing roles, particularly those involving close contact with students, accommodations that involve remaining unvaccinated against COVID-19 may not be deemed reasonable. Steppingstone will engage in the interactive accommodation process on an individualized basis in light of each particular role.
Employee Benefits:
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Generous paid time off (over 8 weeks total, as outlined below)
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15 days PTO
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2 days Discretionary Time Off
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5 wellness days
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12.5 holidays
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2 weeks paid office closure
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$500 Home Office Set-up Stipend; plus $50 quarterly
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Health, Dental and Vision coverage
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Life, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
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Retirement Plan
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Tuition & Professional Development reimbursement
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Flexible Spending Accounts - Health and Dependent Care
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Pre-tax Transportation Plan (Transit & Parking)
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
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Membership to the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA)
Steppingstone Core ValuesPower of One-
We honor every voice and believe we are strongest when we work together.
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We recognize, respect, and nurture the fullness and complexity of each member of our community.
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We believe in the power of belonging and seek to create a welcoming and inclusive culture.
Walk the Walk
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We partner with every Scholar and family, supporting them holistically throughout their own educational journey.
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We work with clear and measurable purpose, using data to drive collective decision-making and challenge assumptions.
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We create spaces for difficult conversations to transform our thinking and move us forward.
Embrace Growth
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We strive to operate as an anti-racist organization and commit to continuous learning and action in the service of this goal.
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We provide opportunities for everyone in our community to flourish and reach their full potential.
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We make time for reflection, learn from past experiences, and take initiative in response to changing needs and new ideas.
A candidate will be found unsuitable for employment with Steppingstone and automatically disqualified if they use threatening language or behavior either written, verbal, or physical during any phase of the interview process.
The Steppingstone Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any individual, employee, or application for employment on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or handicap, as defined by law.