Director of Human Resources

Job Description

Job Description

Wissahickon Charter School (WCS) is seeking an experienced, strategic, and people-centered Director of Human Resources to lead our efforts to attract, hire, support, and retain an exceptional team. We believe that building a mission-driven, talented, diverse, and compassionate staff is one of the most important things we can do to ensure that our students thrive. The Director of Human Resources plays a central role in making that happen.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Human Resources leads WCS's recruitment, talent strategy, employee relations, and workplace culture. The Director serves as the primary internal liaison to Vertex, WCS's external HR services partner, coordinating HR Operations and HR Compliance services within the agreed scope of services. The Director ensures timely information sharing, coordinates school-level implementation, and partners with the CEO and school leaders on employment decisions. The Director will partner closely with school leaders and the CEO to anticipate staffing needs, build strong candidate pipelines, lead an effective and thoughtful hiring process, and ensure that employees have the support and systems they need to be successful.

The ideal candidate will bring significant experience in hiring and human resources, ideally in a similarly sized public school, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organization. They will be a strategic thinker who is equally comfortable developing a long-term talent strategy and managing the details required to get the work done. They will be an excellent communicator and writer, skilled at building relationships across a wide range of stakeholders, and able to represent WCS's mission and vision compellingly to prospective employees. The successful candidate will be knowledgeable about the Philadelphia education and employment landscape, creative and persistent in developing hiring pipelines, and committed to creating a workplace where excellent educators and staff members feel valued and supported.

This is a full-time, 12-month position that is part of WCS's Shared Services team. The Director of Human Resources will work across both of WCS's school sites and collaborate with leaders and staff throughout the organization. WCS offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and generous paid time off, along with the opportunity to work in a mission-driven school community.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of recruitment and hiring, including developing candidate pipelines, advertising, screening, interviewing, demonstration lessons, reference checks, and facilitating hiring decisions.
• Build strong relationships with universities, educator preparation programs, community organizations, and other talent pipelines to attract highly qualified and mission-aligned candidates.
• Partner with school leaders and the CEO to ensure timely, strategic, and equitable hiring that meets WCS's staffing needs.
• Serve as the primary internal contact for Vertex and establish clear responsibilities, approval processes, employee inquiry routing, escalation procedures, and deadlines with the CEO and Vertex, consistent with the agreed scope of services.
• Coordinate school-level onboarding and partner with Vertex on personnel files, clearances, certifications, and other employment documentation throughout an employee's tenure. Ensure that required information and documentation are provided promptly and that school-level actions are completed; Vertex administers the processes included in the agreed scope of services.
• Serve as a trusted internal resource for employees and leaders on human resources, employee relations, performance concerns, corrective action, and workplace issues. Coordinate fact gathering and leadership decisions, and engage Vertex for guidance and documentation support where included in the agreed scope of services.
• Manage WCS's relationship with the benefits broker and partner with the CEO to evaluate opportunities to strengthen WCS's compensation and benefits offerings. Coordinate internal communications and decisions, and work with Vertex on benefits administration where included in the agreed scope of services.
• Partner with Vertex on compliance with employment laws, school requirements, HR policies, and personnel practices. Ensure school leaders complete required actions and provide timely information; coordinate with Vertex on compliance guidance, tracking, and documentation support within the agreed scope of services.
• Partner with the CEO, leadership team, and Vertex to develop and maintain job descriptions, the Employee Handbook, HR policies, and organizational systems. Coordinate school-specific input, leadership approvals, employee communications, and implementation, with Vertex support aligned to the agreed scope of services.
• Help WCS build a caring, inclusive, and supportive workplace that attracts, develops, appreciates, and retains excellent employees.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and leadership team on workforce planning, organizational culture, compensation, retention, and other human capital priorities.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of progressive experience in Human Resources and talent acquisition, with a demonstrated record of success, sound judgment, and compliance.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in Human Resources, Education, Organizational Leadership, or a related field preferred.
• Experience leading HR and recruitment in an education, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organization strongly preferred.
• Experience in or knowledge of organizations focused on education, environmental education, social justice, peace and conflict resolution, or related areas is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute long-term strategic plans while managing the details and competing priorities of day-to-day HR operations.
• Proven success identifying, attracting, and hiring talented, mission-aligned employees, including developing creative recruitment strategies and talent pipelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft job descriptions, interview materials, employee communications, corrective action documentation, and other HR documents.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to represent WCS effectively to prospective employees and external partners.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusting relationships and communicate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and navigate complex projects.
• Self-directed, resourceful, and entrepreneurial, with the initiative and flexibility to identify problems, develop solutions, and move work forward independently.
• Strong collaborator and team player who brings positivity, professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment to their work.
• Proficiency with the Google Suite required.