Director of People, Culture and Equity

Job Title: Director of People, Culture and Equity Reports To: Executive Director Salary: $68,000 – $75,000 / annually Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt Location: Portland, OR | On-site role with visits to other campuses (reliable personal transportation required) About Childswork Learning Center Childswork Learning Center is a fully funded Preschool for All provider serving 3- and 4-year-olds across three campuses in Portland, Oregon: Cherry Blossom, Tabor, and Hosford. As a Preschool for All partner, Childswork is part of Multnomah County's commitment to providing free, culturally responsive, and inclusive early learning to every family who wants it. With a growing team of faculty and administrative staff, Childswork is at an exciting and consequential moment in its development. Our people make this work possible. When our staff feel supported, heard, and valued, that energy flows directly into the classrooms and into the lives of the children and families we serve. We are building the internal infrastructure to match our ambitions, and the Director of People, Culture and Equity is central to that work. About You You lead with empathy and believe every employee deserves to feel valued and heard, and you understand that this shows up in the details, including the accuracy of a paycheck and the clarity of a benefits explanation. You are a skilled listener who follows through, and people trust you because you do what you say you will. You bring warmth, discreetness, and professionalism to every interaction, whether navigating a sensitive conversation or walking someone through an open enrollment decision. You understand that working in an early childhood environment calls for patience, care, and the ability to hold professional boundaries with genuine intention. You are organized and detail-oriented, able to manage multiple priorities across multiple sites without losing sight of the people behind the paperwork. You are also approachable and decisive. You know when to be clear, direct, and firm. You are an experienced investigator and employee relations practitioner who can manage a formal grievance process with fairness, consistency, and legal awareness. You are a builder, energized by the opportunity to create systems and infrastructure, not just maintain them. You are a strong coach and thought partner for managers, helping them grow their supervisory skills with practical, grounded guidance. And you are genuinely committed to equity and inclusion, bringing that lens to every aspect of your HR practice, not just the initiatives labeled DEI. Position Summary This is a newly created position and the first dedicated HR leadership role in Childswork's history. The Director of People, Culture and Equity will build the organization's human resources function from the ground up, establishing the systems, policies, and practices that will support a growing, multi-campus workforce. This role reports directly to the Executive Director and serves as a senior leader and thought partner across the organization. The Director will bring both warmth and decisiveness to their work. They will be a trusted resource for staff navigating workplace concerns, a skilled investigator when issues require formal attention, a coach for managers building their supervisory skills, and an equity-committed leader who embeds culturally responsive values into every people practice. This is a hands‑on role that requires someone equally comfortable developing policy and sitting across from an employee in a difficult conversation. Regular in‑person presence is essential to building the staff relationships and school culture that define who we are. Key Responsibilities HR Policy Development & Compliance (15%) Establish Childswork's HR function as a new internal department, including systems, processes, workflows, and documentation Lead a comprehensive review and updatethe Employee Handbook to ensure policies are current, legally compliant, clearly written, and reflective of Childswork's equity and inclusion values Develop and implement HR policies in partnership with the Executive Director and Business Operations Manager Maintain accurate, organized, and confidential employee files in compliance with all federal, state, and local recordkeeping requirements Conduct periodic file and compliance audits across all campuses Employee Relations (20%) Serve as the primary point of contact for employee concerns, complaints, and workplace disputes across all three campuses Administer staff engagement surveys and translate results into actionable recommendations for leadership In collaboration with leadership, support to ensure ongoing staff recognition initiatives to maintain a positive workplace environment Lead or oversee formal workplace grievances, ensuring processes are thorough, documented, legally defensible, and equitablein a timely manner Coach managers and supervisors through difficult conversations, performance concerns, and personnel decisions Conduct exit interviews and use findings to inform retention strategy and culture improvement Recruitment (15%) Manage the full recruitment lifecycle including job postings, applicant screening, interview coordination, reference and background checks, and offer letters Partner with site directors and education leadership to anticipate and plan for staffing needs, including the hiring ramp for the new campus Ensure hiring practices are equitable, inclusive, and legally compliant at every touchpoint to ensure they are reflective of Childswork’s values Maintain a positive and welcoming candidate experience throughout the process Coordinate required background clearance processes (Criminal Background Registry, Oregon Registry, and fingerprinting) Onboarding, Training, and Professional Development (15%) Design and facilitate a welcoming, thorough onboarding experience that sets new employees up for success and reflects Childswork's culture Coordinate new hire paperwork, systems access, benefits enrollment, and orientation to Childswork's culture and expectations across campuses Identify training needs across campuses in partnership with department leads and develop responsive programming Coordinate and facilitate staff training sessions, workshops, and professional development opportunities Track training completion and maintain records to ensure compliance with required certifications or continuing education Payroll and Benefits Administration (10%) Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including Oregon-specific requirements Collaborate with the Business Operations Manager and accountant on payroll processes, flagging HR-related issues as they arise Administer health, dental, vision, life insurance, FSA/HSA, retirement, and other employee benefit programs Guide employees through benefits enrollment with clarity and patience, ensuring they understand and can make full use of what is available to them Manage open enrollment from end to end, including communications, deadlines, and system updates Ensure compliance with ACA, COBRA, Paid Leave Oregon, and related regulations Equity, Culture, and DEI Leadership (25%) Champion a workplace culture where every employee, across all campuses and roles, feels genuinely valued, heard, and supported Serve as Childswork's internal equity leader, embedding culturally responsive practices into hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and daily HR operations Responsible for and partners with external DEI consultant on roadmap development, initiative implementation, and integration of equity goals into organizational policy Lead and track progress on internal coordination of DEI initiatives, including scheduling, communications, and staff follow-through that empowers staff to experience a sense of belonging Support recognition initiatives and help celebrate employee milestones and contributions Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Education Administration, Business, or a related field 5+ years of progressive HR experience:

• HR generalist experience, including payroll, benefits, and recruitment
• Direct responsibility and experience in employee relations, workplace investigations, and HR policy development

Strong working knowledge of employment law and HR compliance, including Oregon-specific requirements Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace Proven ability to establish culture and coach supervisors/managers through performance and personnel matters Proficiency with HRIS and payroll platforms (e.g., Gusto, ADP, Paychex, Rippling, or similar) Strong interpersonal, communication, written, and presentation skills Access to reliable personal transportation and the ability to work regularly across multiple Portland campuses Ability to successfully complete a Criminal Background Registry check, Oregon Registry application, and fingerprinting (costs covered by Childswork) Preferred Experience working in an early childhood education, school, or nonprofit setting PHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent professional HR credential Experience building a first HR department or establishing HR infrastructure in a growing organization Experience working within a publicly funded program or government-contracted environment Compensation and Benefits In compliance with Oregon's pay transparency requirements, Childsworkprovides the following salary range for this position: Entry-level (1–2 years experience): $55,000 – $60,000 Mid-level (3–5 years experience): $60,000 – $68,000 Experienced (5+ years): $68,000 – $75,000 Final compensation will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and alignment with Childswork's compensation structure. Benefits include: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance 403(b) retirement plan Generous paid time off and school-year holidays A collaborative, mission-driven team that genuinely loves what they do Childswork Learning Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and joyful workplace. We strongly encourage candidates of color and those with lived experience in early childhood or educational settings to apply. Application Information Nonprofit Professionals Now is excited to support Childswork Learning Center in this key leadership role. All interested applicants need to submit a resume and cover letter. All candidate information will be reviewed, and candidates moving forward in the process will be contacted directly. Application Deadline: June 21, 2026 #J-18808-Ljbffr Gilder Search Group