Director of Human Resources

About The Everglades Foundation

Since 1993, The Everglades Foundation has been the leading champion for the restoration of America’s Everglades. The team provides bipartisan solutions backed by sound scientific research. Through science, advocacy, and education, The Everglades Foundation is devoted to restoring and protecting America’s Everglades for future generations.

As a science-based nonprofit, The Everglades Foundation operates at the boundaries of science and policy, transforming the latest scientific research into economically-sound policy solutions for local, state, and federal governments. The Everglades Foundation understands the challenges of implementing ecosystem restoration and protection and has unique experience in guiding state and national leadership to invest in and restore one of our nation’s great treasures and one of the world’s most important wetland ecosystems.

The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and a responsible employer that seeks to recruit and retain outstanding, high-performing professionals who are at the top of their fields to thrive in a dynamic, mission-driven culture committed to excellence, innovation, collaboration, and diversity.

Position Summary

The Director of Human Resources directly supports the mission of The Everglades Foundation by overseeing the organization’s Human Resources operations, services, and compensation and benefits administration. The Director will serve as a key member of the management team is responsible for setting, enforcing, and evaluating legally compliant human resources policies, procedures, and best practices, and identifying and implementing long-range strategic talent management goals. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to talent acquisition and retention; employee relations; supervising one partial Human Resources staff member and an outsourced vendor; compliance with employment laws; performance management; employee onboarding and resignation/termination exit process; employment leaves including disability, workers compensation, FMLA, and parental leaves; research market rates for compensation; policy development and interpretation; HR and payroll systems; employee benefits program; and supporting the workplace safety program.

The Director of Human Resources is team and results-oriented and is committed to achieving the organization’s mission. The Director possesses a positive attitude, highly developed emotional intelligence and strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. The Director presents the highest level of professionalism and is able to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion. The Director of Human Resources is capable of assessing, managing, and successfully completing multiple competing priorities with minimal direction, works well under pressure and on deadline, thinks analytically, and proactively solves problems.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee Human Resource services and partner with all Foundation departments to support effective hiring, management, annual review process, and day to day HR affairs. Provide responsiveness and services to the Foundation’s departmental management and employees
• Manage and assist in recruiting of new staff across the team to support departments. Review job postings and approve for posting. Review applicants and make hiring recommendations. Oversee reference and background checking processes. Manage employment offer letters and terms of employment
• Work to foster excellent working relationships with managers and supervisors and staff across the Foundation, and build a culture of trust, transparency, inclusion, openness, and responsiveness that positions the Human Resources department as a helpful resource to our many stakeholders
• Look for opportunities to work efficiently within the Human Resource, Benefits, and Payroll functions and recommend use of the proper systems so that transactions can flow more accurately, easily, and quickly to advance the needs of the Foundation. Optimize technology and outsourced experts to meet legal and best business practices
• Organize employee files in a secure and compliant manner
• Investigate employee relations matters, evaluate course of action for problem resolution, and recommend proper steps for resolving employee relations matters as necessary
• In partnership with General Counsel and Executive Leadership, conduct internal investigations on sensitive matters, evaluate various courses of action, and recommend course of action for resolution including progressive discipline, termination, reassignment, suspension, or other recommendations for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment
• Coach managers on performance management processes and performance feedback Coach managers on writing performance improvement plans and progressive discipline processes
• Develop and review job descriptions for various staff positions, in partnership with hiring managers, to support best outcomes in hiring and to ensure proper classification according to federal and state law, proper classification of exempt vs. non-exempt, etc.
• Create, implement, and maintain equal employment opportunity and diversity and inclusion policies, training, and best practices to ensure that applicants and employees are given equal opportunities in employment regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or any other protected characteristic
• Advise managers on matters pertaining to employment law and monitor practices for compliance. In consultation with internal and outside counsel, provide recommendation for policy changes or training to ensure compliance
• Attend unemployment and workers compensation hearings and represent the Foundation regarding these matters
• Assist in the process of administering and monitoring salary increase letters
• Conduct exit interviews for employees and follow up on matters of significance, providing recommendations for resolution when necessary
• In partnership with Director of Board & Employee Relations, conduct or manage the employment orientation process for incoming staff
• Monitor and track disability, unemployment, and employee leaves. Assure that necessary forms of communication are issued to employees on leave of absence
• Participate in building a workplace safety program, including coordination of safety training programs and conducting accident investigations and providing recommendations for improvement
• Participate on various Foundation committees
• Attend meetings and conferences to further the Foundation’s human resources goals and objectives
• Other tasks and duties as assigned by the Chief Finance & Operations Officer

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of Human Resources policies and procedures, relevant Florida and Federal employment laws, and their application in the day-to-day working environment
• Firm understanding of Human Resources policy, advising, recruiting, disciplinary process, hiring and terminations, leave policies and procedures, and workplace safety programs
• Knowledge of HR Information Systems, Payroll Systems and Benefits Enrollment
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills
• Demonstrated public speaking ability 
• Must present the highest level of professionalism and ethics
• Ability to maintain knowledge of and effectively communicate all Foundation policies and procedures
• Able to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Capability to assess, manage, and successfully complete multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to be flexible and work under deadlines and time constraints
• Able to proactively solve problems and think analytically
• Able to listen well
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Punctual, reliable, and self-directed
• An optimistic outlook and enthusiastic attitude
• Ability to effectively work remotely, independently, and under limited supervision
• A passion and enthusiasm for the Everglades and/or the environment a plus

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university required; Master’s degree preferred
• Five to ten years working experience in a Human Resources department, preferably in a non-profit or academic setting
• PHR or SPHR certification preferred
• Supervisory experience preferred

Mental and Physical Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must meet the above minimum qualifications and be able to perform each of the essential duties and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the physical and mental requirements of the job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job.

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to concentrate and analyze information for extended periods of time
• Able to proactively solve problems and think analytically
• Ability to make sound, prompt decisions
• Ability to read and write
• Manual hand dexterity required to operate IT devices and complete paperwork
• Endurance to work long hours, including nights and weekends

Accountability

The Director of Human Resources reports directly to the Chief Finance & Operations Officer and coordinates closely with other members of the Executive Leadership Team.

Location and Schedule

Offices are located in Palmetto Bay, Florida, which is in southern Miami-Dade County, in a suburban setting with spectacular views of Biscayne National Park. This is an exempt, benefits-based, full-time, on-site position.  Occasional weekend and/or evening work and local travel may be required.

This job description accurately reflects the Director of Human Resources position as currently configured.  However, this job description is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all of duties an employee in this position may be expected to perform. Employees are expected to perform all other duties as may be assigned and/or directed.

This job description may be changed to include new responsibilities and tasks, or change existing ones, at any time, as the Foundation deems necessary.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The Everglades Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, and it is its policy to ensure equal employment opportunity for all qualified individuals relating to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, demotion, compensation, retention, discipline, separation, and other employment practices. The Foundation affords equal protection against discrimination to job applicants as it does for Foundation employees.

The Foundation will also ensure that any qualified, disabled employee or applicant who can perform the essential functions of a job, with or without reasonable accommodation, will have an equal opportunity with respect to all employment practices specified above.