Director of People

Title: Director of People and HR

Reports to: Chief Operations Officer

EMBARC BACKGROUND

Embarc’s mission is to cultivate post-secondary success by inspiring students to build their social capital, stretch the boundaries of their neighborhood, alter their world view, and seize opportunities in school and life. Embarc is regarded as one of the most exciting nonprofits in Chicago that specializes in combining a robust 3-year curriculum with immersive, hands-on learning experiences that connect students to multiple sectors of the Chicago community to drive academic skills and close the opportunity gap.

Since inception in 2010, Embarc has served nearly 8,000 students who have achieved an average 95% graduation rate and 90% overall postsecondary success. Embarc has grown from serving 25 students in 2010 to nearly 4,000 students in the 2021-2022 school year in 20 high schools across Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

POSITION OVERVIEW

Embarc is looking for a dynamic leader to join its team.

The Director of People and HR is both an HR strategist who helps set the vision and direction for HR and builds better practices for Embarc’s team, as well as an HR generalist who will run the daily functions of the HR department. This dual hat position balances daily management of recruitment and selection, administration of pay, benefits, and leave, and compliance with organizational policies, with strategic thinking that can connect different organizational visions and goals to innovative practices and solutions. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. HR Generalist

• Performs routine tasks required to administer and execute human resource programs including but not limited to compensation, benefits, and leave; disciplinary matters; disputes and investigations; performance and talent management; productivity; recognition, and morale; and occupational health and safety.
• Handles employment-related inquiries from applicants, team members, and supervisors, referring complex and/or sensitive matters to appropriate team members.
• Supports recruitment process including interviews and facilitating the hiring of qualified applicants for open positions; collaborates with team leads to understand the skills and competencies required for openings. 
• Conducts or acquires background checks and employee eligibility verifications.
• Implements new hire orientation and pre-boarding. 
• Reviews, tracks, and documents compliance with mandatory and non-mandatory training, continuing education, and work assessments. This may include safety training, anti-harassment training, etc. 
• Attends and participates in employee disciplinary meetings, terminations, and investigations.
• Manage administrative accounts for various Team Member support applications and accounts including but not limited to Amazon, Everlance, Google Drive, Office 365, Uber, Ventra, and Zoom.

1. HR Strategist

• Collaborates with Embarc’s C Suite to understand organizational goals and strategy related to staffing, recruiting, and retention.
• Provides leadership to developing and implementing innovative HR solutions for Embarc.
• Plans, leads, develops, coordinates, and implements policies, processes, training, incentives, initiatives and surveys to support Embarc’s HR strategy and compliance needs.
• Identifies staffing and recruiting needs; develops and executes best practices for hiring and talent management including ownership of the 360 review process for the entire organization and training facilitation in the 360 process for Team Leads.
• Collaborates with Embarc’s data team to develop metrics that monitor key HR strategy and deliverables.
• Champions change management principles and practices for the entire team. Reviews large implementation plans to ensure proper change management practices are being used. 
• Monitors and ensures Embarc’s compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, recommends best practices, and reviews and modifies policies and practices to maintain compliance.
• Maintains and increases knowledge of innovative trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies; applies this knowledge to create and communicate changes in policy, practice and resources to Embarc’s C Suite. 
• Provides personal advice and counsel on complex human resource issues to Embarc’s C Suite.
• Develops and implements departmental budget.
• Facilitates professional development, training and certification activities for Embarc’s entire Team.
• Develops and implements other systems for risk management and mitigation
• Performs other duties as required.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, COMPETENCIES

• Minimum 5 years working experience in HR management and strategy
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Love of and for people and desire to create a working environment that is daring, employee-centric, collaborative, transparent, and passionate.
• Current knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations.
• Excellent time management, problem solving skills and strategic thinking
• Solid analytical and decision making skills
• Leadership abilities