People and Culture Manager

Title: People and Culture Manager

Supervised by: Managing Director of Finance and Operations

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Date: October 2025

ORGANIZATION HISTORY

VOCEL is a nonprofit early childhood education organization that equips and supports parents, teachers, and school leaders to strengthen early learning in their homes and schools. With a core focus on brain-building playful learning, VOCEL designs and implements group learning programs across Chicago, prioritizing under-resourced neighborhoods that have experienced decades of disinvestment. On a mission to help ensure every child has the foundation to learn, grow, and lead, VOCEL is committed to raising the bar for early childhood excellence in Chicago and propelling children citywide to social, emotional, language, and academic success.

THE OPPORTUNITY

VOCEL places a high priority on workplace culture, and its team members express extremely high satisfaction. Having completed a five-year strategic plan that focuses on the growth in size, scope, and impact of its programming, VOCEL has set a goal to maintain our people-first culture while growing our team.

The People and Culture Manager will be called upon to refine and implement consistent, predictable, and well-communicated processes and legal compliance for VOCEL team members. At the same time, they will work with the Executive Director and other members of the Leadership Team to develop and implement initiatives that build on and grow VOCEL’s strong culture.

WHAT YOU’LL DO: ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to more typical generalist HR duties, VOCEL’s People and Culture Manager will help to position VOCEL as a leading joyful, inclusive, and people-first workplace, renowned for attracting, developing, and retaining top talent.

Manage the employee life cycle (30 – 50%):

• Facilitate the process to attract and hire talented individuals
  • Guide Hiring Managers through the process of developing job descriptions, selecting competencies for open positions, determining interview questions, and setting hiring timelines
  • Manage job posting and sharing job openings
  • Communicate with and guide applicants through stages of the hiring process
  • Conduct initial phone screen for applicants, document applicant information and make recommendations to Hiring Managers
• Individualize and serve as lead implementer of onboarding processes so that new hires are acclimated to VOCEL’s culture, policies, and processes
  • Provide structured follow-up during new hires’ first year to address questions and strengthen understanding of policies and benefits
• Manage updates to job descriptions
• Facilitate benefits enrollment
• Facilitate enrollment in retirement account
• Advise Managing Director of Finance & Operations (and Leadership Team when relevant) on trends in benefits and human resources
• Be available on an ad hoc basis for ongoing communication with team members about their work experience at VOCEL
• Attend to and resolve employee issues that may arise, including workplace conflicts, grievances, complaints, and requests for accommodations.

People and Culture (10% – 30%)

• Participate in projects with consultants, contractors, or partner organizations related to human resources, people & culture strategy, talent acquisition, talent development, etc.
• Collaborate with and support Executive Director (or other Leadership Team members as relevant) on specific strategic People & Culture initiatives
  • E.g. In 2025, this may include researching employee satisfaction survey methods to better understand the nuances of employee experience; and if relevant, implementing a new survey approach including clearly communicating the change to VOCEL’s team and investing relevant stakeholders
• On an ongoing basis, collect input on employees’ experience (currently via biannual survey through BambooHR), summarize data, and report findings to leadership for discussion and potential action
• Oversee VOCEL’s Team Culture Committees (currently focused on celebrating birthdays, work anniversaries, other individual accomplishments and milestones, and team gatherings)

Legal and Compliance (10% – 20%)

• Update handbook on an annual basis as guided by Managing Director of Finance & Operations to articulate new policies and processes
• Work with VOCEL’s attorney on a bi-annual legal review of the handbook
• Facilitate subgroup of staff members reviewing handbook through Equity, Diversity & Inclusion lens on a regular cadence; update handbook’s language and policies as relevant
• Field questions or concerns from employees regarding policies
• Ensure VOCEL’s office is populated with up-to-date employment information from governmental agencies

Performance Management (5 – 10%)

• Guide supervisors and employees through the annual process of setting goals
• Provide supervisors and employees with reminders and guidance related to reflecting on performance goals (quarterly)
• Collect and securely store performance management materials from employees and supervisors

Training and Professional Development (5%-10%)

• Ensure that all VOCEL employees participate in the required training, per US, Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago laws
• Track all VOCEL professional development experiences and summarize data as needed

Miscellaneous (5% - 10%)

• Perform clerical responsibilities and other duties as assigned
• Participate in required staff, committee, and/or Board meetings
• Provide support for development events
• Protect the organization by keeping information confidential
• Participate in additional VOCEL initiatives and projects, including culture committees
• Other duties as assigned

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This role is full-time, with a minimum of 36 hours a week and not to exceed 40 hours per week. The daily schedule can be expected to fall between 7am and 5pm Monday through Friday. Some evening and weekend hours may be required.
• This position operates in multiple contexts: an office environment with wireless internet and limited space and remotely at home. Occasional travel in the Chicagoland area may be expected
• Employee is expected to work at VOCEL office a minimum of 2- 3 regular days per week, in coordination with manager.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers (laptops), photocopiers, scanners, filing cabinets, and common office supplies as well as software including Google Workspace, Slack, etc.
• This position requires a reliable cell phone with the capability to add apps for communication with participants and staff, i.e., Slack, Bamboo, etc.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be regularly expected to:
  • communicate with colleagues
  • operate office equipment
• VOCEL offers a smoke- and drug-free environment
• Employee will be required to provide documentation of U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Equal Opportunity Employer. All decisions and criteria governing the employment relationship with all employees are made in a non-discriminatory manner, without regard to race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, military service, order of protection status, physical, mental, or neuro disability, or any other factor determined to be unlawful by federal, state, or local statutes.

WHAT YOU BRING

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is interested in working in an entrepreneurial and collaborative organization that is highly focused on its mission. Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the preferred qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

Background and experience we’d like to see:

• Knowledge of Human Resource laws applicable for a small employer
• At least 2 years of experience working in a Human Resources capacity
• Human Resources Certification, such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR
• Bachelor’s degree

The ideal candidate demonstrates:

• Alignment with VOCEL’s core values (https://www.vocel.org/core-values)
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong communication skills
• Excellent collaboration and support skills, including ability to work with individuals with different working styles, gauge what support is needed, and proactively offer support and suggest next steps to move collaborative efforts forward
• Excellent organizational and logistical skills
• Commitment to cultural sensitivity, equity, self-reflection, and growth
• Strong ability to project plan, delegate responsibilities to team members, take accountability, and follow-up accordingly to meet deadlines and due dates
• Patience and willingness to provide support to others
• Entrepreneurial spirit and flexibility

VOCEL OFFERS A COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGE INCLUDING:

• Salary of $60,930 - $63,555 per year, at 36 hours per week
• Health, dental, and vision insurance (50-60% covered by VOCEL)
• IRA with employer matching up to 3%
• Technology reimbursement
• Mileage reimbursement
• Generous paid time off including:
  • Paid holidays with opportunity to swap holidays for personal/religious observance
  • 20 days of elective paid time off per year
  • Four days of Winter Break
  • Up to five paid sick days
  • Up to five paid self, family, and community care days
  • “VOCEL Fridays” (staff work an abbreviated workday ending at 1pm)

TO APPLY:

• Follow instructions at this link.
• Incomplete applications will not be accepted
• No phone calls please
• Deadline is November 3, 2025

VOCEL OFFERS A COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGE INCLUDING:

• Salary of $54,380 - $59,200 per year, at 36 hours per week
• Health, dental, and vision insurance (50-60% covered by VOCEL)
• IRA with employer matching up to 3%
• Technology reimbursement
• Mileage reimbursement
• Generous paid time off including:
  • Paid holidays with opportunity to swap holidays for personal/religious observance
  • 20 days of elective paid time off per year
  • Four days of Winter Break
  • Up to five paid sick days
  • Up to five paid self, family, and community care days
  • “VOCEL Fridays” (staff work an abbreviated workday ending at 1pm)