Director of Human Resources

Position Summary:

Westmark School is currently seeking a forward-thinking Director of Human Resources to support the school’s strategic initiatives in alignment with mission-driven practices. The Director partners with senior leadership and manages HR initiatives including compensation and benefits, recruitment, performance management, employee relations, employment policies and procedures, compliance and employment laws. The Director will possess a knowledge base and passion for recruiting and retaining a talented workforce, preferably in an independent school environment. The successful candidate will build relationships across all levels, and clearly communicate and interpret HR policies while maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive situations with solid judgment and discretion. The Director of Human Resources reports to the Director of Finance and Operations and communicates regularly with the Head of School and the senior administration team.  

Salary offered: $110,000 - $125,000 dependent on experience

Essential Responsibilities:

●       Serves as a strategic partner by collaborating with senior leadership to understand the School’s short and long-term goals and strategy related to staffing, recruiting, engagement and retention.

●       Plans, leads, develops, coordinates, implements, and enforces policies, procedures and training and initiatives to support the school’s human resources compliance and strategic needs, including onboarding, separation and off-boarding. Recommends new and creative methods for retention and succession planning.

●       Collaborates with the Business Office to prepare faculty and staff employment agreements and offer letters.

●       Partners with division directors and supervisors to develop and execute recruitment plans.  Recruits for all open positions by posting jobs, screening resumes, conducting phone interviews, scheduling in-person interviews, consulting with supervisors about leading candidates, checking references, issuing employment offer letters and employment agreements and following up on such offers and agreements.

●       Arranges for temporary staffing needs.

●       Creates, updates, and maintains job descriptions for all positions.

●       Oversees employee benefits programs and the annual open enrollment process by scheduling information meetings and coordinating preparation of materials. Works closely with brokers and benefit providers, as needed.

●       Performs and assists with benefits administration, including claims resolution, status changes, and communicating benefits information to employees. Responds to benefit questions and supports employees with special and unusual circumstances.

●       Assists in the administration, interpretation, application, and periodic review of personnel policies and procedures. Reviews and updates the Employee Handbook, generally every other year.

●       Leads investigation of employee complaints and work-related issues.

●       Consults with outside legal counsel on employment law matters, as necessary.

●       Develops and communicates staff performance review timelines and materials ensuring completion of documentation by supervisors.  Ensures supervisors deliver performance reviews to their direct reports. 

●       Manages the processes for workers’ compensation claims and leaves of absence.

●       Manages outsourced vendor relationships of the School’s benefits and retirement plans.

●       Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, and regulatory changes at the local, state and federal levels.

●       Demonstrates commitment to and participation in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging program.

●       Maintains personnel records and compliance training for all employees.

●       Seeks to continuously improve HR processes and systems.

●       Acts as an advisor on employee relations matters, leaves management and payroll matters.

●       Promotes a school culture that fosters collaboration, open and frequent communication, teamwork and trust steeped in the mission of Westmark School.

●       Additional responsibilities, as assigned.

Qualifications

●       Bachelor’s degree or higher and 7+ years of progressively responsible HR management experience.

●       Effective and clear verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

●       Strong leadership and management skills; proven expertise solving problems.

●       Accuracy and attention to details.  Ability to independently set priorities and handle competing priorities.

●       Ability to maintain strict confidence about personnel matters.

●       Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.  Ability to work outside the job description in assisting the Director of Finance and Operations when unanticipated challenges arise.

●       Experience with MS Office Suite and Google Docs required.

●       Experience with Benetrac, Paychex Flex and Docusign preferred.

COVID 19: Westmark School follows CDC and LACDPH protocols for K-12 schools.  All faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus including any booster shots.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions for the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit in on meetings and work on a computer for long periods of time; and is occasionally required to walk, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, talk, and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

To apply, please submit a letter of interest and your resume to:

careers@westmarkschool.org

Attention: Doug Gardner

Westmark School

5461 Louise Avenue | Encino, CA 91316

Westmark School is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit and job performance. School policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions (including genetic characteristics or information), sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, and local laws.