The Role:

The Human Resources Director is a key member of the district leadership team within the Westwood Public Schools. Reporting to the Superintendent, the Human Resources Director’s primary role is to lead the district’s efforts to recruit, retain, and develop a diverse and talented workforce. In addition, the Director will develop positive and proactive relationships with employee unions, manage employee leaves and accommodations, conduct workplace investigations and manage grievances, ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, maintain employee data, and participate in the development of employee contracts, handbooks and agreements. The Human Resources Director will be instrumental in promoting a professional culture among staff that leads to strong student learning outcomes for all children.

Our District:

Westwood is a welcoming suburban community committed to providing a supportive environment where all employees feel valued and respected. We believe that a diverse team enhances our ability to serve our community effectively. As such, we welcome individuals from all backgrounds to apply for positions within our district.

You will join a strong professional learning community dedicated to preparing students for success in college, career, and civic life. Together, we uphold our core district values of academic excellence, continuous improvement, curiosity, tenacity, and respectful relationships in a caring, collaborative community. If you are passionate about creating a positive work environment and promoting diversity and integration in the workplace, we encourage you to apply for this role.

Reports To: Superintendent

FTE: Full time, full year position

Salary: $120,000-$130,000

Overview:The Human Resources Director is a key member of the district leadership team within the Westwood Public Schools. Reporting to the Superintendent, the Human Resources Director’s primary role is to lead the district’s efforts to recruit, retain, and develop a diverse and talented workforce. In addition, the Director will provide guidance and support to district and building leaders, develop positive and proactive relationships with employee unions, manage employee leaves and accommodations, conduct workplace investigations and manage grievances, ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, maintain employee data, and participate in the development of employee contracts, handbooks and agreements. The Human Resources Director will be instrumental in promoting a professional culture among staff that leads to strong student learning outcomes for all children.

Essential Functions:

1. Recruitment and Hiring

• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to attract diverse, qualified candidates for open positions.
• Update and maintain equitable and transparent processes for posting, interviewing, and selection of candidates.
• Ensure that all recruitment, hiring, onboarding and mentoring processes are thoughtfully designed to help candidates and newly hired staff feel welcome and valued
• Train hiring managers and committees to ensure that recruitment and selection practices are fair and equitable and support the district goal of creating a diverse and talented workforce.

1. Employee Development and Retention

• Serve as a trusted advisor to employees and administrators on HR-related matters.
• Collaborate with school and district leaders to provide staff members with professional development consistent with promoting a welcoming and inclusive workplace.
• Implement districtwide mandatory training and ensure that staff are ready to implement district safety and security procedures.
• Address employee concerns and conflicts in a timely and effective manner, promoting a positive work environment.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to support employee engagement and retention.
• Monitor and support staff evaluation processes: provide notification of timelines and ensure adherence to best practices and agreed upon norms of evaluation
• Gather and analyze hiring, retention, job growth and exit data in order to track progress toward district goals

1. Personnel Policies and Practices

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Work with district and building leaders to promote welcome, inclusive, safe and supportive work environments for all employees
• Manage databases and systems (employee onboarding, staff database, time and absence reporting, and payroll software) and ensure data integrity and record-retention. 
• Leverage employee data to provide insights relevant for district strategic efforts.
• Stay abreast of best practices in HR management and recommend improvements as needed.

1. Communication and Community Partnerships 

• Develop and implement programs and partnerships to promote the recruitment, hiring and retention of a talented and diverse workforce.
• Partner effectively with the Town HR department, which manages health, medical, and dental benefits and unemployment claims for Westwood Schools employees.
• Prepare and distribute written and digital materials, including reports, that document and support the district’s human resources management.
• Collaborate with the district leadership team on communications strategies and materials that clearly communicate the district’s vision, mission and values and deepen relationships with current and potential employees, community partners and other key stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education, human resources management, business administration, or a relevant field
• SHRM or PHR certification desirable
• Minimum of three years of experience in employee management, preferably in a school or educational setting
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Commitment to honoring diversity, promoting equity, and pursuing integration in the workplace

Physical Requirements:

• Requires sufficient vision to read printed documents and to view detail on a computer screen for extended periods.
• Requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, and reaching, as well as carrying and occasionally lifting up to 30 lbs.
• Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation, on the telephone, and in the classroom.
• Ability to hear sounds clearly up to twenty feet.
• Travel among buildings may be required.

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

The Westwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.