HR Manager-Alabama Region

About Us:

Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools (www.freedomprep.org) is a network of PreK-12 free public charter schools serving students in Memphis, TN, and Birmingham, AL. Our mission is to prepare all students in grades PreK-12 to excel in college and in life. Since our founding in 2009, we have grown from a class of 96 sixth grade students to now serving over 1950 students across multiple campuses. In 2024, we expanded into Birmingham, AL, starting with grades K-1, with plans to grow to a K-5 campus. 

At Freedom Prep, we are committed to transforming education for students across the South, ensuring they have access to high-quality educational opportunities that empower them to thrive. Over the past 15 years, our students have consistently exceeded both local and state averages in math and have surpassed local benchmarks in English Language Arts on state assessments. Our mission is guided by three core beliefs: every child deserves the right to a high-quality public education, character development is essential to student success, and exposure to diverse opportunities builds the confidence and skills needed to excel in college and in life.

At Freedom Prep, we cultivate a structured, academically rigorous environment that fosters excellence in core subjects, promotes advanced academic skills, and encourages students to embody the core values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community.

*Please Note: This position will not start until January 2026

POSITION OVERVIEW

The HR Manager position is responsible for aligning business objectives with employees and management in designated business units. The position maintains an effective level of business literacy about the business unit's financial position, its midrange plans, its culture and its competition.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Supervisory

Manage and provide guidance and development of  Talent Recruiter.

Employee Benefits and Onboarding

Oversee the onboarding/offboarding process and system while looking for ways to improve efficiency and reporting through Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) and Lever (ATS).

Handles the FMLA leave administration process from the employee’s initial notice of the need for leave to the return to work. This includes gathering and completing all required paperwork, determining leave eligibility, designating leave as FMLA-qualifying, requesting medical certification as needed, and accounting for intermittent and reduced schedule leave use. 

Maintains reasonable communication with employees on leave to facilitate smooth and timely return to work, relays communication between employees and their managers during leave within reason. 

Advises managers and employees on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off, workers compensation, and short-term and long-term disability benefits.  

Talent Recruitment

Lead outreach efforts at local and identified universities 

Attend key recruitment events such as career fairs, conferences, panel discussions, and  networking events 

Develop and execute events to host connector organizations and prospective candidates with Freedom Prep including school visits, open houses, and off-campus events

Employee Relations

Manages and resolves complex employee relations issues.

Conducts effective, thorough and objective investigations.

Develops positive employee relations and engagement. 

Payroll

Enters, maintains, and/or processes information in the payroll system; information may include employee’s hourly rates, salaries, commissions, bonuses or other compensation, time worked, paid leave and holidays, deductions and withholding, address changes, and other information. 

Human Resources Support

Provide HR Policy and Procedure guidance and interpretation

Provide HR metrics reporting 

Meet regularly with the National Human Resources lead for necessary updates and guidance on Human Resources functions.

Conduct regular school visits for HR support for employees and school administration.

Abide by all state and federal mandates in reporting sexual or physical abuse and neglect.

Accountable owner for educator credentials: monitors licensure status, mitigates risk, and delivers 100% compliance with state regulations and district policy.

Other duties as assigned aligned with the scope of the position according to the Hiring Manager/Supervisor 

QUALIFICATIONS

●  Bachelor’s degree required

●  Minimum five years professional experience in Human Resources, and/or Operations

●  SPHR or PHR certification management/leadership experience strongly preferred

●  HR Generalist background with experience in recruiting, benefits administration, leave administration, payroll, and HRIS. (Working knowledge in Bamboo HR preferred).

●  A track record of leadership, including the ability to encourage, motivate, manage conflict, build culture, mentor, coach, set goals, prioritize and plan

●  Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders and effectively communicate tough messages to diverse audiences

●  Proven ability to hire, develop, engage, and retain high-performing teams, particularly in HR, Talent, and Operations wing

●  Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to develop long-term plans and execute against goals; ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and projects

●  Proactive problem solver who demonstrates initiative

●  Strong work ethic coupled with an enthusiastic and passionate approach to one’s work

●  A creative, resourceful, responsive style with the ability to work independently and as a team player

●  Outstanding organizational skills and high attention to detail; outstanding written and oral communication skills with the ability to identify, prioritize, organize tasks in order to efficiently and effectively accomplish assigned and self-generated tasks

●  Previous experience in a fast-paced, rapidly growing entrepreneurial organization

●  Previous experience teaching and/or working in school leadership in historically underserved K-12 schools and/or high-performing public charter schools preferred

●  Strong computer skills including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

●  Demonstrated commitment to the educational mission, vision, and goals of Freedom Prep 

REPORTS TO        Executive Director or Managing Director (Regional)

We are excited that you are inspired or called to learn more about our mission, values, and potential opportunities. We’d encourage you to explore a few additional resources about us, the recent investment for what’s possible, and why you should consider our community as a place for you to become a part of. We are one of the few networks that centers the whole person and their needs to thrive and support themselves and their families in the South.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION: At Freedom Prep, we prioritize transparency in everything we do. We believe that open communication fosters trust and collaboration. As part of this commitment, we make our salary scales available online for you to view, ensuring clarity and fairness in our compensation practices. You can view our compensation scales on our website. Please click HERE to be redirected.

Check out some of the unique and rare benefits here, including but not limited to: 

-Paying higher, scaffolded teacher salaries from Year 1 to retirement stage

-Zero dollar monthly premium options, including holistic options such as chiropractic or acupuncture care (TN ONLY)

-Focus on staff well-being and collective care through our Adult Social-Emotional Learning

-Support in obtaining licensure

OUR COMMITMENT: Freedom Preparatory Academy is actively seeking to build an experienced team of educators. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Salary : $70,000 - $75,000