Director, Employee Relations - CT

Team: Talent

Job Level: Director

Location: Hybrid (4 days per week on site) - Connecticut (Candidate must live or relocate within region)

Standard Work Hours: 9a-6p

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time 

Salary: $117,753

About Achievement First

Achievement First (AF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that currently supports 41 public charter schools in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Consistently rated as one of the top charter school networks in the country for almost 25 years, AF is committed to continuous improvement, programmatic evolution for enhanced student outcomes, and sustainable growth. The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families who will be the first in their families to graduate from college. AF currently employs more than 2,200 staff — 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence, RI.

The mission of Achievement First is to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America’s children. AF knows that every child—regardless of race, zip code, or economic status—deserves access to great schools. At AF, students realize their potential and develop the skills they need to graduate from high school, succeed in college, thrive in a competitive world, and serve as the next generation of leaders in their communities. At AF, students and staff embark on a shared journey to fulfill their incredible potential.

We are looking for a strategic and dynamic Director, Employee Relations to join our Talent Operations team.

Your Impact

Achievement First’s Talent Operations team ensures strong talent practices are effectively and consistently implemented across the Achievement First network as the organization adapts to scale. The team also seeks to create a world-class employee experience such that all employees feel valued and want to stay at Achievement First to relentlessly support student success. 

We believe that compassionate, consistent and fairly implemented talent practices are critical to our success at building a network of high performing schools that can close the achievement gap at scale. Reporting to the Sr. Director, Employee Relations & HR Policy, the Director,  Employee Relations will play a critical role in helping to promote our positive workplace. The team accomplishes this by: 

• Overseeing comprehensive performance evaluation systems ​
• Offering competitive total rewards package
• Fueling people leadership practices with strong talent data, clear guidance,​ and efficient processes
• Creating avenues for employee input and feedback through various talent management surveys

Reporting directly to the Sr. Director, Employee Relations & HR Policy, you will be responsible for:

• Providing expert knowledge and guidance on employment relations functions for your portfolio of schools, executing on investigations, facilitating staff trainings, and other talent management issues as needed
• Advising schools in leading conflict resolution, mediation facilitation, and overall performance management support including but not limited to warnings, performance improvement plans, and other employee communication 
• Building capacity for the Talent Operations team through ongoing employee relations data review and continuous improvement of all HR functional areas
• Managing HR administration, including but not limited to employment verifications, vaccination tracking, case management and accommodation requests 
• Overseeing cyclical talent activities including our renewal process, open enrollment, and other special assignments as needed

Skills You’ll Have

All candidates for this position will foster a culture of entrepreneurialism, innovation, and project management to ensure our Talent Operations team, like our schools, are setting a high bar in all areas and pursuing it relentlessly. All candidates will have a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 10 years of progressive ER/HR experience, 3+ years should be in a senior-level or advisory role with strong focus on ER. Prior experience facilitating training and conducting HR investigations as well as a Master’s degree is preferred.  

An ideal candidate will demonstrate skills in the following areas:

• Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated social intelligence, tact, empathy, respect, and patience
• Confident in interacting with and influencing individuals at all levels within the organization 
• Ability to thrive in a fast‐paced, entrepreneurial environment; flexible, able to work autonomously as well as take direction as needed 
• Ability to multitask, exceptional detail and follow up skills, and is organized 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a proactive communication style
• Belief in the Achievement First mission and educational model 

In addition, the following experience is required to be successful on this team:

• Knowledge of applicable law (state/federal), regulations, rules, procedures, HR best practice and administration
• Experience working with HRIS systems, especially ADP Workforce Now is a plus
• Ability to resolve conflicts and diffuse employee relations related concerns, issues, and situations 
• Ability to work in and travel to schools in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport a minimum of four days a week

Compensation

Achievement First sets salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on the requisite skills, education, and experience relevant to the role.  The salary for this position is $117,753, with no flexibility.  Additionally, Achievement First offers to all regular, full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match, and paid Family Leave.