Director, Human Resources

Overview

Catalyst:Ed seeks a strategic and equity-driven Human Resources Director to lead its people strategy during a pivotal period of growth. We are looking for a leader who has experience supporting senior leadership in building highly effective teams, centers employee engagement and belonging, fosters an inclusive workplace culture, and aligns human resources practices with the organization’s mission and values. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in scaling nonprofits, recruiting and retaining highly-effective people and teams, and developing an inclusive and high-performing culture along with a demonstrated ability to embed equity into all aspects of people operations. As a key thought partner, this leader will help shape Catalyst:Ed’s organizational vision, drive sustainable growth, and ensure alignment between the strategic plan and human-centered policies that empower and support a diverse workforce.

The Human Resource Director will report directly to Meladee Evans, VP, People & Operations.

Who We Are

Catalyst:Ed is a national nonprofit that catalyzes equity, innovation, and improvement by connecting leaders and teams to critical expertise, hands-on support, and resources.

We are on a mission to improve outcomes for America’s children and youth by strengthening the schools and nonprofits that serve them. Ultimately, our vision is to help transform the capacity of the nation’s education and social sector ecosystem, to help unlock the potential of every child.

We help school systems, education agencies, postsecondary institutions, nonprofits, and philanthropies tap into the expertise of our network of leaders and technical assistance providers in order to spur change and power organizational learning and capacity. Our pioneering model leverages technology, networks, and data to rapidly and effectively match education organizations to the capacity-building support they need to become more effective, innovative, and equitable.

We are now poised for our next big growth spurt, including an expansion beyond education to support place-based partnerships! This is an exciting time for our team as we look to grow from serving hundreds of organizations to thousands.

About This Role

The Team at Catalyst:Ed:

We’re a team of entrepreneurial, visionary educators, researchers, and storytellers committed to our mission and guided by our core values to: seek truth, center humanity, be intentional, and stay curious.

The Role:

As the Human Resources Director, you will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of the organization’s human resources strategy, policies, and practices to support the mission and goals of the organization. Reporting to the VP, People & Operations, this position will oversee all aspects of human resources, including talent acquisition, employee relations, compensation and benefits, performance management, and compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations.

This individual will be tasked with, reviewing, creating, and implementing thoughtful, scalable processes in all areas of human resources. This is an exempt position.

Key Components of the Role:

Human Resources & Talent Strategy:

• Supports VP, People of Operations in developing strategy for human resources that aligns with Catalyst:Ed’s vision and goals and its needs as a growing organization
• In collaboration with Manager, Human Resources, develops, implements, and assesses policies and procedures, trainings, and surveys to support the organization’s human resource compliance and strategic needs always with an eye on improvements and mitigating risk
• Administers or oversees the administration of human resource programs including, but not limited to benefits, and leave; disciplinary matters; disputes and investigations; performance and talent management; productivity, recognition, and morale; and training and development
• Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law; applies this knowledge to communicate changes in policy, practice, and resources to upper management
• Continually evaluates the organization’s benefit programs, including but not limited to insurance providers, health benefits, leave benefits, retirement plans, disability coverage, COBRA, renewals and annual open enrollment in relation to the organization’s strategic objectives; and, in terms of perceived benefit to employees, cost, legislative requirements, and organizational culture

Talent Acquisition and Retention:

• Supports identification of staffing and recruiting needs; refines hiring process from developing job descriptions, to onboarding that allows Catalyst:Ed to give a strong introduction to their work culture and core values, and executes best practices for hiring and retention making sure employees understand avenues for growth, promotion and clarity of roles
• Implements learning and development initiatives so that our organization remains highly effective, ensuring our people and teams have the resources and skills needed to do their best work
• Reviews and refines performance management processes including but not limited to promotion look fors, and providing clarity and support to managers with training on effective feedback and performance conversations.
• Reviews and analyzes data related to employee headcount, recruitment, terminations, onboarding, and compensation to identify trends and recommend strategies for improvement; prepares a variety of reports interpreting and explaining data

Employee Engagement and Culture:

• Design and implement strategies that integrate equity into team-building efforts, leadership development, and organizational-wide initiatives, fostering a workplace where belonging and inclusion are central to the culture
• Lead the planning and execution of annual organization-wide retreats and smaller department-specific sessions to strengthen team cohesion, enhance communication, and align staff with organizational priorities
• Develops employee engagement initiatives to enhance staff experience particularly with respect to remote work environments
• Be a trusted voice with managers to develop and create strong work connections and processes relative to employee performance that support organizational initiatives and professional development and growth

By the end of your first 3 months, you will …

• Develop a strong and thorough understanding of our current people-related systems, processes and tools, including the shifts in our processes as our teams and work have grown over time.
• Develop a strong and thorough understanding of past and current staffing structures and HR strategies and practices.
• Familiarize yourself with our Catalyst:Ed model, our history, and our unique role and value-add in the education and social sector.
• Begin to build relationships with staff to understand their work and experiences and start reviewing available data for staff and organizational context.
• Consult on and support the implementation of updates to our compensation philosophy and associated structure for FY25.
• Consult on and assume day-to-day responsibility of the HR team including managing the HR manager, attending regular HR team meetings, and assisting with current recruitment efforts
• Make recommendations on HR platforms, and tools for more efficient operations.

By the end of your first 6 months, you will …

• Work with VP, People & Ops to develop HR strategy and priorities for the next 2 years including recruitment and retention strategies and development initiatives aligned to organizational goals and skill needs.
• Establish connections with potential partners and experts for organization-wide trainings and development opportunities in line with strategic priorities.
• Interface regularly with our equity lead or consultants and recommend adjustments to processes, policies, and norms with an equity lens.
• Collaborate with VP, People & Ops to develop effective processes to regularly track and report priority HR metrics to senior leaders and stakeholders.

By the end of your first year, you will …

• With support from the VP, People & Ops and senior leadership team, plan and manage our annual staff retreat and other remote and in-person team building activities that reinforce the organization’s core values and culture, and focus on developing and retaining staff.
• Assist in identifying the most pressing team and role learning needs to support organizational excellence and build a training and development plan to address key skill gaps for staff through internal and external training opportunities for individuals and groups
• Establish new and updated practices to promote ongoing development and career planning for team members

Skills and Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in a HR leadership role, with a proven track record of impact, ideally with nonprofit or social impact organizations
• Strong experience and commitment to operating with an equity lens and demonstrated ability to build and maintain inclusive work environments
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing effective HR policies and programs that align with the organization’s goals and values
• Excellent leadership and management skills, with experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Strong understanding of employment laws and regulations, compensation and benefits practices, and talent management strategies
• Strong communication, analytical and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate HR-related information to non-HR stakeholders
• Passion for the mission and work of the organization
• Experience working as a strategic thought partner with executive leadership teams
• PHR/SPHR is a plus!
• Experience with scaling organizations and building on existing processes, tools, and structures

Good to Know

• Video: Get to know more about the role and the team by watching this video
• Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried position with full benefits and retirement. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Salary range: $130,000 – $160,000. Benefits include medical and dental insurance coverage, 403(b) with up to 5% match on base salary, and a generous leave policy
• Start date: February 2025
• Location: Catalyst:Ed works nationally. We are a remote team with an office in New Orleans. Team members can work from a location of their choosing.
• Travel Requirements: Occasional travel (approx. once a quarter) is required for attendance at in-person team meetings and events.
• Physical Demands and Working Environment: The bullet points below are representative of the physical demands and working environment that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
  • Standard/remote office setting; proximity to office equipment that includes electronic devices.
  • Multiple people-facing meetings and interactions a day using Zoom or other video call software
  • Must remain at a workstation for at least 50% of the time; will need to use equipment that includes electronic devices.
  • Translate technical financial information into clear, accessible language for a variety of audiences, including Board members, vendors, and partners, ensuring financial insights are understandable and actionable.
  • Comfortable engaging with various stakeholders—from team members and vendors to Board members and external partners—to provide critical financial insights and foster effective collaboration.

How to apply

Please click here to apply for the role. The deadline to apply is Jan 13, 2025. We will review applications on a rolling basis shortly after they are received. The selection process includes 4 virtual interviews of 30-60 minutes each.

Please email hr@catalyst-ed.org with any questions about the role.

Catalyst:Ed has a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply, particularly folks who identify as people of color, first generation, low income, or LGBTQIA+.