Position Title: Director of People and Culture

Reports To: Chief Finance and Operations Officer

Organization Overview:

The Steppingstone Foundation (TSF) prepares students from marginalized communities to access, navigate, and graduate from college through two initiatives, the Steppingstone Scholars Program and the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA). The Steppingstone Scholars Program is a direct-service program in Boston that provides academic, social-emotional, and college-readiness services to students, called Scholars, beginning as early as fifth grade and continuing all the way through college graduation. The Steppingstone Scholars Program consists of five components: Admissions, the Academy, Middle School Success, High School Success, and College Success. NPEA connects the people, practices, and innovations for eliminating barriers to educational access, and college and career success for historically marginalized students.

Position Summary:

The Director of People and Culture is a member of the Senior Leadership team and is responsible for managing and implementing human resources policies and procedures and for fostering staff development and satisfaction so that TSF’s mission is upheld in its practices and people. This position manages all aspects of human resources including the talent lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to performance evaluation, professional development, benefits, and leaves. The Director of People and Culture will serve as a strategic thought partner and leader and will provide recommendations and coaching on organizational learning and development, employee engagement, and an inclusive organizational culture. This person will manage the development and implementation of programs and services that promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Steppingstone.

The Steppingstone office is hybrid with the expectation that employees will work in the office a minimum of two days per week, with some flexibility around work hours. A $500 home office set-up stipend will be provided upon hire, followed by quarterly stipends of $50. Laptops are provided to each employee to enhance the hybrid experience.

Start Date: Fall 2022

Salary: $80,000 - $85,000

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

• Support the strategic goals of TSF by managing the human resources functions in ways that promote TSF’s values and contribute to the development and strengthening of its diverse, inclusive, positive, and supportive community and climate
• Work with leadership to support the implementation of each team’s Racial Equity Action Plan to best strengthen our commitment to advancing DEI across the organization and measure progress on goals across all plans
• Promote and nurture an organizational culture that supports community building, including managing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging efforts, All-Staff meetings and retreats, and other activities, events and committees that promote staff cohesion and morale
• Work with President to support the DEI Committee of the Board of Directors

Human Resources

• Candidate Recruitment, Hiring, and On-Boarding
• Manage the recruitment needs for the organization, including implementing and continually developing recruitment strategies to ensure a robust and diverse applicant pool for all openings
• Oversee the process for and collaborate with hiring managers on the hiring of full- and part-time staff and temporary seasonal faculty, including implementing the hiring and onboarding procedures that best fit TSF’s mission and conform with human resources best practices

Staff Development and Retention

• Develop and implement programming to support, train, and coach supervisors in order to best manage direct reports and ensure effective delivery of program services; proactively work to address employee relations issues; provide education in human resources best practices for managers
• Manage the performance evaluation process, serving as a resource to supervisors on performance issues and conducting ongoing reviews of the process
• Direct the design and ongoing implementation of programs to promote employee engagement and the professional development, retention, and satisfaction of staff
• Conduct staff surveys and collect and disseminate data to inform decision-making

Compensation and Benefits

• Ensure that biweekly payroll is reviewed and submitted on time; act as liaison to the payroll company
• Participate in salary and benefits planning and budget development; complete salary and benefits surveys and analyses as appropriate
• Serve as the primary TSF contact with benefits vendors; review and manage plan design and budgets; manage benefit enrollment processes, reporting requirements, and documentation; arrange for continuing benefits education for employees
• Design leave plans so they are consistent with the TSF mission and employee needs; manage workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, FMLA, PFML and other leaves, respecting both the needs of the employee and those of the organization

General HR Administration and Systems

• Supervise, mentor, and work collaboratively with the Human Resources Coordinator and DEI Manager
• Manage the Paylocity database to effectively integrate all database and record keeping; maintain all personnel files and ensure that all payroll and human resources information is captured accurately.
• Manage the employment termination process, including providing manager support and conducting exit interviews
• Update personnel policies and procedures and keep the employee handbook up-to-date and compliant
• Ensure timely and accurate compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations governing human resources, including filing required government reports, forms and surveys

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated commitment to educational and racial equity in college access and success
• 3+ years of human resources experience as a subject matter expert
• Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations including EEOC and compliance
• Management/leadership experience, including relevant experience collaborating effectively with all staff levels in developing and implementing org-wide diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives
• Excellent interpersonal skills including a high level of emotional intelligence, the ability to exercise discretion dealing with confidential and sensitive information, and to contain and facilitate difficult conversations
• Demonstrated excellence in effective communication (verbal, written, listening skills); ability to effectively present complex and sensitive information in a variety of settings with simplicity and compassion
• An independent and strategic thinker capable of understand the full scope of projects while seeing individual tasks through to completion; ability to manage multiple projects under pressure and adhere to deadlines
• Exceptional relationship-building and group facilitation capabilities, incorporating cross-cultural sensitivity
• Orientation towards continuous learning for self and others
• Expertise in human resources-related technology and databases; familiarity with Paylocity and/or Culture Amp would be beneficial

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to work at a desk, communicate information, move about the office, operate office equipment and utilize a computer for extended periods of time.

Pursuant to the ADA, Steppingstone will provide reasonable services and accommodation(s) to employees with qualified disabilities in order to perform the essential functions of their employment, except when doing so would be unduly disruptive and/or result in undue hardship to the organization.

To Apply: Please input your resume and a thoughtful cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position, and how you learned about this position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:

As a condition of employment, all Steppingstone employees, including full-time, part-time, temporary and contract employees, and interns, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To be considered fully vaccinated, individuals must have received two doses of the approved Pfizer/Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, and remain up to date with all boosters recommended by the CDC prior to the finalization of the hiring process. Finalists will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exemptions to this requirement in accordance with applicable law. Applicants should be aware that for external-facing roles, particularly those involving close contact with students, accommodations that involve remaining unvaccinated against COVID-19 may not be deemed reasonable. Steppingstone will engage in the interactive accommodation process on an individualized basis in light of each particular role.

Employee Benefits:

• Generous paid time off (over 8 weeks total, as outlined below)
• 15 days PTO
• 2 days Discretionary Time Off
• 5 wellness days
• 12.5 holidays
• 2 weeks paid office closure
• $500 Home Office Set-up Stipend; plus $50 quarterly
• Health, Dental and Vision coverage
• Life, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
• Healthcare Reimbursement Account Plan (HRA)
• Pet Insurance
• Flexible Schedule
• Retirement Plan
• Tuition & Professional Development reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health and Dependent Care
• Pre-tax Transportation Plan (Transit & Parking)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Membership to the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA)

• We honor every voice and believe we are strongest when we work together.
• We recognize, respect, and nurture the fullness and complexity of each member of our community.
• We believe in the power of belonging and seek to create a welcoming and inclusive culture.

Walk the Walk

• We partner with every Scholar and family, supporting them holistically throughout their own educational journey.
• We work with clear and measurable purpose, using data to drive collective decision-making and challenge assumptions.
• We create spaces for difficult conversations to transform our thinking and move us forward.

Embrace Growth

• We strive to operate as an anti-racist organization and commit to continuous learning and action in the service of this goal.
• We provide opportunities for everyone in our community to flourish and reach their full potential.
• We make time for reflection, learn from past experiences, and take initiative in response to changing needs and new ideas.