The Director of HR will support New Canaan Country School’s (NCCS) HR administrative needs, including benefits administration; maintenance of employee records; interpretation of personnel policy; overseeing payroll; coordinating annual effort reporting; and overseeing personnel systems.

The Director of HR will report to the Chief Financial and Operations Officer (CFOO). The Director of HR will be part of a small team and will work closely with the Controller and the leadership team. More importantly, the Director of HR will partner with all faculty and staff, NCCS’s most important asset.

We are looking for someone who will think and act in a strategic manner while ensuring seamless execution of daily operations. This position is a combination of HR operations and employee relations. We would like to hire someone who is hands-on, a creative problem-solver and has previous HR generalist experience. The person should be willing to take risks, question the status quo and continuously strive to improve systems and processes. The person needs to be extremely customer service-oriented, always anticipating the employees’ needs. Positive attitude and teamwork approach are essential to be successful in this role.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Employee Relations and Performance Management

• Support performance management processes.
• Serve as an advisor and accountability partner to supervisors around effective coaching and management.
• Counsel managers and senior leaders on matters of employee discipline, policy, and practices.
• Work to mediate conflicts among faculty and staff, recommending steps for resolving interpersonal relationship issues.
• Provide investigative support, including, but not limited to, the coordination of investigations for allegations of employee misconduct, discrimination, harassment, and whistleblower complaints.

Payroll, Benefits and Compensation

• Oversee the compensation plan in accordance with policy and maintain personnel and payroll records, including time and attendance information, appointment data, and other personnel information in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Administer the employee benefit programs for more than 150 eligible employees: including medical, vision, life and disability insurance, healthcare savings and flexible spending accounts and retirement plans. This includes internal communication, proper enrollment of employees, and ongoing external reviews of the total benefit program to ensure a competitive posture
• Work with the benefits broker on annual benefits renewal to maintain premium benefits and manage costs.

Records Maintenance and Compliance

• Maintain personnel and payroll records, including time and attendance information, appointment data, and other personnel information in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Maximize utilization of Paylocity as an HRIS.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations such as FMLA, ADA, Sexual Harassment, OSHA, Workers’ Compensation, EEOC and ERISA.
• Develop, identify and recommend human resources policies and changes as necessary to comply with changes in federal and state legislation.
• Update the employee handbook as necessary.
• Collaborate on the annual workers’ compensation and 403(b) audits.
• Serve as the Plan administrator for retirement plans; ensuring compliance with IRS, DOL, and ERISA guidelines.

Employee Recruitment and Lifecycle

• Manage the hiring and appointment processes for NCCS, including assisting hiring managers and search committees to develop positions, write job descriptions, request appropriate salary levels, define and implement recruitment plans.
• Systematize and implement procedures for hiring, appointing, orienting, evaluating, and developing employees in conjunction with school leadership.
• Conduct new hire orientations. Ensure that new hire paperwork (including background checks) is completed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Human Resources Management, Business Administration, or related field required.
• HR certification (SHRM-CP; SHRM-SCP) and/or Master’s Degree in Human Resources preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in human resources leadership, preferable in a school or non-profit setting.
• Knowledge of human resource management and related laws and policies required
• Strong understanding of financial principles, HR best practices, and employment law.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, financial software, and HRIS systems.
• Proven experience in team leadership and management.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to align financial and HR strategies with organizational goals.
• Demonstrated tact, discretion and diplomacy.
• Effective communication with groups and individuals.
• Engage in team work and work cooperatively with others.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills; attention to detail and ability to multi-task required.
• Customer service orientation and strong problem-solving skills.

About New Canaan Country School

New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent day school for students in Pre-K (ages 3 & 4) through Grade 9 living in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Located in New Canaan, CT, and serving 570 students, our mission is to guide students to reach their intellectual, creative, moral, and physical potential. A talented and devoted faculty engages our students in developmentally appropriate ways, delivering a challenging curriculum that builds intellectual skills and fosters creative and critical thinking. We lead by example and challenge students to fulfill their potential, find their path, and follow their passions whether in the classroom, on the playing fields, on the stage, or serving the community.

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