Director of HR Search Timeline

The Natick Public Schools Seek a Director of Human Resources

Start Date: 7/1/2023

We invite you to explore a career with Natick Public Schools.

The Natick Public Schools educate approximately 5,300 students from Pre-K through age 22. We are an innovative, supportive, and high-performing district whose outstanding staff provides high quality services for our diverse students and their families from Natick and Boston. Natick Public Schools is a community dedicated to all students achieving high standards in a safe, trusting, respectful environment where learning is exciting, dynamic, and engaging, and where connectedness and belonging are valued and actively cultivated. We are home to families that speak almost 60 different languages and our student population is approximately 29% Students of Color and 71% White students. With a graduation rate of 97% and 90% of our students attending post-secondary schools, we are proud of our commitment to excellence in educating students to be informed and successful citizens of a global world.

We enthusiastically welcome educators to our district who seek and thrive in a diverse environment that focuses on the whole child in a strengths-based approach. Please partner with us in our mission to support the diversity of our school community, promote and deliver equitable practices for all of our staff, students, and families, and create meaningful connections that enable everyone to feel included and thrive.

Education

• Minimum of a relevant Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree preferred

Professional Certification (preferred, but not required)

• DESE licensure as a School Business Administrator, or
• Certification in Human Resources (pHCLE, SHRM, or equivalent)

Specialized Knowledge (preferred but will train the right candidate):

• Google Suite (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.)
• Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Munis Financial software
• PowerSchool: TalentEd Applicant Tracking and TalentEd Records
• Knowledge of federal, state, local, school committee laws, policies, regulations and procedures relating to employment law

Preferred Experience

• Experience in a public school or municipal setting preferred
• Five years of increasingly responsible related experience
• Experience with collective bargaining and all aspects of contract administration.
• Experience recruiting and hiring exempt and non-exempt personnel.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and experience

Skills

• Demonstrated aptitude for work to be performed
• Bilingual skills, especially in Spanish and Portuguese, are highly desirable
• Candidate should have a passion for working with a school community
• Candidate must be flexible and collaborative
• Candidate must be able to multitask in a fast-paced, supportive environment
• Candidate must be organized and able to meet ongoing, time-sensitive deadlines for work production
• Ability to handle large volumes of work and a variety of responsibilities with efficiency and accuracy
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
• Ability to supervise staff and develop skills and teamwork within the Human Resources department
• Ability to develop effective, collegial, and cooperative working relationships with all constituencies within the school community and municipal employees is essential
• Ability to strategically make connections among people, programs, resources, and ideas
• Ability to handle stressful situations with tact and composure
• Ability to develop trusting relationships
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality

Alternative degrees/experience may be substituted for the above

at the discretion of the Superintendent,

if such a substitution brings a strong candidate forward.

Phone, personal computer and software applications as outlined above, scanner, copy machine, calculator, printers and fax machine.

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

Equity

• Implement all action steps of the district’s Strategic Plan Equity Goal to dismantle systemic barriers for equitable access to opportunity
• Broaden the practices of recruiting, hiring, suporting, and retaining a diverse workforce
• Provide Employee Resource Groups to support our diverse workforce
• Actively support the district’s Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Advisory Group
• Actively participate as a district representative to the MPDE (Mass Partnership for Diversity in Education)

Policy and Legal Compliance

• Develop, revise, interpret and implement personnel policies contained in the personnel policy handbook
• Ensure application of and compliance with all state and federal employment laws
• Consult with district legal counsel, when appropriate, on personnel-related issues and assist in the adjudication of grievances
• Serve the district as ADA, Title IX, and Employee Assistance liaison
• Ensure development and maintenance of current ADA sensitive job descriptions for all employees
• Review and determine suitability of CORI, fingerprint results and SAFIS

Administration

• Prepare personnel reports, as necessary, for the superintendent, school committee, or state and federal government
• Oversee maintenance of new staff spreadsheets and related financials, seniority lists, sick bank records, annual mandated training, and other Human Resources records
• Participate as a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet and Advisory Council and serve on committees as needed
• Develop, revise, interpret, and implement personnel policies contained in the personnel policy Employee Handbook
• Provide a vibrant, effective wellness program for all NPS employees
• Attend West Suburban Health Group Board meetings to remain abreast of developments related to Natick employee health insurance
• Oversees FMLA process for all employees

Compensation

• Establish compensation level of all new staff
• Develop and update the non-represented personnel pay schedule annually, ensuring MEPA compliance
• Oversee classification and compensation programs for the schools
• Work cooperatively with the Director of Finance and business office staff to ensure accurate information is processed in a timely manner
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (TLI) to administer teacher tuition reimbursement, lane changes, and other related activities

Hiring & Onboarding

• Oversee the process of recruiting, selecting, and onboarding all qualified professional and support personnel in conjunction with the superintendent and building administrator
• Oversee administration of PowerSchool Applicant Tracking for recruiting and hiring new staff
• Oversee administration of PowerSchool Records to maintain electronic personnel folders
• Run the search process for all senior administrative vacancies
• Assist in organizing annual new staff orientation
• Oversee the educator mentoring program
• Recruit and maintain a corps of substitute teachers and other available personnel as a district resource
• Maintain close liaison with colleges and universities to recruit new teachers
• Implement exit interviews for all professional staff exiting the system

Staff Supervision and Evaluation

• Work closely with administrators and supervisors on all matters pertaining to employee evaluation, discipline, job performance and employee duties and assignments
• Conduct personnel investigations at the request of the superintendent or principal
• In conjunction with the building principal, ensure that all professional staff are appropriately licensed by the MA Department of Education
• Supervise and evaluate all employees in the Human Resources department:
• Assistant Director of Human Resources
• Administrative Assistant to the Director of Human Resources
• Administrative Assistant/Receptionist for HR, Finance, and Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (TLI)
• Substitute Coordinator

Collective Bargaining

• Serve as a member of the negotiating team in bargaining with all labor unions
• Act as a liaison between the school committee’s subcommittees, the superintendent, and counsel
• Interpret all aspects of negotiated contracts to ensure compliance
• Work with the Assistant Director of Human Resources and Director of Finance to prepare information and data for negotiations
• Ensure daily adherence to the provisions of all collective bargaining agreements by building-based and central office administrators.
• Work with supervisors and union negotiating teams where applicable, to design and develop employee evaluation instruments and procedures

Communication

• Develop and maintain informational resources for staff members to access as needed
• Communicate with district staff to inform them of important deadlines, updates, and benefits
• Communicate with the at-large community to expand Natick’s brand recognition as an excellent place to work

Town of Natick Collaborations

• Represent the school district on related town committees
• Collaborate with town payroll, finance, and human resources
• Liaison with Town’s employee Benefits Manager to understand benefit programs, including health and life insurance programs,.
• Liaison to the Town for Unemployment and Workers Compensation and Unemployment Compensation.
• Liaison with the Occupational Health Nurse regarding employee return to work and/or accommodations.

Perform other related tasks and assume other related responsibilities assigned by the Superintendent

Occasional night work required

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• move about the classroom, school, school grounds, office, and/or off-site locations.
• On some occasions, it may be necessary to move quickly across even or uneven surfaces;
• remain in a stationary position for periods of time;
• operate a computer and other school/office productivity machinery (i.e., iPad, copy machine, computer printer, assistive technology, etc.);
• read material from a computer monitor as well as handwritten or printed matter with or without visual aids;
• position oneself to maintain files and access school/classroom/office materials;
• communicate with others so that information received and given is understood and accurately communicated;
• communicate and collaborate effectively with students, parents, and other staff members in person, via video conference, on the telephone, and/or in writing;
• observe details at close range
• multitask and meet multiple demands from several people;
• lifting up to and including 25 lbs
• the noise level in the work environment is moderate

Supervises all employees in the department: Assistant Director of Human Resources, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Human Resources, Administrative Assistant/Receptionist for HR, Finance, and TLI, and Substitute Coordinator. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; providing positive reinforcement where appropriate and disciplining employees where appropriate; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Salary, benefits, and responsibilities per individual contract negotiated with the Superintendent and the Natick School Committee

• Formal application
• Rating of education and experience
• Oral interviews
• Reference check
• Strong record of work performance in current and previous roles required
• Successful completion of Criminal Records Check (C.O.R.I.), Sexual Offender Record Check (S.O.R.I.), and fingerprints.

Please note: Per Natick School Committee policy,

all employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19

unless they qualify for an exemption accommodation.

The Natick Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other class protected by law.

Date Updated: 12/12/2022