Director of Human Resources at Universal Companies – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The management services offered to our family of charter schools, allows us to collectively become a change agent and national leader in urban education as evidenced by student awareness of self, high academic achievement, positive school culture and community transformation wherever we serve.

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of Human Resources to lead our organization’s HR initiatives and foster a positive, productive workplace culture. In this pivotal role, you will develop and implement comprehensive HR strategies aligned with business goals, oversee talent acquisition and management, and ensure compliance with employment laws. Your leadership will drive employee engagement, enhance organizational effectiveness, and support the growth of our human capital. This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of our workforce while collaborating closely with senior leadership to advance our mission. This position reports to the COO and supervises HR support staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute HR strategies that support organizational objectives, including talent acquisition, succession planning, and organizational design.
• Develop and monitors HR department budget.
• Lead talent sourcing efforts through innovative recruiting practices utilizing ADP.
• Oversee employee onboarding, orientation programs, and ongoing training & development initiatives to foster a high-performance culture.
• Manage employee relations by addressing conflicts proactively, conducting performance management reviews, and ensuring fair employee evaluation processes.
• Administer benefits programs including health insurance, workers' compensation, FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) compliance, and payroll systems like ADP.
• Manages Performance appraisals system and implements training programs for staff development.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws and regulations.
• Supervise HR support team member.
• Lead change management projects to optimize HR processes

Skills

• Extensive knowledge of employment & labor law, OSHA standards, and workers' compensation regulations.
• Proven expertise in talent acquisition strategies and managing full-cycle recruiting processes.
• Strong negotiation skills for contracts, benefits administration, and vendor relationships.
• Experience supervising HR teams with a focus on employee relations, performance management, and training & development.
• Proficiency in HRIS platforms such as ADP.
• Excellent communication skills to effectively present HR initiatives to senior leadership and across the organization.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strategic planning capabilities.
• Familiarity with process improvement methodologies to enhance HR workflows.

Strong conflict management skills to resolve workplace issues constructively while maintaining a positive environment.

Work Location: In person

The Universal Family of Charter Schools adheres to the policy of providing equal employment opportunities to all job applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation.