Director of Human Resources at Exploration Elementary Charter School for Science & Tech – Rochester, New York

Position Overview
The Director of Human Resources is a senior leadership role responsible for building, managing, and strengthening all HR systems across the school. This position ensures that Exploration attracts, develops, and retains high-quality staff while maintaining full compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
The Director of HR leads all aspects of human capital strategy, including talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compliance, and organizational culture. This role supervises the HR Coordinator and works closely with the Executive Director and leadership team to align staffing and HR systems with the school’s mission and improvement goals.
Reporting Structure
Supervises: HR Coordinator

Key Responsibilities
Strategic HR Leadership
• Develop and implement a comprehensive HR strategy aligned with the school’s goals and charter renewal priorities.
• Serve as a member of the leadership team and advise on staffing, organizational structure, and workforce planning.
• Lead initiatives to improve talent systems and organizational effectiveness.
Talent Acquisition & Staffing
• Oversee full-cycle recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes.
• Ensure all positions are filled with highly qualified candidates aligned to the school’s mission and culture.
• Build pipelines for instructional and operational roles.
• Partner with school leaders to forecast staffing needs and reduce vacancies.
Employee Relations & Culture
• Lead employee relations, including conflict resolution, investigations, and disciplinary processes.
• Establish clear expectations for professionalism, communication, and accountability.
• Support a positive and inclusive staff culture that promotes retention and high performance.
• Provide coaching to leaders on managing staff effectively.
Performance Management
• Design and oversee performance evaluation systems for instructional and non-instructional staff.
• Ensure consistent implementation of evaluations, feedback cycles, and improvement plans.
• Support leaders in addressing underperformance with clear action steps and documentation.
Compliance & Risk Management
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws
• Oversee certification tracking, fingerprinting, background checks, and personnel file compliance.
• Create, maintain, and update the school’s employee handbook and other policies and procedures.
• Manage audits and reporting related to HR.
Compensation, Benefits & HR Systems
• Oversee salary structures, benefit administration, and leave policies.
• Ensure alignment with federal and NYS labor laws.
• Manage HR systems including payroll coordination, time-off tracking, and employee records.
• Analyze compensation trends to remain competitive and equitable.
Professional Development & Staff Retention
• Partner with leadership to identify staff development needs.
• Support onboarding systems that set new hires up for success.
• Monitor retention data and implement strategies to reduce turnover.
• Build systems that strengthen staff satisfaction and long-term commitment.
HR Team Management
• Supervise and develop the HR Coordinator.
• Delegate operational HR tasks while maintaining oversight and accountability.
• Ensure efficient HR processes and timely completion of all HR functions.

Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred).
5+ years of HR experience, including leadership or management responsibilities.
Experience in education or nonprofit sector preferred.
Strong knowledge of federal and NYS labor laws and HR compliance requirements.
Proven ability to build systems, manage conflict, and lead organizational change.

Core Competencies
Strategic thinker with strong execution skills.
High emotional intelligence and sound judgment.
Strong communication and conflict resolution skills.
Detail-oriented with a focus on compliance and accountability.
Ability to lead through change and hold people accountable.

Additional Details
The hiring process for this position will require a fingerprinted background check through the New York State TEACH System. Any written or verbal offer is contingent upon satisfactory results, as determined by NYSED and the HR/Director of Operations. Exploration Elementary Charter School does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, or disability. The school promotes diversity and provides equal opportunity for all qualified applicants and will provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities as required by law.