About this role
The Wachusett Regional School District encourages all candidates who are committed to enriching the lives of our student population to apply. Our Core Values are: Collaboration, Empathy, Inclusivity, Integrity, Perseverance, and Responsibility. Our Mission: To ensure a vibrant, inclusive, and respectful educational community in which we: Foster a safe, nurturing, and welcoming environment. Provide all students with equitable opportunities for deep and meaningful learning through multiple pathways. Empower all students to develop and apply their unique strengths, passions, and curiosities. Partner with our community to meet our goals while optimizing the effective and efficient use of our resources. Position: Director of Human Resources Location: Wachusett Regional School District Pay: $115,000 - $130,000 Individual Contract Reports to: Superintendent of Schools The Wachusett Regional School District is seeking an experienced and collaborative Director of Human Resources to provide leadership and strategic direction for the District's comprehensive human resources functions. The Director of Human Resources will serve as a key member of the Superintendent's Executive Staff and will play an integral role in supporting the District's mission of providing an outstanding educational environment for students and employees. The Director of Human Resources will oversee employee relations, collective bargaining, recruitment and retention, benefits administration, compliance, personnel records, employee contracts, and other human resources functions. The position will also work closely with District leadership, employees, bargaining units, regulatory agencies, and the community. The successful candidate will be a highly organized, knowledgeable, approachable, and solutions-oriented professional who can effectively balance the needs of employees with the operational, financial, legal, and educational priorities of the District. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Serve as a member of the Superintendent's Executive Staff and provide leadership and strategic support to the School District.
• Represent the Superintendent, as appropriate, at official school and community functions.
• Advise the Superintendent and District leadership regarding changes in employment trends, laws, rules, regulations, and best practices affecting human resources.
• Provide regular reports to the Superintendent regarding human resources activities, emerging issues, and recommendations.
• Attend School Committee and subcommittee meetings as requested or required by the Superintendent.
• Perform other executive staff duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent.
• Administer and coordinate the District's comprehensive personnel functions.
• Maintain responsibility for personnel records, reports, employment data, job postings, job descriptions, classifications, qualifications, and personnel actions.
• Oversee employment status changes, including promotions, transfers, suspensions, demotions, leaves, and dismissals.
• Develop and maintain appropriate personnel policies, procedures, handbooks, and employee guidance documents.
• Develop and implement procedures for the orientation and onboarding of new employees.
• Develop and maintain systems for measuring employee performance and supporting effective employee evaluation.
• Prepare and administer the Human Resources budget.
• Prepare and maintain statistical and workforce information for District leadership and regulatory purposes.
• Counsel employees who are referred by supervisors or who voluntarily request assistance, while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Serve, at the direction of the Superintendent, as the resource person for collective bargaining negotiations.
• Develop and implement strategies related to labor and employee relations.
• Maintain and administer negotiated collective bargaining agreements.
• Maintain individual employment contracts for management and administrative personnel.
• Provide guidance to administrators regarding contract interpretation, employee relations, grievances, discipline, and other labor matters.
• Work collaboratively with bargaining units and employee representatives to promote positive labor-management relationships.
• Oversee the District's recruitment, selection, hiring, and retention efforts for all employee groups.
• Develop effective recruitment strategies to attract highly qualified professional, instructional, administrative, and support staff.
• Coordinate recruitment activities, job fairs, career fairs, and other employment-related events.
• Develop procedures to ensure consistent, equitable, and legally compliant hiring practices.
• Monitor recruitment and retention trends and recommend strategies to address staffing needs.
• Work with District administrators to identify current and future workforce needs.
• Coordinate and oversee the District's employee benefits programs.
• Oversee the administration and maintenance of accurate information regarding:
• Group health insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Family and other leaves of absence
• Other employee benefit programs
• Supervise the District's group health, life, liability, and other insurance programs.
• Work with insurance providers, consultants, brokers, and District personnel to ensure effective administration of benefits.
• Oversee the accurate and timely administration of employee benefit enrollments, changes, and terminations, ensuring processes are completed correctly and in accordance with established guidelines.
• Oversee appropriate mandatory public retirement contributions for employees from enrollment through retirement.
• Monitor emerging benefits trends and recommend changes when appropriate.
• Ensure that District personnel practices and policies comply with applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and requirements.
• Monitor changes in employment legislation and advise District leadership regarding necessary policy or procedural changes.
• Oversee employee background screening requirements, including CORI and fingerprint-based background checks, ensuring compliance with Massachusetts and federal requirements.
• Work cooperatively with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies, boards, commissions, and other organizations concerned with employment matters.
• Ensure appropriate documentation and reporting related to personnel and employment compliance.
• Assist District administrators in preparing recommendations for appointments to positions requiring Superintendent approval.
• Prepare and issue employment contracts and related documentation for certified, classified, administrative, and other personnel as required.
• Ensure that employment records and contracts are accurate, complete, and maintained appropriately.
• Develop, review, update, and maintain District employee handbooks and personnel manuals.
• Recommend revisions to personnel policies and procedures based on changes in law, collective bargaining agreements, District practices, and emerging human resources issues.
• Communicate policies and procedures effectively to employees and administrators.
• Utilize human resources and administrative technology systems to maintain accurate personnel data and generate reports.
• Experience with PowerSchool and Munis is beneficial.
• Use data and workforce analytics to assist District leadership with staffing, recruitment, retention, compensation, benefits, and other workforce decisions.
• Oversee the confidentiality and security of sensitive employee information in accordance with internal security systems and established protocols.
Qualifications The successful candidate shall possess:
• A Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Education, or a related field. A Master's Degree is preferred.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, business/financial management, public-sector administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in:
• Collective bargaining and contract negotiations
• Labor and employee relations
• Benefits administration
• Professional recruitment and retention
• Employee performance and evaluation systems
• Professional development
• Budget development and management
• Personnel administration
• Policy development and implementation
• Compliance with employment laws and regulations
• Public relations and community engagement
• Experience working in a public-sector or educational environment is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of Massachusetts employment laws, regulations, and public-sector labor relations.
• Experience with PowerSchool and Munis is beneficial.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive personnel matters.
• Such other academic, professional, and personal qualifications as the Superintendent may specify.
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
• Strong knowledge of human resources principles and practices.
• Knowledge of Massachusetts public-sector employment practices and labor relations.
• Strong understanding of collective bargaining and contract administration.
• Ability to interpret and apply employment laws, regulations, policies, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong negotiation, mediation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, administrators, bargaining units, School Committee members, community members, and outside organizations.
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a complex school district environment.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to work collaboratively as part of an executive leadership team.
• Commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive, and professional workplace.
The Wachusett Regional School District does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other class protected by law.