Assistant Director of Human Resources

About Mastery:   Founded in 2001, Mastery Schools is a public charter network of 23 K-12 schools in Philadelphia and Camden, serving more than 14,000 students.    At Mastery, we’re on a mission to provide all students with the academic and personal skills they need to succeed after graduation and pursue their dreams. Student achievement is not just a goal for our organization; it's the reason we exist, and every member of our team is dedicated to securing student success. We are also committed to pursuing equity, actively disrupting systemic racism, and addressing the disparities that limit our students' choices.    Our culture is built on respect, service, and the belief that the success of our students, their families, and the communities we serve will help us achieve our mission. We foster a positive, open, and inclusive environment where honesty, humor, and continuous improvement are celebrated.    Join us in creating a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
The Opportunity:    The Assistant Director of Human Resources serves as a key operational leader within the Employee Relations function, acting as a strategic partner to the Senior Director of Human Resources. This role is responsible for driving the execution, consistency, and continuous improvement of HR processes, systems, and compliance infrastructure across the organization.
In addition to providing employee relations support to an assigned portfolio of campuses, this role owns the implementation and ongoing management of critical HR processes, including compliance tracking, workforce insights, and performance management operations. The Assistant Director is accountable for identifying improvement opportunities, implementing solutions, and ensuring HR practices are consistent, scalable, and aligned with organizational priorities.    

Duties and Responsibilities:

  HR Operations & Systems Leadership
• Leads the implementation and continuous improvement of HR processes across the employee lifecycle, ensuring alignment with departmental priorities and organizational standards
• Identifies inefficiencies and implements scalable solutions to improve HR service delivery and consistency across campuses
• Leverages HR data and reporting to inform decision-making, identify trends, and drive improvements in HR practices
• Establishes and maintains standardized workflows and documentation practices across HR functions
  Workforce Insights & Organizational Improvement
• Owns processes related to employee feedback and workforce insights, including analysis and identification of trends
• Synthesizes trends in employee relations, turnover, and engagement into actionable insights and recommendations for leadership
  Compliance
• Owns and manages the organization’s unemployment claims process, including responses, documentation, and hearing preparation
• Oversees compliance infrastructure, including required training tracking, audit readiness, and documentation standards
• Leads updates to HR policies and related documentation to ensure compliance and alignment with organizational practices
• Ensures consistency and compliance in documentation and practices related to employee relations and disciplinary actions
  Performance Management & HR Programs
• Supports the implementation and ongoing management of performance management tools and resources, ensuring effective rollout, adoption, and consistency
• Leads execution and ongoing refinement of HR programs (e.g., office hours, leader support initiatives), evaluating effectiveness and driving improvements
  Employee Relations 
• Provides employee relations support to an assigned portfolio of campuses, while promoting consistency in practices, documentation, and decision-making across the HR team
• Partners with leaders to ensure fair, consistent, and compliant application of policies and practices
• Guides and supports HR team members on employee relations matters and identifies trends to address root causes
  Leadership Partnership & Execution
• Acts as a key partner to the Senior Director of Human Resources in executing departmental priorities and strategic initiatives
• Independently manages projects and initiatives from concept through execution, maintaining alignment with the Senior Director on priorities, risks, and key decisions
• Anticipates organizational needs and develops solutions to address gaps in HR processes and systems
  Performs other related duties and projects as assigned

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to implement, improve, and optimize systems, processes, and workflows
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable recommendations
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and execute independently while maintaining alignment with leadership
• Excellent communication, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to receive and incorporate feedback, ask thoughtful questions, and continuously improve performance
• Strong learning agility with the ability to quickly understand new systems, processes, and organizational dynamics
• Adaptability and comfort operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment with shifting priorities
• Alignment with Mastery’s mission and a commitment to supporting a positive and effective employee experience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS systems

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required; Master’s degree in a related field preferred
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in Human Resources, with demonstrated experience in employee relations, HR operations, or compliance
• Experience working in a K–12 education environment or similarly complex, mission-driven organization strongly preferred
• Strong working knowledge of federal, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania employment laws
• Experience managing unemployment claims, investigations, or compliance processes strongly preferred
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred

Other Requirements:

• Ability to physically perform the essential duties of the role as outlined above, and to work in the environmental conditions required, such as traveling to network campuses, monitoring and interacting with students, in-person facilitation of trainings, etc.;
• This role may require frequent travel between multiple locations. Reliable transportation is essential to fulfill job 
  responsibilities

Salary and Bonus Information:

• External candidates hired for this role are eligible for a $3,000 signing bonus!
• The Assistant Director of Human Resources at Mastery can expect a starting salary between $90,000 to $110,150, based on education and experience, with opportunities for growth as your career progresses.
• Each offer is made in alignment with Mastery’s compensation philosophy and commitment to pay equity, ensuring fairness and consistency across our team. 

Mastery's Benefits Package:   We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. Some of our most popular benefits include our 403(b) retirement plan for PA employees (with a 5% match from Mastery for full-time employees), enrollment in the State of New Jersey Pension Plan for NJ employees, a robust Employee Assistance Program, mental health and counseling programs, an annual Professional Development Fund, and discounts and perks at a myriad of retailers, travel organizations, insurance providers, and so much more, as well as access to the HealthAdvocate Helpdesk to help you navigate various benefits-related topics. Please go here to see all of our Benefits offerings!   Annual Calendar:   As you plan to make Mastery your new work home, please feel free to review our calendar here. We like to think our calendar is a benefit of working here too!   Why You Should Apply:   Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. Mastery may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.