Job Purpose: As director, set the course and lead the comprehensive human resources function for Pomfret School, supporting all faculty and staff members. Act as a strategic partner to the school's leadership team by fostering a positive, equitable, and inclusive work environment. Guide the school through recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, benefits administration, and legal compliance.

Essential Functions & Duties:  In alignment with the Pomfret School strategic priorities, Set the HR’s mission and strategic goals, and implement best practices for school-wide human resources management

• Collaborate purposefully with the leadership team (Head of School, Associate Head of School, Dean of Faculty, CFO, etc.) on staffing, organizational planning, and school culture initiatives
• Supervise and mentor the Payroll Manager, overseeing the entire payroll function and implementing robust internal controls to guarantee processing accuracy and integrity
• Partner with the CFO to ensure the employee benefits and HR department budgets are appropriate, not exceeded, and spent wisely
• Lead the recruitment, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding and offboarding process for staff
• Support Dean of Faculty on recruitment, onboarding and offboarding process for faculty
• Manage annual reappointment letter process
• Administer and evaluate employee compensation and benefits programs, serving as the primary liaison with benefit brokers and providers
• Oversee employee relations, thoughtfully guiding conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and grievance procedures with empathy, fairness, and legal compliance
• Ensure school-wide compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations (e.g., FMLA, CTFLMA, ADA, OSHA)
• Maintain, update, and distribute the Employee Handbook and ensure external and internal correspondence regarding HR policies is clear and timely
• Develop and oversee staff performance evaluation systems and professional development training programs
• Stay current with programs, trends, and legal changes in the human resources and independent school fields, attending relevant local and national conferences
• Must adhere to all School policies as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Continually meet or exceed Pomfret School’s Standards of Behavior, Character, and Engagement
• Perform other duties as assigned

Position, Education/Certification and Software Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or relevant advanced degree preferred
• SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP or HRCI (PHR/SPHR) certification is highly desirable
• Ideally five or more years of progressive HR leadership experience, preferably within an independent school, higher education, or non-profit setting
• Strong proficiency with HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems), payroll software, and standard office technology
• Comprehensive knowledge of state and federal labor laws and regulatory compliance
• Knowledge of and willingness to participate fully in the life of a vibrant boarding school community
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills; ability to coordinate tasks in a deadline-driven environment
• Absolute commitment to confidentiality, discretion, and professional integrity when handling sensitive employee information

Position, Education/Certification and Software Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or relevant advanced degree preferred
• SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP or HRCI (PHR/SPHR) certification is highly desirable
• Ideally five or more years of progressive HR leadership experience, preferably within an independent school, higher education, or non-profit setting
• Strong proficiency with HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems), payroll software, and standard office technology
• Comprehensive knowledge of state and federal labor laws and regulatory compliance
• Knowledge of and willingness to participate fully in the life of a vibrant boarding school community
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills; ability to coordinate tasks in a deadline-driven environment
• Absolute commitment to confidentiality, discretion, and professional integrity when handling sensitive employee information

About Pomfret School

Pomfret School is an independent coeducational college preparatory boarding and day school for 355 students in grades 9 through 12 and postgraduates. Set on a beautiful 500-acre campus in Northeastern Connecticut and brought to life by an exceptional faculty, Pomfret offers a challenging and rewarding experience for students from various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Through an engaging process of learning and leading, a commitment to service beyond self, and numerous opportunities for personal growth in academic, athletic, artistic, and residential settings, students emerge as ethical and active citizens of the world. With a clear mission, Pomfret School cultivates a healthy interdependence of mind, body, and spirit in its students as it prepares them for college and to lead and learn in a diverse and increasingly interconnected society. Pomfret School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law in administration of its employment, enrollment, or educational policies, tuition assistance programs or other administered programs.

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