PLEASE NOTE: A COVER LETTER IS REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.

The cover letter should be no longer than one page and include:

• Example(s) of successful navigation of complex talent/HR issues
• Example(s) of your commitment to racial equity
• Example(s) of how you coach and manage your teams

Position Summary

The Director of HR Employee Relations serves as thesenior-most leader thatwill lead the design and execution of KIPP NorCals employee relations strategy, fostering a positive, inclusive, and legally compliant work environment, in alignment with our values of excellence, equity, courage, and compassion, for over 1100 staff members. This role will provide expert guidance on conflict resolution, employee counseling, and complex workplace issues, while also ensuring adherence to all applicable employment laws and policies. The Director will train and coach managers and school leaders on best practices in employee relations, lead high-level investigations, and build the systems, tools, and processes that strengthen the organizations overall employee experience.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, the Director acts as astrategic advisor and decision-makeron matters including investigations, discipline, performance management, terminations, and conflict resolution. The Director directly manages three Associate Directors of Employee Relations and serves on the Total Employee Experience (TEX) leadership team, with responsibility for setting vision, standards, and accountability across all employee relations work.

This role requires deep expertise in employee relations, sound judgment in high-stakes situations, and the ability to lead and influence senior leaders across a large, distributed organization.

Required Qualifications

• Mission OrientedHolds a deep belief in the brilliance of our students and their potential; and
• in the transformative power of education for liberation. Demonstrates our Regional Support Office values of excellence, equity, courage and compassion.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive HR or Employee Relations experience, including significant ownership of complex, high-risk employee relations matters (e.g., investigations, discipline, terminations, performance management, and compliance).
• Demonstrated experience leading employee relations at scale, supporting large, distributed organizations (1,000+ employees strongly preferred).
• Proven people management experience, including direct management of senior HR or Employee Relations leaders.
• Deep working knowledge ofCalifornia employment law, including investigations, leaves, performance management, discipline, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability toexercise independent judgmenton sensitive matters and serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders.
• Strong commitment to advancing racial equity and embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into employee relations practice.
• Bachelors degree required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree (JD or comparable advanced degree strongly preferred).
• SHRM-SCP or other senior-level HR certification.
• Experience in TK12 education, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organizations.
• Knowledge of California credentialing regulations.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Employee Relations Strategy & Leadership

• Own and lead the overall employee relations strategy for KIPP NorCal, including systems, standards, and escalation protocols.
• Serve as the final point of escalation for complex, sensitive, or high-visibility employee relations matters.
• Determine and own the approach to complex personnel issues, informed by legal guidance and organizational values.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret employee relations data to identify trends and inform recommendations to the Chief People Officer and senior leadership.
• Ensure consistent, legally sound, and values-aligned ER practices across school sites and the Regional Support Office (RSO).

Counseling, Advising, and Training

• Serve as the primary decision-maker and advisor to managers, school leaders, and executives on employee relations matters.
• Provide expert guidance on performance management, disciplinary action, and corrective processes.
• Design and deliver training for managers and employees on employee relations topics, including workplace behavior, conflict resolution, and policy implementation.
• Develop manager capability through coaching and targeted professional learning.

Investigations, Conflict Resolution & Title IX

• Maintain and continuously improve KIPP NorCals escalation and investigation protocols.
• Lead and oversee thorough investigations into allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or other workplace misconduct, including:
  • Interviewing involved parties
  • Reviewing documentation and evidence
  • Drafting clear, well-supported investigation reports
• Maintain strict confidentiality and professionalism throughout all investigations.
• Develop, recommend, and oversee execution of resolutions in partnership with the Chief People Officer.
• Facilitate mediations and restorative conversations as appropriate.
• Serve as KIPP NorCals Title IX Coordinator and lead all related processes.

Tools, Systems & Policy Development

• Develop and maintain ER tools, protocols, and templates (e.g., investigations, interviews, performance improvement plans).
• Lead an…