Director, People & Culture

About Room to Grow

Room to Grow is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the vision that one day all parents will have the resources they need to unlock their families’ potential and become champions for babies and their community. Its mission is to offer structured parent support, material goods, and community connections to support parents as they activate their natural strengths and expand their knowledge, so children thrive from the start. Room to Grow was founded in New York in 1998 and expanded to Boston in 2005, currently partnering with over 1,500 families with an annual budget of $8.5M and a team of 50+ passionate and dedicated staff members. 

Room to Grow uses a two-generation, preventative, and strengths-based approach to engage families. Through its unique program, parents and caregivers partner with program staff to develop strategies to support their child's development, select the material items that their child needs, and connect with community resources that can expand their support network. Room to Grow program staff work alongside parents and caregivers as they build upon their existing skill sets and parenting styles and promote the well-being of their children and family. 

As an entrepreneurial and growth-oriented organization, Room to Grow is in an exciting period of development as it continues to expand its reach and impact in Boston, New York and Chicago. 

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Managing Director of Operations, the Director of People and Culture will play a crucial role in shaping the organization's team member experience, driving HR strategies, and implementing procedures and policies that will support a growing organization of 50+ team members. They will oversee a team of two and lead the charge on all things related to human resources including employee relations & experience, HR administration, compliance, and talent acquisition.

This individual will drive initiatives and projects with a people-first approach that fosters trust, inclusion, growth, and development for all. The role requires a passion for people, the flexibility to work cross-functionally with many individuals and teams, the capability to advise all levels of the organization on a variety of topics related to employee relations, ability to hold and evolve the organization’s culture, and the proficiency to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines simultaneously. This is an ideal opportunity for a leader with deep and broad knowledge in HR disciplines who is looking to use their expertise to support a mission and growth-oriented organization.

This is a full time, hybrid role that requires two to three days per week in one of our locations in Bronx, New York or Boston, MA. 

Position Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Organizational & Departmental Leadership 

• Work in close collaboration with senior leadership to develop the human resources strategic direction and operational plans for the future, with a keen eye towards maintaining employee experience and effective processes as the organization grows.
• Steward the culture of the organization through policies, communications, and supportive leadership; stay attuned to internal and external factors that impact the team, and keep a pulse on trends and shifts in workplace culture.
• In partnership with the Equity Council, lead and continue to build upon the organization’s DEI strategy to promote and sustain a culture of inclusion and belonging
• Act as a strategic advisor and provide counsel to managers on employee relations, talent management, and organizational design & effectiveness.
• Develop and manage the annual plan and budget for the People and Culture Department; review and negotiate HR-related contracts and agreements.
• Develop, manage, and mentor two People and Culture team members to support high performance and growth.

Talent Acquisition, Management, and Growth

• Refine recruitment, hiring, and internal promotion practices to build a diverse candidate pipeline that meets current and future staffing needs; establish succession planning strategies for identifying, developing, and promoting high potential team members.
• In partnership with external consultants, lead on compensation analysis and benchmarking and work to ensure compensation structure aligns with organizational values and budget.
• Drive ongoing updates to employee onboarding and offboarding processes to ensure smooth and successful transitions across the team.
• Oversee continuous improvement of the performance review process, linking individual performance to organizational outcomes, mission, and values.
• Develop a clear approach to individual development planning, performance goal setting, performance feedback, and formal evaluations to meet the organization’s needs and to support individuals in their professional growth; build training and provide support to managers to implement with team members.

Employee Relations & Experience 

• Build and maintain a trusted space for team members to engage in an open dialogue regarding their daily responsibilities, challenges, and reflections on organizational culture; collaborate with the Team Council to develop programs that are responsive to trends in employee retention, satisfaction and engagement
• Partner with the Equity Council to develop innovative people programs with a focus on DEI, and lead on the implementation of the organization’s DEI strategic plan.
• Drive key employee engagement and communication plans (i.e. team newsletters, days of recognition, safety & emergency communications).
• Establish best practices and procedures for addressing employee performance or behavioral challenges and counsel managers in order to resolve issues that may arise; serve as internal mediator for resolving conflict and develop policies for managing disputes and investigations.

HR Administration & Compliance

• Ensure that Room to Grow complies with relevant employment regulations and apply this knowledge to communicate changes in policy, practices, and resources; ensure these policies and practices are efficient, equitable, timely, auditable, and responsive.

• Oversee the implementation and improvement of all HR initiatives, design employee training and resources on these initiatives that are accessible and user friendly to promote compliance and understanding across the team.

• Develop and administer personnel policies that are compliant with local and federal law and conduct employee training on policies and procedures.

• Perform annual assessment of employee benefit plans and incentives and coordinate the plan renewal process to ensure quality, cost-effective plans are secured.

• Support leave administration for team members.

• Oversee HRIS administration and employee data management, with an eye towards data security and privacy.

Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated passion for the mission, vision, and core values of Room to Grow.

• 5 to 7 years of experience in a variety of HR competency areas such as employee relations (i.e. investigations, accommodations requests), performance management, employee development, leadership development, compliance and change management required.

• A strong understanding of employment law and HR compliance standards required.

• Demonstrated experience managing direct reports and developing other managers.

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion subject matter expertise required.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills preferred.

• HR certifications, such as SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP, and training in mediation preferred.

• Views differences between individuals (race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education, beliefs, and lifestyle) as an asset and demonstrates an appreciation of the diversity across the Room to Grow community.

Core Competencies

Mission and Culture Alignment - Allows a candidate to thrive at Room to Grow and to be highly motivated by the organization’s work and mission. A successful candidate:

• Embodies RtG core values, including integrity, respect, growth, collaboration, community and inclusion

• Articulates an authentic passion for and unwavering belief in RtG’s mission, demonstrating a commitment to and literacy around the issues of equity that undergird the work

• Navigates ambiguity and pivots with ease; presents as collaborative and flexible with a strong service mentality and ability to navigate a local/national structure

• Models transparency and encourages open dialogue and inclusivity

• Demonstrates a growth mindset; approaches work with a learning orientation, continuously seeking to improve his or her own work and the work of the organization

• Possesses a deep appreciation for diversity, equity, and inclusion and seeks to bring people together along lines of difference; can model this value in Room to Grow’s internal work by treating our diverse population of families with sensitivity, respect, compassion, and dignity, as well as demonstrating this value with an external presence

Relationship Building - Enables a candidate to build deep relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including Room to Grow community members. A successful candidate:

• Is well-versed in the work of Room to Grow and motivated to advocate for RtG as we grow and expand, on and off-site

• Is a skilled communicator who can deliver reliable and relevant information to stakeholders with diverse backgrounds

• Understands and appreciates the importance and complexity of relationships and builds rapport with a wide range of people

• Possesses strong customer service skills and the ability to anticipate and respond to questions or needs in a timely and courteous way

Organizational Leadership - Enables a candidate to inspire team members at all levels to achieve results, while upholding organizational priorities and operations. A successful candidate:

• Promotes a mission-centric environment that encourages cross-departmental collaboration, team building, strong work ethic, and service to the community

• Ability to lead change management within a department or organization, empowering team members to build on their strengths and pursue innovative strategies that enhance Room to Grow’s mission and vision

• Demonstrates the ability to be highly collaborative and partner effectively with leaders across organizations

Project Management - Allows a candidate to advance work by establishing clear and actionable plans and managing up, down, and sideways to deliver outcomes. A successful candidate:

• Multitasks in a rapidly changing work environment effectively balancing and prioritizing projects

• Excels at time management and sets ambitious, yet realistic goals

• Thoughtfully and energetically contributes to multiple high-stakes projects

• Approaches work with a high degree of detail orientation, ensuring that all deadlines are met and that the smallest task is not forgotten

Resourcefulness - Enables a candidate to respond to difficult and complex situations quickly, responsibly, and respectfully with all constituents involved. A successful candidate:

• Embodies professionalism, comfortably and respectfully communicating and resolving minor issues with team members, program participants, and external stakeholders alike

• Reacts calmly and swiftly to unexpected challenges, adapting to unforeseen circumstances and quickly resolving issues

• Possesses strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks and re-prioritize as necessary when unexpected situations arise

• Takes initiative by asking for further guidance or clarification as needed to execute work effectively. Can work independently, or with a team; is not dependent on any one individual, including those in a leadership position

Compensation and Benefits

Room to Grow offers a collaborative work environment, competitive compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 8+ weeks of paid time off per year
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA
• 403(b) retirement savings with matching program
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement up to $150 per quarter
• So much more!

Salary and benefits will be competitive for our field and commensurate with experience. Room to Grow is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Reasonable Accommodations

We are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. We encourage you to share any required accommodations with elise.spector@roomtogrow.org, who will treat your requests as confidentially as possible.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We view differences between individuals (e.g., race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education, beliefs, and lifestyle) as an asset. We celebrate what makes us unique and strive to create an inclusive environment for all. We are focused on fostering a culture of empowerment in an effort to better understand and serve the multifaceted cultures and identities of all of those within the Room to Grow community. At Room to Grow, our DEI efforts focus on uplifting the experiences and perspectives of underrepresented groups and doing the work that draws out the best in all of us.

To Apply

Submit your application via Room to Grow’s career portal.