Senior Director of Talent

Senior Director of Talent Position Announcement

• Do you believe work environments that foster inclusion and authenticity support all staff to thrive in their roles and maximize their impact on students?

• Do you want to help create a more just and kind world? 

• Do you believe that diversity is a powerful strength for a school community? 

You are: 

A proven leader in designing and implementing practices to recruit, intentionally develop, and deeply value all members of a diverse and talented staff community. You genuinely care about individuals and supporting team effectiveness. You are experienced in connecting technical systems with adaptive principles to yield sustainable practices. You know the necessary ingredients of a comprehensive plan to attract, recruit, develop, and retain excellent, mission-aligned instructional and non-instructional staff. You are a natural builder, always looking to innovate and improve. You care about social justice and know what it takes to build and sustain inclusive, anti-racist, and equitable workplaces. You are approachable and easily garner trust and dependability. You have a strong sense of personal responsibility and an affinity for collaboration across multiple individuals and teams. You flawlessly balance strategy with genuineness and empathy.

We are E.L. Haynes.  

A learning community where every student – of every race, socioeconomic status, home language, and ability – prepares to thrive in college, career, and life. Together, we create a more just and kind world.

Founded in 2004 and named for the first African-American woman to earn her Ph.D. in Mathematics, the award-winning E.L. Haynes Public Charter School serves more than 1,135 students in grades Pre-K3 through 12th grade. E.L. Haynes operates two campuses in the Petworth neighborhood of Northwest Washington, DC, and offers a rigorous educational program designed to prepare students to succeed in the college of their choice.

We believe that our most significant contribution to ending systemic injustice is through purposefully empowering our diverse community— as individuals and as a collective— with the skills and the conviction to be effective leaders for equity.

Our mission of student success is inextricably linked with our commitment to equity and the daily efforts of every member of our community to live our motto-Be Kind, Work Hard, and Get Smart.

We:

• Lead For Equity: We challenge ourselves and each other to interrupt inequities and build equitable alternatives.
• Choose Joy: We find, bring, and share joy in our work every day. We practice gratitude, celebrate wins, and offer praise.
• Achieve Excellence: We deliver high-quality work every day. We set ambitious goals, embrace challenges, and hold ourselves and each other to high standards.
• Own Our Learning: We model a growth mindset for our students. We own our actions, mistakes, and learning. We continually look for ways to improve and produce high-quality work.
• Succeed Together: We value every member of our community and treat each other with kindness and care. We build meaningful relationships with students, families, and each other. We achieve more through collaboration and teamwork.

We are different. We are:

• A diverse and inclusive community, with nearly 70% of our staff identifying as people of color.
• The hub of the neighborhood. We are a community school and partner with neighborhood organizations to provide our families with comprehensive medical, dental, and mental health services. 
• A place where all community members have their voices heard in the decision-making process.
• A school where students learn in a rigorous and coherent PK-12 environment.

About the Position

The Director of Talent will oversee the design and execution of all aspects of employee attraction & recruitment, interviewing & selection, engagement, performance & training & development, and career development & planning. The person in this role reports to the Chief Talent & Equity Officer, manages the Talent Manager, collaborates regularly with the Director of Human Resources and Benefits and Payroll Manager, and coordinates closely with campus leadership team members and other staff. The ideal candidate combines a deep passion for the potential of all people with strong system and project management skills.

This position requires onsite presence at least 60% of the time with some availability for working remotely. 

You will:

Execute Strategic Talent Plan

• Collaborate with the Chief Talent and Equity Officer (CTEO) and other senior leaders to set goals and strategies relating to staffing, recruiting, and employee retention, and leadership development;
• Design and document talent practices and procedures including hiring, onboarding, compensation, career development, and offboarding with special attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Design, direct, and manage an organizational plan that addresses succession planning, management training, staff professional development, etc.;
• Collaborate with the CTEO to assist senior leaders with annual strategic staffing and full-time equivalent (FTE) alignment to effectively execute against organizational goals for the next school year; and
• Establish an annual calendar, data systems, and school-level talent practices (recruiting, hiring, on-boarding, stay conversations) to build a repeatable and sustainable talent system.

Define Excellence

• Create a long-term staffing vision, with an aligned year-by-year organization chart and budget implications to align with a strategic plan; 
• Design and implement clear, research-based job descriptions aligned with the strategic plan and core values for all LEA and school roles that define roles and responsibilities in order to maximize impact on students; 
• Develop a competency model for each LEA and school-based role that defines the competencies required for success in each role and role of core values; 
• Implement a calibration process that supports staff to internalize the competency model and align on a common vision of excellent performance; and
• Support staff to internalize and live into E.L. Haynes’ core values; embed core values into staff hiring, on-boarding, development, performance management, and recognition processes.

Attract and Hire Great People

• Design and implement a recruitment strategy that attracts high-quality, diverse pools of teacher and staff talent that align with ELH competencies and core values;
• Refine recruitment strategy and selection process to ensure necessary alignment across campuses and equitable and inclusive candidate selection and internal promotion; and
• Work with Talent Manager to identify and execute strategies to attract and retain staff representative of the student population, including people who identify as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, and bilingual English and Spanish speakers.

Ensure a Strong Start

• Establish onboarding processes for all staff that builds relationships, understanding of mission/core values, and competencies to ensure a strong start at Haynes;
• Plan and manage the logistics for all new hire events i.e. new hire social events, new staff institute, and all staff institute; and
• Develop, implement and lead facilitation of employee appreciations and events (celebrations, service awards, appreciation weeks, retreats, etc.).

Celebrate Excellence

• Launch school, LEA, & community initiatives to recognize excellence;
• Develop multiple approaches to honor and recognize excellent performance;
• Establish a bi-annual process to develop a clear picture of where each ELH staff member is in their career, close equity/experience gaps, and develop individualized retention/development/career strategies; and
• Oversee and continuously audit the performance management process to provide regular, productive, and supportive touchpoints between managers and employees.

Grow and Develop 

• Co-design with the Chief Talent and Equity Officer and Chief Academic Officer/Academic Team a comprehensive approach to staff development that maximizes student impact (inclusive of performance management, centralized teacher PD days, centralized new teacher onboarding, and performance management cycles);
• Lead the planning and delivery of high-quality training to support employee development and wellness grounded in E.L. Haynes core values and competencies, including annual summer orientation, all staff and leadership team meetings, and ongoing race and equity training;
• Design and lead (or identify external experts to lead) professional development to strengthen E.L. Haynes manager and staff skills and competencies in leading for equity, inclusivity, and performance; 
• Implement aspiring leader programming and teacher leadership roles to develop diverse future leaders; 
• Identify opportunities to establish clear career pathways for teachers and leaders;
• Create and cultivate, with the support of the Talent Manager, a deep pipeline of diverse, highly-skilled, future instructional leaders; and
• Provide coaching, counseling, and training to managers on giving and documenting feedback and establishing accountability cycles within the parameters of diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments.

You have: 

• 5-7 years of experience in talent strategy, development, acquisition, and retention;
• Commitment to the E.L. Haynes mission and core values;
• Experience working independently toward goals, communicating effectively with colleagues, and engaging in 360-degree feedback processes;
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple high-profile and complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced work environment;
• Experience coaching senior leaders to deal with sensitive and confidential issues;
• Meticulous detail orientation, organization, and time management;
• Demonstrated experience in developing engaging and impactful communications, presentations, and training;
• Track record for developing positive, empathetic, and productive relationships with colleagues and customers punctuated by grace, competence, and warmth; and
• Ability to work on-site at one of the E.L. Haynes campuses at least 60% of the time.

You might also have:

• A bachelor’s or advanced degree or specialized certification in a relevant field;
• Experience working at a charter or district school in a central or local education agency office, especially in the District of Columbia context;
• Instructional experience and/or an appreciation of the unique talent needs of instructional staff;
• Oral and/or written proficiency in Spanish;
• TalentEd, Spark Hire, or Trakstar experience; and
• Proficiency with Google Drive and Microsoft Office Suite.

We look forward to meeting you!

We proactively recruit, intentionally develop, and deeply value all members of our diverse and highly talented staff community. Our work environment fosters inclusion and authenticity, supporting all staff to thrive in their roles and maximize their impact on our students.

Our hiring process consists of an online application, asynchronous and panel interviews, and written performance activity. Please see more here. We offer a competitive salary depending on experience and qualifications. Learn more about our comprehensive benefits package here. 

Persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply.