Overview

The senior human resources business partner (SHRBP) provides the highest customer service standards and leverages their knowledge of best HR practices to support the alignment of the people team with the network's people strategy. Reporting to the Managing Director of HR, the SHRBP is responsible for implementing all aspects of the human resources function. In addition, as a champion of Ascend's mission, culture, and values, this individual partners with the organization's staff to help navigate and resolve employee relations issues, ensuring compliance alongside programs and practices that develop best-in-class people.

Why extraordinary professionals choose Ascend

Ascend is a network of K-12 public charter schools serving 5,700 students across 15 schools in Central Brooklyn. Our mission is to lead our students on a great intellectual journey, providing them with an exceptional education and placing them firmly on the path to success in college and beyond.

We guide our students to think critically and independently and to enjoy education as an end in itself. We teach a rich and rigorous liberal arts curriculum that nurtures students' natural curiosity about the world. We foster a positive, non-punitive school culture where students feel connected, empowered, and safe to take academic risks. Even our school buildings are designed to reflect our high aspirations for teaching and learning and the notable accomplishments that occur within our walls.

To create this kind of vibrant learning community, we invest heavily in our team members by providing ongoing, best-of-class professional training and support. We encourage them to collaborate closely and push one another to achieve great outcomes.

Learn more about the Ascend approach by visiting our website .

Responsibilities

• Manage employee benefits programs and partner relationships, collaborating with payroll to ensure accuracy and a best-in-class employee experience
• Oversee the leave management process for all employees, ensuring excellent record keeping and strong communication with staff and supervisors
• Conduct investigations and counsel employees and supervisors regarding disciplinary and grievance procedures by providing information on personnel policies and regulations, recommending a plan of action, and resolving misunderstandings
• Coordinate with legal counsel on employee relations and compliance issues, including work authorizations
• Design and develop new HR processes to improve the efficiency of HR operations and administration and recommend new approaches/procedures to effect continual improvement
• Maintain HRIS to streamline people processes, working closely with payroll to ensure timely and accurate processing of people management transactions; create and provide HRIS training as required
• Oversee the leave management process for all employees, ensuring excellent record keeping and strong communication with staff and supervisors
• Review and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of existing HR processes; create reports and dashboards to highlight trends and recommend improvements or actions as appropriate, including administering and processing staff surveys
• Liaise with Network Operations to ensure authorizer requests, state reporting requirements, and all other HR compliance-related items are satisfied
• Use expertise on federal, state, and local laws to create and maintain internal and external facing HR policies, processes, and materials; develop and provide training to others as required
• Support the staff onboarding process by collaborating with the HR manager on new hires; host onboarding sessions as needed
• Proactively remain up-to-date on best HR practices; develop and provide training to staff as required
• Contribute to the overall success of the organization by performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Reporting structure

The SHRBP reports directly to the managing director of human resources.

Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred
• History of progressive responsibility and a minimum of 5 years of relevant HR experience
• Strong technical understanding of HR functions, including but not limited to compensation, performance management, HCM management, employment law, and employee benefits
• Passionate about people
• Entrepreneurial mindset; committed to preserving a bold, can-do culture that sustains the organization's values of integrity, curiosity, community, empowerment, growth, daring, and excellence
• Unimpeachable personal credibility
• A steward of ethical behavior who actively supports a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace culture
• Ability to align with Ascend's educational and workplace philosophies
• A demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships and influence at all levels of the organization without direct authority
• Ability to analyze complex, sometimes ambiguous information and acquire data from multiple sources when solving problems
• Impeccable written, verbal, and presentation skills, with sharp attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines, navigating systems and an emerging organization of scale and complexity
• Strong organizational, project management, and process-building skills
• HR professional certification(s) preferred
• Experience working in a school-based setting preferred

Diversity at Ascend

Ascend is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community, both through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and educating students. Ascend staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities-opening a window to the entire Ascend community on the richness of humanity. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our deeply consequential work.

Compensation

Ascend offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Ascend's Vaccination Policy Statement

To prevent the infection and spread of COVID-19, and protect the health and safety of staff, students, family members, interns, volunteers, and visitors to Ascend's premises from COVID-19 infection, Ascend requires all staff to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated for the coronavirus. This policy is mandatory except for staff with a documented medical or religious reason for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.