What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Human Resources position at Harvard-Westlake School?
Applications for this position are being handled directly by TriSearch. Please disregard the email resume option and only click this link to apply for the position.
Harvard-Westlake has an immediate opening for a Director of Human Resources to help lead and inspire our school community, including three campuses, 325 full-time employees, and more than 400 part-time employees.
This individual will provide visionary direction for all HR systems, programs, and policies, maintain best-in-class touchpoints across the employment lifecycle, ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and guide the extensive menu of employee benefits programs we offer (including some that are self-insured). The position is a member of the 14-person Business Office, three of whom report to the Director of HR (a Coordinator, Benefits Administrator, and HR and Talent Acquisition Administrator) and who, together, create a workplace where employees can thrive.
Serving in this capacity, the Director of HR will collaborate regularly with the senior administrative team to attract and motivate highly talented faculty and staff, understand their workplace priorities, and inspire continued professional growth among all in the schools employ. The position also plays a pivotal role in personnel matters, opportunities, and issues by providing ongoing coaching and feedback for supervisors and navigating difficult conversations with individuals or groups.
Responsibilities
The systems, scope, and initiatives that the School offers are always evolving in step with our desire to be a preeminent employer. Areas of responsibility for the Director of HR consist of, but are not limited to, the following. Notwithstanding these items, a successful HR leader for Harvard-Westlake will also seek to immerse themself in the daily life of the school, to experience what differentiates and defines us, and thereby tailor the HR function to what best supports the school in pursuit of its mission.
Employee Relations
- Guide onboarding and offboarding activities that clearly represent the Schools values and standards. Lead new employee orientation topics relevant to the Business Office
- Continue to strengthen the relationship between HR and the campus community, positioning HR as an expert, trusted resource
- Expand feedback systems, ensuring that areas of personal growth are more easily identified, constructive feedback more readily provided, and actionable steps towards change fulfilled
- Oversee performance-issue processes and documentation up to and including, when necessary, decisions to separate
- Help bring the Schools third campus (River Park) into operation in late 2026, hiring necessary staff and aligning culture and practices with the Middle and Upper Schools.
Compensation and Benefits
- Continuously improve the Schools employee value proposition. Recommend, develop, and implement policies and structures that ensure employees have the resources and flexibility expected by todays workforce
- Communicate regularly with employees regarding relevant updates to benefits and other HR-related issues
- Expand the already-robust group benefits and perquisite programs offered by the School
- Collaborate with senior school leadership to maintain compensation practices that allow colleagues to thrive in a high-cost-of-living environment
Internal Systems
- Assess and leverage technology to improve service and inform decision making, both in the context of employee self-service (when appropriate) and back office processes
- Ensure employee policies and benefits are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and communicated in relevant and accessible language
Desired Qualifications and Characteristics
The ideal candidate will hold a bachelors degree and relevant professional certifications, though an advanced degree is strongly preferred. At least 10 years of relevant work and leadership in the HR profession is required.
- Awareness of national trends and best practices in the field, and experience adapting and bringing such practices to an institution like Harvard-Westlake
- Focus on customer service, developing and strengthening processes and systems to improve service delivery
- Strong leadership and management skills, including a proven ability to lead a team through change, build collaboration across an organization, and bring ideas and initiatives to fruition;
- Excellent organization and follow-through, even while managing responsibilities that are subject to frequent or unexpected changes
- Ability to convey complex and nuanced concepts to a variety of audiences via crystal-clear written and verbal communication skills
- Proven success in team building where trust and accountability are paramount
- Experience handling complex issues with discretion, sound judgment, compassion, and emotional intelligence
About Harvard-Westlake School
We are an independent school consisting of two campuses, soon to be three, located in Los Angeles, California. We have approximately 1,600 curious, thoughtful, and inspiring students enrolled in grades seven through twelve, 325 full-time employees, and more than 400 part-time employees.
We are committed to creating a community of belonging and actively strive to be a diverse and inclusive community. We do not discriminate on any basis. We seek candidates who demonstrate sensitivity, knowledge, and understanding of the diverse backgrounds of community members; have the ability to work flexibly, independently, and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment with individuals from a diverse set of backgrounds; and have the capacity to serve as a model of openness, generosity, and acceptance.
Compensation: Estimated base compensation for this role is $180,000 - $230,000, depending on experience.
Great benefits we offer:
- Top-tier medical, dental, and vision coverage with zero to low premium contributions
- 403(b) Retirement with a 10% match and immediate vesting
- Cafeteria allowance lunch is on us!
- Professional development support including continuing education
- Personal Growth grants
- Relocation Assistance
- Employee affinity groups
- Mental wellness resources and workshops
- Partially subsidized employee housing (subject to availability)
- Tickets to local sporting and entertainment events
- Discount at school bookstore (get your HW swag!)
- Paid holidays (e.g., Thanksgiving week, Winter, and Spring breaks) plus vacation!
Applications for this position are being handled directly by TriSearch. Please disregard the email resume option and only click this link to apply for the position.
Salary : $180,000 - $230,000
