Executive Director, Employee Relations

JOB SUMMARY

The Executive Director of Employee Relations provides strategic leadership and oversight for the district’s employee relations functions, ensuring alignment with HISD’s mission, vision, and transformation goals. This role is responsible for key areas such as investigations, file reviews, employee retention strategies, background checks, and the non-teacher appraisal system. The Executive Director leads a high-performing team, fosters strong partnerships across the district, and ensures that employee relations policies and practices uphold HISD’s commitment to excellence, compliance, and a positive work environment.

As a critical leader within HISD, the Executive Director of Employee Relations plays a pivotal role in cultivating a culture of accountability, support, and continuous improvement. This position demands a results-driven, solutions-oriented approach to employee relations, with a focus on removing barriers to success while maintaining a fair and compliant work environment.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1.    Strategic Leadership & Alignment
•    Lead the implementation of the employee relations strategy in alignment with HISD’s strategic plan and high-performance culture.
•    Continuously assess and refine employee relations initiatives to meet the district’s evolving needs, ensuring they contribute to meaningful and lasting improvements.

2.    Collaboration & Performance Management
•    Partner with Executive Directors of HR across all four Divisions to provide strategic guidance on employee relations, conflict resolution, and performance management.
•    Support the district’s matrix operating structure by ensuring HR teams effectively collaborate within the "unit concept" model.
•    Oversee employee investigations, ensuring they are conducted with fairness, thoroughness, and compliance with all legal and ethical standards.

3.    Compliance & Governance
•    Work closely with legal counsel to ensure policies and practices adhere to federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
•    Provide regular updates and seek guidance to uphold integrity, transparency, and sound governance in employee relations matters.

4.    Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy
•    Develop and maintain strong relationships with district leaders, government agencies, and community stakeholders to advance HISD’s mission and support its workforce.
•    Serve as a key advisor and thought leader on employee relations best practices and workforce engagement strategies.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES CONTINUED

5.    Innovation & Continuous Improvement
•    Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging legal topics, and best practices to drive innovation in employee relations strategies.
•    Implement robust performance metrics and reporting systems to monitor progress toward HR Key Action Plans and strategic objectives.

6.    Operational Oversight & Compliance
•    Manage and ensure compliance with the district’s background check processes, maintaining rigorous standards for vetting prospective employees.
•    Ensure consistency and thoroughness in all employee relations procedures, maintaining a structured and legally compliant approach.

7.   Commitment to a High-Performance Culture
•    Act as a champion for HISD’s high-performance culture, ensuring all employees are held accountable while receiving the necessary support to succeed.
•    Foster a professional and solutions-oriented work environment where employee concerns are addressed constructively and productively.
8.    Additional Responsibilities
•    Perform other job-related duties as assigned in service of the district’s mission.
 

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required in the following human resource functions: human resource management, human resource development, business administration, organizational leadership, education, or other degree that provides appropriate transferable skills. 

Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an American Bar Association accredited law school required.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Candidate must meet one of the work experience requirements listed below.
•    3 years of minimum experience required in human resources, employment law, or school law (preferably in school setting).
 

SKILL AND/OR REQUIRED LICENSING/CERTIFICATION

Strong strategic thinking and planning skills, with a proven track record of developing and executing successful organizational strategies.
Demonstrated experience in leading and managing teams, fostering collaboration, accountability, and a high-performance culture.
Experience supervising teams with caseloads to ensure efficient workstreams.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels and cross-functionally.
Sound financial management skills, including budgeting, financial analysis, and resource allocation.
Preference for strong understanding of governance principles and practices, with experience working with boards of directors and governing bodies role in employee relations matters.
Knowledge of nonprofit governance, legal, and compliance requirements.
Ability to navigate complex organizational and political environments, building effective partnerships and alliances.
Demonstrated ability to think strategically and critically, analyze complex issues, and make informed decisions.
Exceptional leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams towards achieving organizational objectives.
Demonstrated experience in organizational development, change management, and performance improvement.
Passion for the district’s mission and a strong commitment to making a positive impact in the community.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

HISD’s High-Performance Culture & Leadership Expectations
HISD is leading the most ambitious public education transformation in the country, and every member of our team plays a critical role in ensuring student success. As part of a high-performance culture, we expect all employees to be solution-driven, results-oriented, and committed to continuous improvement.
At HISD, we:
•    Continuously improve and embrace professional growth.
•    Reinforce the district’s vision for instructional excellence—in every class, every day.
•    Understand that central office operates in service of schools, ensuring that school leaders and teachers can focus on student achievement.
•    Provide timely, constructive feedback to support improvement at all levels.
•    Manage time effectively and uphold attendance standards, recognizing that consistency and reliability are essential to high performance.
•    Foster a professional, productive work environment, where problem-solving is prioritized over complaints and constructive solutions are encouraged.
•    Hold ourselves accountable for excellence, ensuring that accountability is paired with strong support to drive meaningful results.
Choosing to work at HISD means embracing the challenge of transformation and committing to a culture where high expectations are met with the resources and leadership needed to succeed. If you are ready to be part of a dynamic team that is reshaping public education, we welcome you to join us in this vital mission.
 

WORK COMPLEXITY/INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT

Work is non-standardized and widely varied, involving many complex and significant variables including significant time spent planning, evaluating complex solutions and issues, and negotiating outcomes. Strong analytical ability and inductive thinking are frequently required to devise new approaches to situations where previously accepted solutions have proven inadequate. Position regularly makes recommendations to management on areas of significance to the division.  May need to work at some weekend career fairs during spring and summer hiring season. May need to attend monthly evening board meetings.
 

BUDGET AUTHORITY

Participates in a group plan and/or budget development.
 

PROBLEM SOLVING

Decisions are made with greater freedom and discretion, including recommendations that are subject to approval on matters that may affect multiple departments across HISD. Job is frequently expected to recommend new solutions to problems, to improve existing methods/procedures/services and generate new ideas.  May also review decisions made by other individuals on more routine matters.
 

IMPACT OF DECISIONS

Decisions have considerable impact to multiple divisions or the organization district causing risks or improvements to relationships, significant efficiencies or delays in operations, and/or significant financial gains or expenses. Errors are serious and difficult to discover, normally involve decisions not subject to detailed review and will result in excessive costs and/or significant project delays.
 

COMMUNICATION/INTERACTIONS

Negotiate and influence - interprets department strategies and services, resolves conflicts, influences outcomes on matters of significance for the division, conducts final negotiations and coordinates approvals/decision making below the executive level.
 

CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS

Leads others in the resolution of highly sensitive and confidential issues on behalf of the department. Acts as a trusted advisor, and becomes involved in the stakeholder’s decision making process, including presenting alternatives and information, as well as applying persuasion and negotiation skills in the resolution of problems.
 

WORKING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment, which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements.
•    Valid Texas driver’s license with applicable insurance coverage.
•    Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment, including personal computer and peripherals
•    Posture: Prolonged sitting; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting
•    Motion: Repetitive hand motions including frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching
•    Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds)
•    Environment: Prolonged or irregular hours, including some weekends; frequent districtwide travel
•    Mental Demands: Work with frequent interruptions, maintain emotional control under stress, fast-paced