Director of Staff Operations, Human Resources Professional

RCAC seeks an experienced and strategic Director of Staff Operations, Human Resources Professional (Director) to oversee RCAC’s human capital management in the day-to-day operations of the organization including a staff of 270 as they advance the mission to partner with and co-create vibrant, healthy, and enduring rural and Indigenous communities by providing training, technical and financial assistance, economic resources, and advocacy so those communities can achieve their goals and visions.

THE POSITION

Under general supervision of the COO, the Director is a new position in RCAC’s infrastructure, providing leadership within RCAC’s Operations department to advocate for staff and foster a positive and safe work environment where integrity is practiced and valued. This role provides overall leadership, vision, and supervision of staff workforce operations, with an emphasis on strategic planning and advancement of agency objectives in alignment with RCAC’s strategic goals and objectives. The Director serves on the senior leadership team and will manage the Staff Operations department (including the Assistant Director, Staff Success Partners, HRIS Data Management, and an Administrative Specialist). The Director will also be engaged with the Culture Resource Coordinator for Culture of Care initiatives and Training Strategist for staff development initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

The Director will step into an organization with a reputation for excellence in the community development space, strong financial health, and a culture that values collaboration and innovation. Key priorities for the position include:

Strategy & Leadership

• Provides strategy and best practices to executive teams to further the organization’s goals and strategies related to human capital management and workforce development such as staff forecasting and best practices across the employee life cycle.
• Oversees all Staff Operations initiatives, systems, and tactics, including Culture of Care in alignment with agency goals and objectives.
• Provides leadership and guidance to senior leadership on HR management issues.
• Prepares and presents reports and dashboards for quarterly Board meetings, in conjunction with the COO.
• Serves as a back-up for the COO when needed.
• Works in partnership with the Culture of Care Committee; ensures all hiring, recruiting, and retention processes adhere to best practices.

HR Management

• Provides leadership for the administration of staff operations responsibilities including but not limited to compensation, benefits, and leave; disciplinary matters; disputes and investigations; performance and talent management; productivity, recognition, and morale; occupational health and safety; training and development.
• Oversees the development, administration, and implementation of policies, processes, training, initiatives, and surveys to support organization’s strategy, staff operations, and compliance needs.
• Develops and implements professional development programs and initiatives that provide internal development and training opportunities for employees to ensure staff have the skills and training to meet their job duties.
• Develops and maintains strategy for effective performance evaluation process, utilizing HRIS or other current technology.
• Analyzes trends in compensation; researches and proposes competitive compensation programs to ensure the organization attracts and retains top talent; actively participates in Job Market Value analysis in accordance with the compensation philosophy.
• Analyzes trends in benefits; oversees annual open enrollment process for employee benefits and conducts quarterly benefits audits, including PEO review and competitive benefit analysis.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Provides leadership across Staff Operations to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and organization policies.
• Collaborates with RCAC Compliance and Risk team to insure staff operations policies are managed and updated as required within the RCAC compliance management system.
• Represents RCAC as Plan Administrator and Retirement Plan Committee Chair, ensuring DOL and ERISA compliance.
• Works with staff to monitor and ensure employment practices comply with EEOC, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and other federal and state laws and regulations.
• Provides leadership in risk management related to HR.
• Anticipates and resolves litigation risks regarding employee complaints or concerns.
• Represents RCAC in dealing with unemployment and workers compensation by furnishing requested employment information or documentation.
• Provides proactive input, reviews, guides, and approves management recommendations for employment terminations and/or adverse actions.
• Oversees the interfaces with managers and healthcare professionals to coordinate accommodations, return-to-work, light-duty, and other solutions for injured or disabled employees.
• Oversees required organizational mandatory and non-mandatory training.

RCAC uses a range of technology and software platforms to support its work including SharePoint, Unanet, Microsoft Office, Lanteria, Teams, and OneDrive. The organization’s PEO processes payroll through TriNet.

Experience & Attributes

Successful candidates for this position will bring a variety of experiences and attributes including:

• 12 years relevant experience in increasingly responsible HR positions and roles that include strategic planning, leadership, personnel, talent management, budgeting, and HR initiatives, with at least 3 years in a senior HR role and 5 years’ experience in a supervisory role.
• Proven experience as a senior leader in HR with the ability to lead strategically in an organization with multi-state footprint and multi-located workforce (including remote employees), while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations and company policies.
• Thorough knowledge of HR management principles and best practices for mid-size and growth minded organizations.
• Professional business acumen partnered with attention to the human element, diligent and firm with high ethical standards and a commitment to critical process efficiencies and timeliness of staff operations functions.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work across departmental and positional roles; ability to effectively listen and communicate, verbally and in writing.
• Advanced skill in analyzing problems, projecting consequences, identifying solutions, and implementing recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams, with a focus on collaboration and achieving results.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Commitment to understanding the rural and Indigenous West and its diversity of needs, and a passion for contributing to a mission in service of rural community development is a plus.
• Excellent and adaptive leadership with the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of people across different geographies and economic situations.
• Proficient in the use of tools, such as Microsoft Office, CRM systems, project management software, or data management platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in HR, organizational learning, business administration, or related field; Master’s degree in a related field or HR certification a plus.
• 401(k)/403(b) plan administration, including knowledge of regulations, compliance, fiduciary obligations.

RCAC is an equal opportunity employer and considers all employees and job applicants without regard to race, religion, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status, or any other status protected by the law. RCAC has a keen interest and desire for our staff composition to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

THE ORGANIZATION

Founded in 1978, RCAC seeks to collaboratively build the capacity of organizations that serve underserved communities in 13 western states and Pacific Islands. RCAC works in partnership with small rural and Indigenous communities and other local agencies to provide tools and resources necessary to improve their quality of life. RCAC offers a wide range of services to communities with fewer than 50,000 people including technical assistance and training for environmental infrastructure; affordable housing development; economic and leadership development; community resilience and disaster planning; and community development finance.

RCAC fosters an inclusive, collaborative workplace environment where colleagues and partners are valued and treated with respect so the organization and people served can excel. At RCAC, most program staff have the opportunity to travel, work in a flexible environment, and define and develop their own work plans to achieve community-driven outcomes. RCAC celebrates teamwork with open-door access to peers and senior leadership.

Headquartered in West Sacramento, RCAC has an estimated annual budget of approximately $40M, more than $200M in total assets, and net assets of more than $85M, and is deepening its impact through two significant unrestricted grants received in 2021 and 2025. Governed by a 12-person diverse Board of Directors from 8 states, RCAC employs a staff of 270, many of whom work remotely across RCAC’s 13-state footprint. RCAC has experienced a high level of growth, having hired over 130 new staff within the last 4 years as programs continue to flourish, and RCAC expects recruitment will continue. The executive leadership team includes the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Impact and Policy Officer. The senior leadership team includes the Controller and five Directors: Housing, Loan Fund, Environmental Services, and Staff Operations. For more information, please visit RCAC’s website at https://www.rcac.org/.