Employee Relations Manager at KIPP in Camden, NJ

companyDescription KIPP TEAM & Family is our network office that includes support teams - such as Leadership Development, Recruitment, Advocacy, Facilities, Finance, HR and more - dedicated to empowering our schools and ensuring the success of KIPP students throughout New Jersey and Miami. Our schools are part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. The first KIPP New Jersey school opened in Newark in 2002 and since then our school network has expanded to educate 8,684 students in grades K-12. By 2027, KIPP New Jersey will provide a world-class education to over 10,300 students across Newark and Camden. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org. In 2018, we grew our KIPP community in response to a need for high-quality school options for students in Greater Miami’s Urban Core communities. That led to the creation of KIPP Miami, which currently educates more than 1,200 students in 2 schools, with plans to reach 5,800 students by 2026. By offering highly effective educators with strong bonds to families, more time in school learning, services that support a variety of student needs, and a culture focused on achievement, our students in New Jersey and Miami are on the path to and through college, career, and choice-filled lives. jobDescription Here's what you need to know: The Employee Relations Manager will provide high-touch employee relations support primarily to our South Jersey workforce, with a focus on the Camden region. This role encompasses a broad scope of responsibilities, including managing employee relations issues at the school, regional, and CMO levels; partnering with the HR Operations team on onboarding, benefits, compensation, and self-service tools; supporting performance management and teacher certification; overseeing leave management, reasonable accommodation requests, and workplace investigations; and developing policies and processes that remove barriers so staff have the tools and support they need to focus on the classroom. By fostering a supportive and compliant work environment, this role helps ensure our educators can deliver a world-class education and prepare students for choice-filled lives. This position also requires a deep commitment to the KIPP Team and Family mission of educational equity and to supporting staff so they can create the conditions for students to thrive. This is a Camden-based, hybrid position requiring in-person presence, with flexibility to work remotely when appropriate. Here's what you'll be doing: Employee Relations Support Conduct Employee Relations investigations, including gathering and analyzing facts, applying relevant laws, policies, and past practice to reach conclusions and present findings for further action and proposed remediation. Prepare investigation summary reports, track investigations in case management systems, and draft proposed disciplinary documentation as needed. Consult with managers and leadership teams to provide guidance to address specific employee performance concerns, including performance improvement plans and involuntary termination processes and practices. Guide and train managers in overall performance management concepts in alignment with the organization’s philosophy, practices, and processes. Partner with the Leave Manager to provide leave-related support and customer service to employees and managers. Manage the full cycle for reasonable accommodation requests, including engaging in the interactive process with employees and leadership to ensure compliance and effective resolution. Support employees and managers with workers’ compensation claims, including coordination with external providers and internal stakeholders. Lead the regional project planning for KIPP Miami’s renewal cycle, ensuring effective guidance and counsel on annual contract renewals. Partner with the Compensation team to respond to compensation-related queries and assist in resolving outstanding matters. Legal Compliance Ensure compliance with applicable State and Federal employment and labor laws and related wage and hour regulations. Engage with internal and external legal counsel to proactively assess risk and conduct due diligence. Guide management and leadership teams in navigating various employee and labor relations-related issues to minimize potential employment-related risk and liabilities. Partner with relevant stakeholders to develop, conduct, and facilitate a variety of Employee Relations training, such as Performance Development and Evaluations, Management Essentials, Anti-Harassment/Discrimination, and Workplace Behaviors. Partner with a school-based operations/leadership team on teacher certification requirements. Assist with the execution of annual compliance campaigns as they relate to region-specific and organization-wide mandatory trainings Business Partnerships Create broad partnerships among school-based, regional, and CMO teams to develop and implement practices that reflect a consistent, fair, and aligned approach. Collaborate cross-functionally across school-based, regional, and CMO teams to solve complex employee relations issues. Provide support to school-based, regional, and CMO teams on leave management, reasonable accommodations, discipline issues, compensation, and benefits. Data and Analytics Apply expertise in data analysis and the presentation of data to see beyond the numbers and help inform, influence, support, and execute our talent decisions. Investigate ways to measure and visualize existing processes for greater efficiencies. Manage multiple concurrent projects that require inputs from cross-functional stakeholders while balancing the impact on the needs of the organization. Leverage tools, such as Zen Desk and Wiki, to drive analytics and enable staff to utilize self-service support on routine inquiries. As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above essential duties and responsibilities. qualifications KNOWLEDGE Knowledge of K–12 education settings, including school operations, instructional workforce dynamics, and the unique compliance needs of charter schools. Demonstrated knowledge of HR management, policies, best practices and procedures. Strong understanding of state and federal employment and labor laws, including leave, wage and hour, and anti-discrimination statutes. Knowledge of HRIS systems and their application in employee data management and reporting. SKILLS Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly in both verbal and written formats. Exceptional attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy in documentation, investigations, and compliance-related work. Skill in interpreting and analyzing employee relations data, policies, and workplace trends to identify actionable insights and solutions. Strong writing skills, with the ability to draft reports, disciplinary actions, employee and manager communications that are clear, precise, and legally sound. Strong facilitation skills, with the ability to guide training, lead difficult conversations, and build manager capability. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), and HRIS platforms for data tracking, reporting, and documentation. ABILITIES Ability to adapt to the various needs of the organization and employees while balancing compliance and organizational priorities. Ability to multitask and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Ability to apply critical thinking to gather and evaluate relevant information and evidence to solve problems and make sound, data-informed decisions. Ability to leverage relationships with stakeholders at all levels, managing up, down, and across, to build alignment, influence decision-making, and drive results. Ability to exercise sound judgment under pressure and in time-sensitive situations. Ability to handle highly sensitive information with absolute confidentiality, discretion, and professionalism. Ability to travel to school locations to meet with staff and managers as needed. additionalInformation The salary range for this role is $115,000 - $135,000. Salary ranges at KIPP are set based upon the role level and function using benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector and allow for growth within the role.  Individual compensation will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to: relevant professional experience and qualifications; education, skills and training; and market conditions. In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP offers a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following: Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision KIPP 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions A school-issued laptop Generous Time-Off Policy Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave for primary caregivers Employer paid life insurance Extensive optional ancillary benefits including, short term and long term disability and accident and hospital indemnity KIPP New Jersey | KIPP Miami is an equal opportunity employer #LI-NJ