Director of Human Resources

Schedule: 7:15am-4:15pm, unless otherwise approved 

Salary: $80,000-$108,000

What is the opportunity?

Join Foundation Academies as our Director of Human Resources and play a key role in shaping the employee experience and strengthening the systems that support our growing, multi-campus school network. This is an opportunity to lead a hands-on HR function, take ownership of complex employee relations matters, guide leaders through challenging personnel decisions, and build consistent, effective HR practices across the organization. Working closely with executive leadership, you will serve as a trusted advisor, develop the HR team, and help create a workplace where employees are supported, leaders are equipped, and organizational needs are thoughtfully balanced with fairness and accountability.

What is in it for you?

• Merit-based pay increases annually 
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefit plans
• Tax-deferred 403b retirement account with 25% matching up to a certain amount 
• Free financial wellness advising through our Financial Advisor Service
• Optional short or long-term disability benefits through Aflac
• Regular strategic professional development and coaching
• Career advancement opportunities
• Smartphone and fully paid wireless plan through T-Mobile
• Windows-based laptop 
• Regular team-building activities and outings
• 10 sick days and 3 personal days that roll over annually 
• Up to 30 paid holiday observances
• A rewarding career that positively impacts the lives of our amazing students

What will you be doing?

• Lead employee relations matters from intake through resolution, including complex workplace concerns, allegations of misconduct, and policy violations.
• Conduct impartial workplace investigations, assess evidence, document findings, and provide recommendations.
• Guide leaders through performance management, corrective action, performance improvement plans, disciplinary decisions, and employee separations.
• Lead HR planning and execution for reductions in force, reorganizations, and position eliminations.
• Oversee employment compliance, including applicable federal and New Jersey employment laws, protected leave, and workplace accommodations.
• Lead the development, review, and implementation of employee policies, handbook provisions, and HR procedures.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and coach to principals, department leaders, and executive leadership on employee relations and personnel matters.
• Partner with external employment counsel and coordinate legal guidance on sensitive or high-risk matters.
• Supervise, coach, and develop the HR Generalist while overseeing the effective execution of day-to-day HR operations.
• Strengthen HR systems, workflows, service expectations, and quality standards to ensure consistent practices across campuses and departments.
• Monitor workforce trends, employee relations patterns, and HR data to identify organizational risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with the Chief People Officer and leadership team to strengthen organizational culture, employee experience, and overall HR effectiveness.

What do we require from you?

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
• 7–10 years of progressively responsible human resources experience.
• 3–5 years of direct experience leading employee relations, workplace investigations, corrective actions, performance management, and employee separations.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex workplace investigations from intake through findings and recommendations.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and New Jersey employment laws and regulations.
• Experience advising managers and senior leaders on disciplinary matters, performance concerns, and employment decisions.
• Experience managing sensitive personnel matters, employment documentation, and compliance requirements.
• Strong analytical, written communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to navigate difficult conversations and high-stakes situations with confidence and professionalism.
• Ability to build trust with leaders while reinforcing accountability and constructively challenging decisions when needed.
• Experience leading, coaching, or developing HR team members.
• Ability to balance organizational needs, employee experience, and legal considerations in a growing, multi-campus organization.

Want to join our FAmily?

We are Foundation Academies: Trenton, New Jersey’s largest and highest-ranking K-12 free public charter school serving more than 1,000 scholars across three schools on two campuses. Our mission is to ensure that all of our students secure the academic knowledge and skills to prepare them for the nation’s finest colleges, and to instill in them the core values of caring, respect, responsibility, and honesty. We admit students by lottery, irrespective of gender, race, household income, or academic ability. 

Our team of experienced and mission-driven urban educators values growth mindsets, lifelong learners, and individuals who believe that every child deserves an excellent education. We hold ourselves, our students, and our city to high standards because that’s what our families deserve. 

We are conveniently located a quick car ride to downtown Princeton, a 45-minute SEPTA ride to Philly’s Center City, and a hop on the NJ Transit Express to New York City.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: 

Foundation Academies is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We want to have the best available persons in every job. Foundation Academies prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, gender identity, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. All such discrimination is unlawful and prohibited by Foundation Academies. It is also our policy to comply with all applicable state and federal laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.