Job Description

Human Resources (HR) Specialist

ABOUT CITY GARDEN MONTESSORI

CGMS exists to redefine education by developing the whole child in an excellent, inclusive, Montessori school; to reimagine community by creating spaces and systems that help to restore our collective humanity; and to reinvigorate our world by creating a culture in which individuals and communities thrive without disparities or barriers to success. 

CGMS has consistently been one of the highest-performing charter public schools in Missouri and has been recognized both locally and nationally for its excellent program, staff and community.

MISSION & CORE VALUES

We achieve our mission by combining the Montessori Theory of Development, rigorous state standards and an Anti-Bias, Antiracism (ABAR) framework in an intentionally diverse school setting. You can read CGMS’s strategic framework here . 

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Director of Talent & Culture, the HR Specialist will support the overall operations of Human Resources at City Garden, with a particular focus on managing employee records, compliance, and onboarding. 

We are seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented HR professional with excellent judgment who ideally has experience in compliance and onboarding in a school environment. The HR Specialist will be grounded in anti-bias, antiracist values and is energized by operating in a charter public school that is reimagining education through these lenses. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Employee Records (25%)

• Manages confidential records administration for about 100 active employees, including administrative and building staff, school leadership, and teachers, as well as retention of personnel files of former City Garden employees
• Oversees employee verifications, internal and external audit responses, state and federal data collection mandates, legal requests, and open records requests
• Regularly audits data systems and personnel files, troubleshooting when necessary to maintain data integrity
• Develops policies and processes for electronic and paper records system operations, contributing to a culture of continuous process improvement on the HR team
• Manages vendor relationships for record management systems, collaborating with IT when needed to troubleshoot any technical issues

Compliance (25%)

• Ensures City Garden stays up to date on labor laws and compliance requirements in accordance with state and federal regulations, enforcing policies and procedures that keep the school operating in a legal and ethical manner
• Ensures all new hires are in compliance with the needs of their roles prior to start dates
• Provides guidance to City Garden administrative and building staff, school leadership, and teachers on school policies, regulations, HR best practices, procedures, and compliance requirements
• Investigates complaints from parents, community members, and staff, acting as a liaison for resolution
• Maintains OSHA and school-mandated reports on all accidents, injuries, and illnesses, handling all reports and incidents with discretion
• Conducts HR compliance audits, ensuring proper documentation and record-keeping

Onboarding (35%) 

• Ensures new hires feel welcome and have a seamless transition into City Garden by coordinating office and technology needs, setting up orientation and training sessions, confirming benefits selections and completing their paperwork in advance of their start dates, answering any questions or concerns they may have during and after onboarding
• Works with hiring managers to develop customized onboarding programs for new hires where needed, ensuring performance milestones are outlined in a clear, direct manner
• Manages employee onboarding and offboarding logistics and data, including background checks, and I-9s
• Constantly evaluates City Garden’s onboarding and professional development programs, incorporating new content and activities to improve onboarding and ongoing training
• Coordinates staff Intent to Return letters and annual contracts for returning employees

Other HR Activities (15%) as assigned by the Director of Talent & Culture.

QUALIFICATIONS & CHARACTERISTICS

Required:

• A passionate belief in CGMS’s mission and values
• Understanding of systemic racism and other forms of oppression, and demonstrated success integrating antiracism principles into action as an HR professional
• 3+ years of experience in a Human Resources function, ideally a blend of employee records, compliance, and onboarding ( school environment preferred)
• Experience maintaining an accurate, up to date record system ( employee records preferred ) or comparable database management experience
• Knowledge of federal and state labor laws, including FMLA, Worker’s Compensation, COBRA, and Unemployment claims
• Thoughtful approach to onboarding programs, ideally with experience developing and constantly evolving a comprehensive onboarding program in a school environment geared toward administrative and building staff as well as school leadership and teachers
• Experience developing professional development programs
• Skilled at interacting thoughtfully with a variety of stakeholders across a school environment
• Excellent judgement with an ability to exercise discretion and impartiality
• Proficient with applicant tracking systems and employee record management systems
• Fluent in email, Google Suite, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, calendar management, electronic and physical file management and personal technology

Preferred:

• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), or SPHR/PHR credential
• Understanding of Missouri school policies and procedures, and required certifications across public school functions

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This position offers a starting salary range of $45,000 to $55,000 per year as well as robust benefits, including medical, dental, pension (vested after five years), school admission preference (discounted preschool and before/after care), and 21 days annually of Sick Time/Personal Time Off, in addition to federal holidays and school breaks. 

City Garden Montessori School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or military or veteran status in accordance with federal law. In addition, City Garden Montessori School complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it maintains facilities. City Garden Montessori School also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws.

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