Executive Director of Human Resources at New England College of Optometry

The New England College of Optometry invites applications for the position of Executive Director of Human Resources (EDHR)/Title IX Coordinator. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, the Executive Director of Human Resources will serve as a key organizational strategist and partner for our College and our owned and operated Eye Care Centers.

About the College and our Eye Centers

The New England College of Optometry (NECO) prepares the next generation of eye care providers, educators, and innovators through a rigorous curriculum and extensive clinical experiences. NECO graduates compassionate and skilled optometrists prepared to practice in diverse settings. Located in the heart of Boston's Back Bay, the College is a small, independent graduate institution that currently enrolls students from 34 states and 8 countries. The College has its teaching location at 424 Beacon Street, Boston and three owned and operated eye clinics (Boston and Roslindale, and at Perkins).

Executive Director of Human Resources

We seek an individual who has demonstrated hands on experience in the key areas of Human Resources – Recruitment and Onboarding, Employee Relations, Compensation and Benefits, and Leaves, Performance Management, Compliance, and Training and Development, and Payroll/HRIS. The ideal candidate will also have experience with immigration policies and procedures, diversity and inclusion initiatives, workforce and succession planning, leadership development, employee recognition and engagement, retirement benefit plan audits, and negotiations and employment contracts. This position works hands on in creating and running reports for compliance, and implementing technological improvements to continue on the path to a more efficient HR department. This individual will also serve as a consultant to Clinical Education regarding student concerns that involve faculty and staff.

The Executive Director will promote an environment that emphasizes service, collaboration, and communication, and will partner with administrative and academic leadership to identify approaches and develop policies and practices that increase overall services and support to the campus while also increasing administrative and clinical efficiencies. They will have the requisite level of knowledge, working in partnership and as needed with outside counsel, to ensure that NECO maintains compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and payroll practices. This role serves as the expert on FLSA, FMLA, ADA, ERISA, OSHA, VEVRAA, pay equity, IPEDS, Affirmative Action, Title VI & VII, OFCCP, and all other state and local regulations pertaining to recruitment, employment, visas, compensation, and benefits.

This position requires an individual who is comfortable in a small operationally intensive environment while at the same time able to apply a strategic approach to Human Resources. The Human Resources department has four full-time employees: the EDHR, Benefits and Leave Specialist/HR Generalist, Payroll Administrator/HR Generalist and Recruiting and Employee Engagement Specialist.

The Executive Director also serves as the College's Title IX Coordinator, working with the Deputy Title IX Coordinators to ensure the school remains in compliance with state and federal laws concerning Title IX and the Campus Sexual Violence Prevention Act and the Clery Act. This position ensures training and programming is offered and completed for the NECO Community and conducts investigations and hearings or informal resolution processes, ensures supportive measures are implemented, and prevents occurrence or reoccurrence of Title IX violations or retaliation.

HR's goal is to assist managers and senior leadership to recruit, develop, manage and lead our faculty, and administrative and clinical staff; to position NECO to compete for and retain the best talent; and to foster an environment in which people are recognized for their contributions and held accountable for their performance.

NECO is a non-union environment, with approximately 140 full-time benefits eligible faculty and staff and 210 total. We offer a highly personal, relationship-based culture that places people first. Preserving this culture, while at the same time ensuring that human resources at NECO is compliant with federal and state employment laws, aligned with institutional priorities, attuned to changing workplace demographics, ever mindful of constraints, and continually employing HR best practices are integral charges of the position. In addition, the ED of HR will serve as the business partner to the executive leadership team and departmental supervisors in all HR matters. This person ensures that NECO recruits highly qualified candidates, identifies opportunities for organizational alignment, and integrates technological solutions to enable effective planning, reporting and decision making around existing staff and applicants.

Candidates who possess the qualities and experiences we seek will likely come from higher education, clinical education, or the not-for-profit sector, but others are also welcome to apply and should show evidence of their ability to work collaboratively and successfully within a consensus driven environment.

This person must have previously worked in an HRIS system (Paylocity preferred) and be comfortable understanding the data flow from one module to the next, as well as be able to develop and execute reports as needed. This person needs experiencing in evaluating, purchasing, and implementing new modules of an HRIS system to the community as needed. The successful candidate will have a record of success in leading change while maintaining a positive, supportive work environment, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, excellent communication skills, and a talent for team-building. Candidates should be able to discuss their specific experience in the following areas:

• Strategically plan human resource priorities in support of organizational goals
• Manage organizational change to increase employee satisfaction and productivity
• Identify opportunities for improving, developing and conserving human resources, especially within administrative areas
• Demonstrate experience with and the ability to use technology including an HRIS, data and statistics to guide the institution in planning
• Structure competitive compensation and benefits packages, and measure their success
• Develop, interpret and implement policies and procedures according to federal and state laws
• Oversee, monitor and ensure compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act and other federal and state regulations
• Ensure Diversity and Inclusion are an integral component of our employment practices as well as our culture, communication and engagement initiatives
• Handle grievances and manage hiring, on-boarding and termination practices
• Experience with Title IX policy, processes, investigations and resolutions

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Relevant advanced degree and/or certification in Human Resources (SPHR or PHR) preferred
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible human resource experience, with at least five years at the senior management level.

Please upload a resume and cover letter to apply.

Compensation: $140,000.00-$155,000.00 per year

New England College of Optometry offers a robust benefits program including:

• 3 plan options for BCBS medical coverage
• Mental Health and Wellness benefits
• BCBS Dental
• Discounted vision services
• 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off for sick, vacation, and personal days
• Employer-paid life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability
• Voluntary Insurance: life, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident,
• Voluntary Benefits: employee discounts and pet insurance
• 9% employer contribution to a 403(b)-retirement plan after 1 year of service with no vesting schedule or match requirement
• Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer

The New England College of Optometry is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

PM23

• Bachelor's degree
• Relevant advanced degree and/or certification in Human Resources (SPHR or PHR) preferred
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible human resource experience, with at least five years at the senior management level

Compensation details: 140000-155000 Yearly Salary

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