Director of People and Culture

Mystic River Watershed Association (Positively Partners)

Job Description

TITLE: Director of People and Culture
SALARY: $90,000 - $105,000 per year, commensurate with experience
LOCATION: This position is located in Arlington, MA with a hybrid work opportunity
JOB CLASSIFICATION: Full-time, Exempt
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
SUPERVISION RESPONSIBILITIES: This position supervises consultants as needed

ABOUT THE MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) was founded in 1972. Our vision is a vibrant, healthy, and resilient Mystic River watershed for the benefit of all our community members. To achieve this, MyRWA protects water quality, restores important habitats, builds climate resilience, transforms parks and paths, and inspires youth and community members. Learn more.

Our Mystic Greenways program creates and connects 25 miles of parks and paths along the Mystic River and its tributaries. Our education program engages over 1,000 youth and families in STEAM education focused on nature close to home. Hundreds of volunteers help us document and improve water quality, river herring, and urban heat islands, as well as help reduce trash and remove invasive weeds. Finally, MyRWA founded and co-leads the Resilient Mystic Collaborative, a watershed-wide partnership among cities and towns to protect people and places from climate change.

This is an exciting time to join a highly collaborative and dedicated team. MyRWA has a staff of 19 team members, a dedicated Board of Directors, and an annual budget of more than $5 million. We are deeply committed to incorporating racial equity and justice throughout our programs and operations. This commitment is at the heart of everything we do, inspiring us to create a more inclusive and just community.

THE POSITION

The Director of People and Culture is a change leader, forwarding and enhancing MyRWA’s organizational development and commitment to a supportive and inclusive work environment. This person will lead MyRWA’s human resources, organizational development, and employee engagement. The Director will be part of the leadership team and will align people strategies with our mission and strategic goals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of People and Culture will lead MyRWA’s work in the following areas. This will involve delegating to employee and board teams, as well as consultants as needed.

Organizational Culture and Development

Champion a positive, inclusive, and engaging organizational culture
Develop and implement initiatives that promote cultural competency, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Facilitate regular culture and engagement assessments and implement strategies based on feedback.

Strategic HR Management

Develop and execute HR strategies that support the organization’s mission and objectives.
Participate in strategic planning and provide HR insights to support organizational goals.
Manage the HR budget effectively.

Talent and Acquisition and Retention

Oversee the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes.
Develop and implement retention strategies to maintain a high level of employee satisfaction and reduce turnover.
Collaborate with managers to identify and address staffing needs.

Employee Engagement and Development

Create and manage programs that enhance employee engagement and professional development.
Oversee performance management systems, including regular performance reviews and development plans.
Implement training programs to enhance skills and leadership capabilities across the organization.

Employee Relations and Support

Serve as a trusted advisor to employees and management on HR-related issues.
Mediate conflicts and provide solutions to workplace issues.
Ensure the well-being of employees through support programs and initiatives.

Policy Development and Compliance

Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies and procedures.
Ensure compliance with all relevant labor laws and regulations.
Conduct regular HR audits to maintain best practices and legal compliance.

Compensation and Benefits

Oversee the administration of compensation and benefits programs.
Ensure competitive compensation practices through market research and analysis.
Manage relationships with benefits providers and ensure efficient benefits administration.

HR Administration

Maintain accurate and confidential employee records.
Prepare and analyze HR metrics and reports for management.
Oversee the implementation and maintenance of HR systems and technologies.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We know people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below.

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or other relevant certification (PHR/SPHR, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP), work, education, or lived experience.
7+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership role. Experience in the nonprofit sector is a plus.
Deep knowledge of HR, People Ops, DEI and Organizational Development (OD) best practices rooted in equity and justice and demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and development.
A skilled people manager and leader who models integrity, accountability, trustworthiness, and empathy with deep self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
Strong commitment to and experience in developing a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce and working effectively with people with different work styles and backgrounds.
Exceptional organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Experience in training and development to achieve individual and organizational goals.
Sound judgment in handling sensitive and confidential information
Ability to work independently and as a team member, meeting deadlines and prioritizing tasks.
Proficiency in Microsoft, and Google platforms.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Boston, MA. The salary range for this role is $90,000 to $105,000 dependent on experience and skills. Our competitive benefits include,

80% coverage of health insurance premiums.
Paid time off policy (15 days in your first year, 20 days in your second year).
12 paid holidays and 12 sick paid days per year.
Immediate eligibility for participation in a 401k retirement plan with a 4% employer match.
Paid parental leave.

Learn more about the benefits HERE.

LOCATION AND WORK EXPECTATIONS

We are a hands-on team and seek employees who are passionate about our work and service to our community. We are currently working in a hybrid format. The expectation for this position is a minimum 2 days per week in the office.

We continue to adapt to safety protocols related to COVID-19 as we understand them. For the safety of the community, all MyRWA employees are required to be vaccinated.

Our office is located in the town center of Arlington, Massachusetts. Free street parking and bike parking is available next to our office, which is a 1-minute walk from the 77 and 79 bus lines on Massachusetts Avenue. Local travel within the watershed area is anticipated, including opportunities to work at external events. This position is a total of 40 hours per week, with typical hours being Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Staff members are expected to flex time appropriately.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a resume and one page on why you’d be a good fit for the job through the application portal run by our recruitment partners at Positively Partners. For confidential inquiries or for assistance in completing the application, please contact Jung Yun at jyun@positivelypartners.org. All applicants will receive a response to their application.

Positively Partners is committed to conducting an equitable, accessible assessment process.If you would like to request accommodation during the interview process, please email search@positivelypartners.org. Requests for accommodation will be handled confidentially.

Candidates who advance should expect to have a phone interview with the recruitment team at Positively Partners, followed by a virtual interview with the hiring manager, Patrick Herron, the Executive Director of MyWRA. A final interview will include opportunities to meet and engage with the MyWRA team more broadly. Expected start date for this position is Fall 2024.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
If you see yourself in this job description but don’t feel like you meet every single criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway! Research shows that individuals from historically marginalized groups tend to self-select out of opportunities at higher rates. We take a holistic approach to all of our hiring practices and want to hire those who best align with our mission and goals.

MyRWA seeks to be representative of the people we serve in our watershed at all job levels. MyRWA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its program or activities. We are an equal-opportunity employer and encourage applications from people of color, LGBTQIA people, people living with disabilities, military veterans, re-entry citizens, and other underrepresented populations. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.