Founding Director, Employee & Student Success

KIPP NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC•Raleigh, NC

1d•$80,000 - $100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Employee & Student Success is responsible for designing and leading systems that ensure employees are supported, developed, and held to high standards of performance and integrity. This role sits at the intersection of employee experience and organizational accountability—building equitable, anti-racist, people-centered structures while ensuring compliance, consistency, and excellence across the employee lifecycle. This leader oversees key Human Resources workstreams including employee relations, the KIPP NC Employee Handbook and policy governance, professional development, unemployment claims, and talent performance and integrity systems. The Director plays a critical role in shaping a healthy, high-performing culture where people can grow and KIPP NC can thrive. The Director, Employee & Student Success will sit on the Human Capital Team and report to the Managing Director, Talent & People Operations.

Requirements

High levels of integrity and confidentiality
Bachelors degree required
5–8+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including employee relations and performance management
Completed training and experience in conflict resolution, mediation, and employee disputes required
Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices
Adept at analyzing data, intermediate to advanced skills in Excel
Demonstrated ability to lead complex, sensitive situations with sound judgment and discretion
Experience building systems and processes that improve organizational effectiveness
Exceptional communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills
Must live in North Carolina and be willing to travel around the state
Some travel is required to maintain relationships and attend in-person meetings
Budgeted Travel: 1 visit per school per quarter (no reimbursement for home school travel)
Human Capital Team quarterly meetings (usually in Durham)
School Support Team meetings

Nice To Haves

Masters degree in Human Resources, Communications, Education or similar field preferred
people management / Principal experience a plus
advantageous to live in Durham, Chapel Hill, or Raleigh

Responsibilities

Lead and manage employee relations strategy, ensuring fair, equitable, consistent, and legally compliant practices
Provide guidance and coaching to leaders on performance management, conflict resolution, and disciplinary processes
Conduct investigations, documentation, and resolution of employee grievances and concerns
In collaboration with the Associate Director, Talent Acquisition & Retention, identify trends and proactively recommend solutions to strengthen culture and reduce risk
Develop automated systems within the HRIS and Monday.com that can be scaled and make the work more efficient for the team
Ensure all necessary documentation is filed on employee records on the HRIS for future reference
Build systems around collecting, documenting, handling, and reporting on employee relations situations
Design and facilitate staff professional development that has been developed by KIPP Foundation and is required to implement
Coordinate teacher and staff recognition and awards to celebrate excellence across the organization
Facilitate PD for people managers that targets identified skill gaps and trains them on necessary tools to manage their teams equitably and effectively
Ensure development offerings align with organizational goals and employee career pathways
Monitor effectiveness of professional development and adjust strategy based on outcomes
In collaboration with the Director, Leadership Development, build a performance management process for Teachers, Leaders, and SST members where people managers are held accountable to deadlines
Train people managers on the timelines for performance management to ensure they’re planning ahead throughout the fiscal year
Support the Director, Leadership Development with ensuring performance expectations are clear, rigorous, and aligned to organizational priorities
Review performance improvement plans (PIPs) and corrective action plans (CAPs) for equity, clarity, and alignment providing people managers with approval before implemented
Ensure all PIPs and CAPs are filed on employee records
Oversee and represent KIPP NC in all EEOC claims and employee litigation and hearings including unemployment claims and hearings
Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and integrity
Serve as a strategic thought partner to senior leadership on people-related matters using a people-centered score card for teams, including data on employee relations matters, performance management completion, and staff retention (in collaboration with Talent & Retention)
Use data and insights to drive decision-making and continuous improvement
Build and manage systems that are scalable, equitable, and user-centered
Lead cross-functional projects that enhance employee experience and organizational effectiveness
Regular meetings with KIPP people managers to support them through the employee performance cycle and any discipline they may be struggling with
Work in partnership with supervisors to ensure follow-through on discipline and correct documentation
Own the development, revision, and implementation of the Employee Handbook on an annual basis
Ensure policies are clear, equitable, and anti-racist ensuring we are creating a culture of DEIB while enabling managers to consistently implement policies for all staff. In addition, all policies should be compliant with federal, state, and local regulations
Partner with people managers across KIPP North Carolina to align policies with organizational values and priorities
Drive clarity and accessibility of policies for all staff through Professional Development, making the EH accessible across platforms, and ensuring all staff are aware of the KIPP NC expectations
Compile and track student discipline data across the state
Student Success Indicators - student/family surveys and empathy interviews
Maintain the Student Behavior Response Plan with school and Board of Directors feedback and input
Facilitate Student Suspension Hearings to ensure equity and compliance
Oversee unemployment claims process, ensuring timely and accurate responses
Manage all communications in conjunction with unemployment claims, including representing KIPP NC at hearings
Partner with legal and finance teams as needed to mitigate risk and manage claims effectively
Analyze trends and recommend strategies to reduce organizational exposure
Collaborate with KIPP Foundation to support KIPP Forward initiatives at KIPP Pride High School