Director of HR & Culture

Equitable Hiring Group•Durham, NC

6d•$109,999 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Southern Service Workers Education Fund Inc. (SSWEF) is seeking an experienced Director of HR & Culture to serve as their sole internal people leader during a critical phase of organizational growth. This role reports directly to the Managing Director and will be responsible for bringing outsourced HR functions in-house. The Director will balance technical compliance, benefits, and foundational policy with intentional culture-building and talent development. Key responsibilities include designing scalable HR systems, clarifying internal roles and responsibilities for a 30-person team, and ensuring staff and leadership are positioned to thrive during organizational expansion.

Requirements

Proven track record in human resources management—ideally in a standalone or director-level capacity within a complex nonprofit, union, or movement environment.
Ability to shift between high-level organizational planning and hands-on, operational systems building.
Working knowledge of the operational and compliance nuances involved in managing multi-entity structures and PEO relationships.
Demonstrated experience embedding racial equity and justice across HR systems, policies, and internal staff support.
Solid foundation in multi-state employment regulations, employee relations, and policy development.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey complex policies and build trust across a fully remote, multi-disciplinary team.
Ability to operate in complex situations and gain trust from team members.
Ability to support team members to ensure they are set up for success.
Willingness to ask questions.
Ability to manage a diverse set of team needs and step outside of job description or comfort zone to help the team reach its goals.
Comfort with shifting schedules.
High ethical standards and integrity.
Knowledge of sensitive information and ability to protect it.
Experience centering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in organizational practices.
Sensitivity to issues of privilege, class, and race.
Dedication to incorporating principles of social justice into decision-making and strategic initiatives.
Ability to offer creative solutions.
Initiative to research solutions to challenges as they arise.
Enjoyment of learning new tools and approaches, and using new technology or platforms.

Responsibilities

Serve as a core member of the Leadership Team, collaborating with executive leadership to align people strategy, workforce planning, and HR budgeting with organizational goals and multi-entity priorities.
Transition outsourced HR support into robust internal systems; design and maintain the scalable infrastructure needed for a growing team.
Uphold and operationalize SSWEF’s commitment to justice and multiracial worker solidarity across all internal practices, policies, and staff interactions.
Design and execute initiatives that strengthen employee morale, foster cross-team connection in a semi-remote environment, and cultivate a culture of continuous learning and mutual support.
Lead end-to-end recruitment efforts across all departments, partnering with hiring managers to define staffing needs, scope clear job descriptions, and attract values-aligned talent.
Build and manage an onboarding and orientation program that equips new hires with the tools, context, and relationships necessary to thrive from day one.
Design and lead a performance review framework, coaching managers on goal-setting, expectations, and consistent feedback.
Facilitate 1:1 role reviews, workforce planning, and internal transitions to ensure staff are placed in roles matching their strengths with clear lanes of accountability.
Serve as the primary lead for internal conflict resolution and workplace investigations, ensuring fair, prompt, and documented outcomes while safeguarding organizational integrity.
Act as the primary liaison to SSWEF’s PEO, managing platform administration, employee inquiries, and external vendor partnerships.
Maintain and refine SSWEF’s compensation framework, benchmarking roles against North Carolina hubs and national nonprofit data.
Oversee staff benefits programs, including employer-paid healthcare and 401(k) plans, ensuring smooth enrollment and ongoing support.
Establish, update, and enforce internal HR policies, employee handbooks, and compliance standards across all operating jurisdictions.