HR Generalist & Special Projects Specialist

Area Cooperative Educational Services•New Haven, CT

About The Position

We are seeking a strategic and people-focused HR Generalist & Special Projects Specialist to lead initiatives in recruitment, retention, and professional growth for ACES and our partner districts. This role supports the organization while serving as a flexible resource for special initiatives and partner district needs. This position supports core Human Resources functions including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, employee support, HR operations and training, while also coordinating and implementing targeted HR projects designed to address emerging workforce needs. The ideal candidate will be proactive, organized, and skilled in both recruitment, retention strategy and staff development practices. The candidate will work collaboratively with members of the department around employee engagement, onboarding, and employee investigations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Education, Organizational Development or Related Field
Minimum 3-year experience in Human Resources
Strong project management, communication, and facilitation skills.
Familiarity with tools such as applicant tracking systems and professional development platforms.
Knowledge of ACES policies and procedures, inclusive of assigned program specific policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Human Resources Generalist knowledge or certification in a related field.
Experience working in public education, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations.
Experience working with schools districts or other multi-site organizations preferred.

Responsibilities

Support recruitment strategies in collaboration with key department hiring managers to attract and hire high-quality staff.
Coordinate job postings, candidate screening, and interview processes.
Support strategic retention initiatives, including onboarding engagement.
Assist ACES and partner districts with high volume or hard to fill recruitment initiatives and hiring events.
Support employer branding and outreach efforts.
Work in collaboration with the HCD department to facilitate onboarding and orientation.
Help departments and partner districts strengthen the new hire experience including first day readiness, required documentation, orientation, and follow up.
Facilitate and coordinate training sessions, coaching opportunities, and team development workshops.
Provide short term or project based HR assistance to partner districts based on identified needs. This could include recruitment, onboarding, process reviews, employee engagement, or temporary HR capacity supports.
Lead or support departmental and district HR projects from planning through implementation as directed. This can be inclusive of initiatives managing a substitute role pool.
Conduct confidential investigations involving non-certified staff in accordance with district policies, labor agreements, and legal requirements.
Collaborate with supervisors and union representatives (if applicable) to gather facts, maintain documentation, and issue findings or recommendations.
Serve as a neutral and supportive resource for resolution, follow-up, and documentation of incidents.
Track trends and contribute to policy improvements and proactive training on professional conduct and expectations.
Champion a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and inclusion.
Partner with department teams and leaders to align HR and development practices with organizational goals.
Interacts in a positive and professional manner with stakeholders.
Participates in assigned trainings and staff development opportunities.
Represents ACES in a positive manner through personal conduct, attendance, and completion of assigned duties.