HR & Talent Manager

Forte Preparatory Academy•New York, NY

4d•$80,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Forte Preparatory Academy is a growing 5–12 public charter school network in Queens, NY, serving primarily students of color and first-generation college students. We combine rigorous academics with a supportive, sustainable staff culture. As we expand, we are strengthening our talent and HR systems to ensure every staff member has a consistent, high-quality experience. The Talent & HR Manager leads the day-to-day HR and talent operations across our middle and high school campuses. This role is the first point of contact for staff HR questions and ensures that recruitment, onboarding, benefits and leave processes, evaluations, and offboarding run smoothly. This is an execution-focused role for someone who loves systems, details, communication, and supporting people. The position works closely with school leaders, the operations team, and our external PEO (Extensis). Regular on-campus presence at both campuses is required; remote work flexibility is available for computer-based tasks.

Requirements

3–5+ years of HR, talent, or people operations experience
Experience running HR/talent processes end-to-end
Excellent communication skills with ability to explain policies clearly and empathetically
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
Comfort navigating multiple systems and keeping data consistent
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment
Commitment to an anti-racist, student-centered public education mission

Nice To Haves

Experience in K–12 education or NYC charter schools
Experience with Greenhouse or similar ATS
Experience working with PEOs (Extensis, JustWorks, etc.)
Familiarity with NYS/NYC certification processes

Responsibilities

Manage the applicant tracking system (Greenhouse), job postings, and candidate pipelines
Conduct initial phone screens and represent Forte Prep’s mission and culture
Schedule interviews, demo lessons, and candidate visits
Maintain accurate candidate records and track pipelines
Partner with hiring managers on timelines and selection processes
Execute all new hire onboarding steps (fingerprinting, certification checks, benefits setup, systems access)
Ensure timely completion of documents and compliance tasks
Lead offboarding processes including exit interviews, PEO notifications, and deprovisioning
Serve as first-line support for HR questions (benefits, PTO, policies)
Manage PTO and leave systems; ensure correct accruals and approvals
Coordinate all leaves of absence with Extensis and maintain a leave/staffing calendar
Support benefits administration and annual open enrollment
Complete HR data pulls and reporting requirements
Serve as a neutral intake for HR-appropriate concerns
Document issues, escalate when appropriate, and ensure consistent follow-up
Track performance evaluation deadlines and completion
Maintain accurate personnel files (digital/physical)
Monitor certification timelines and notify staff/managers
Maintain accuracy across ATS, HRIS, and internal trackers
Create clear guides and FAQs for HR systems
Coordinate with Extensis on benefits, leave approvals, ADA-related documentation, and policy questions