Director, Employee Relations & Recruitment

Director, Employee Relations & Recruitment

Who we are

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. As the largest national higher education association dedicated solely to higher education civic and community engagement, Campus Compact enables higher education institutions to develop students’ citizenship skills and forge effective community partnerships. Our resources support senior administrators, faculty, staff, and students as they pursue community-based teaching, scholarship, and action in the service of positive change.

Today, we stand at a defining moment: we are ready to scale our impact when the stakes for our work have never been higher. We know that higher education has a critical role to play in fostering democratic principles and culture by addressing polarization, strengthening civic participation, and ensuring students are prepared to navigate and shape our democracy. Thanks to the investment of philanthropic partners, Campus Compact is preparing for a period of significant growth and expansion, particularly in the areas of innovation, scaling, and coalition building.

About the role

The Director, Employee Relations & Recruitment is responsible for the implementation, management, and improvement of the Campus Compact’s employee relations and full lifecycle recruitment & onboarding practices. Working closely with the VP, Finance & Operations, the Senior Advisor, People & Culture, and the Senior Manager, Finance, Payroll, & Benefits Admin they will be a thought partner in the development, implementation, and continued evolution of policies, procedures, and initiatives that are aligned with Campus Compact’s people & culture values and practices. They will manage the implementation and management of People & Culture (HR) policies, practices, systems, and processes across Campus Compact.

Additionally, they will work across the organization to inform people-centered HR strategy, blending talent acquisition with maintaining positive employee relations by developing policies, managing complex investigations, driving performance, ensuring legal compliance, and fostering engagement through development and conflict resolution, bridging recruitment needs with a well-resourced, productive workforce. They act as a thought partner, working across the organization and advising on talent management, retention, and culture to align HR efforts with business goals.

Ensuring all teams have the talent and people resources they need to achieve their goals and objectives while building a curious, accountable, caring, inclusive, equitable, and thoughtful culture. This position will also have the opportunity to own and manage particular areas of focus and/or various P&C projects. This position reports to the VP, Finance & Operations, and works closely with the Senior Advisor, People & Culture

Key Responsibilities:

Employee (HR) Process, Policies, & Systems Management & Development:

• In close partnership with the Senior Advisor, People & Culture and the VP, Finance & Operations lead the creation, implementation, and evolution of best practices, policies, procedures, programs, and resources in the areas of employee engagement & support, working norms & expectations, performance management, training and development, policy and compliance. 
• Manage the implementation of organizational initiatives and processes, including position goal-setting, performance management, professional development, engagement surveys, and other initiatives both cultural and operational.
• Work with managers to understand their business objectives and support the development of appropriate talent strategies to meet those objectives, including developing forecasts of staffing/training needs, and other initiatives, as well as the strategic management of professional development opportunities and funds at the manager and administrative level.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Working closely with the Senior Manager, Finance, Payroll, & Benefits Admin, assist with our annual benefits enrollment, health, FSA, etc, with particular management of employee communications and support. 
• Drive employee engagement, development, and retention initiatives, including training and succession planning.
• Gather inputs on the effectiveness of HR policies and initiatives; partner with other members of the Operations/P&C team to make policies and initiatives more effective.
• Responsible for the annual review and update of Campus Compact’s employee handbook and other policy updates and needs, ensuring compliance across federal and state laws and guidelines.
• Manage a thoughtful and compliant offboarding process. This includes working with managers and relevant team members, as well as operations and communications team to ensure a smooth transition. This includes the off-boarding employee experience as well, when possible conducting exit interviews.
• Primary System Owner - management, compliance, and accuracy of:
• HRIS system, TriNet, HR Administration, including employee onboarding & offboarding, performance management, employee data, etc.
• the management, compliance, and accuracy of our Application Tracking and Onboarding System, Greenhouse
• Our EVerify account (i9 verification)
• All Staff HR & Private HR Drive, including our employee file folders

Relations & Engagement:

• Provide key support and partnership to managers and employees across the organization through successful relationship building, with a particular focus on supporting our Manager & Administrative level employees. 
• Instrumental in creating and modeling an inclusive, accessible, equitable working environment that promotes diversity of experiences and perspectives, opportunities for all voices to be heard, and multiple avenues for engagement, participation, and ways of working
• Ensure that Campus Compact’s values, working norms, and agreements are consistent and reflected in all aspects of your work and all P&C business practices and processes - with an emphasis on building trust and clear accountability, encouraging curiosity, practicing explicit decision-making, full listening, regular reflection, and treating others with kindness and respect
• Support the preparation, planning, and facilitation of organization-wide, team, and group meetings including All Staffs, Open Houses, training, etc, as well as assist in the facilitation and participation in the People-Managers Group to build an empowering workplace through effective communication, engagement, feedback, and support
• Working closely with our Events team and planning committee, this position is responsible for managing the planning and execution of our annual in-person staff retreat. 
• Assist in the development and implementation of our accessibility, equity, inclusion, and diversity strategies and initiatives, as well as strategic and consistent communication plans that reflect the language and values consistently in all of our communications and policy documents
• Provide support to managers (especially those not at the non-executive and senior leadership levels) in their practice of holistic performance management and professional development with their direct reports, including clear, actionable, and timely goal-setting, position mapping, current job descriptions, and regular opportunities for check-ins and feedback, as well as quarterly and annual reviews
• Engage with ongoing professional development opportunities, including the support of and participation in the People-Managers, Management Group
• Serve as a trusted advisor to employees, especially at the manager and administrative level on complex HR issues, policies, and procedures.
• Working closely with our VP, Finance & Operations, Senior Advisor, People & Culture, as well as outside partners provide support to thorough, impartial investigations into employee complaints, misconduct, and grievances, ensuring fairness and compliance.
• Evolve and implement strategies for performance management, corrective actions, and proactive dispute resolution.

Recruitment & Onboarding:

• Oversee the full recruitment lifecycle, from job analysis and sourcing to hiring and onboarding. Calendar year 2026 will have a particular emphasis on recruitment, due to a period of growth and expansion (5-8 new positions after this position is hired).
• Develop proactive talent acquisition strategies to meet current and future workforce needs.
• Partner with hiring managers to ensure effective interviewing, selection, and retention of qualified candidates.
• In partnership with hiring/people managers, lead the process, and support the development and implementation of onboarding plans for new hires, focusing on both:
• 30-60-90 onboarding objectives, and 
• Ongoing learning and engagement opportunities that deepen the employee engagement and connection to Campus Compact’s work, organization, and team members
• Support the successful recruitment and onboarding processes of other types of working engagements, i.e. Fellows, AmeriCorps Leaders, Consultants, etc. including contract and workplan development. 

Additional:

• Lead specific HR functional areas and/or projects, determined in partnership with the VP, Finance & Operations, as well as, the Senior Advisor, People & Culture
• Take on other responsibilities as needed and appropriate

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years experience in roles with similar level of capacity & responsibilities
• 7+ years of combined experience working in the areas of focus highlighted in this resume, with proven experience in the areas of employee relations, talent acquisition, onboarding, and People & Culture/HR leadership in
• Experience working in nonprofit organizations, ideally with 20+ more employees. 
• Experience in recruiting multiple, diverse positions in a condensed timeline with multiple roles open at the same time.
• Experience developing and implementing, comprehensive and people-centered designed onboarding program and process, with ongoing training, learning, and development through the full lifecycle of the employee.
• Deep knowledge of employment law and HR best practices, and the ability to identify gaps in organizational or individual knowledge and seek out the information from the appropriate source/partners (knowing what questions need to be asked, even if you don’t know all the answers)

Expectations:

• Strategic mindset with the ability to manage sensitive, complex issues with thoughtfulness, kindness, and respect. 
• A confident communicator and facilitator, who is able to adopat their communication to be effective and accessible to their audience and desired outcome, verbally, written, and otherwise across multiple types of communication channels and expressions. 
• Organization, Time, & Priority Management: 
• A strong project manager who is consistent, highly organized, and can easily manage competing priorities. We’ll rely on the manager to set and meet deadlines, plan and assign tasks, and deliver consistently high-quality work.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret employee and recruitment engagement data across platforms and make action-oriented recommendations to improve our offerings and approach.
• Highly developed problem-solving skills.
• Strong aptitude and comfortability with technology, systems, and platforms utilization, and has the ability to coach others in its use.
• A deep personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

 

Preferred Additional Experience:

• Experience working closely with or within higher-educational institutions/spaces.
• Professional certification, license, training, and/or credentials in the areas this role focuses on or enhances/provides a more expansive approach to employee relations are recruitment work.
• ie change management, generative conflict, emergent strategy, sensitivity and positionality, etc

 

As an employee of Campus Compact you strive to represent & live Campus Compact’s Shared Values & Commitments in both how you show up for and work with your colleagues as well as Compact’s partners and communities:

• Equity: We prioritize full participation and diversity of thought, experience, and background. We center equity in our actions, processes, and practices to uplift diverse voices and perspectives.
• Growth mindset: We consistently push ourselves and each other to do and be better. We are motivated by growth—embracing new ideas, prioritizing continuous learning, and meeting challenges head-on.
• Accountability: We recognize that long-term change requires individual and shared ownership of personal and organizational actions. We own our mistakes, give each other grace, collaborate openly, and hold ourselves to high standards of integrity.
• Responsiveness: We ensure our offerings, resources, and approaches are flexible, grounded in feedback, and responsive to the challenges of our time.
• Transparency: We are direct and authentic within our team, with our members, and with our partners. We know that building trust starts with consistent, honest, and transparent communication.

Preferred Experience With:

• HRIS Platforms, TriNet preferred
• ATS & Onboarding Platforms, Greenhouse Preferred
• EVerify
• Google Suite, especially effective Google Drive management

Primary Internal & External Relationship Management:

• Besides the general work with all employes, more concentrated internal partnerships include the:
• Operations Team
• Communications & Events Teams
• People Managers (especially those at the Manager level)
• External:
• HR Vendors & Partners
• Potential applicants

Qualification Requirements:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function in a satisfactory manner.  The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical requirements:

• This is primarily a sedentary position requiring the ability to sit at a desk and use a computer and phone most of the day. 
• Minor bending and lifting periodically (mostly related to help with events and office management needs)
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Additional Information:

• Position Type: This is a remote, full-time, exempt position.
• Location: This is a remote position with occasional travel required for staff gatherings and Compact Events, most specifically our annual All Staff, in-person Retreat.
• Reporting Structure: VP, Finance & Operations, with a close working relationship with our Senior Advisor, People & Culture
• Compensation Band: $85,000 - $95,000
• Benefits: Campus Compact provides a competitive benefits package, including national healthcare coverage, generous paid time off, and an employer retirement contribution. The organization prioritizes employee well-being and professional development and lives out those values through a flexible work environment, an inclusive and caring culture, and dedication to professional development. 
  • Organizational Breaks:
    • Winter Break: Dec. 24th - Jan. 1st
    • Summer Reset: Week of July 4th

We would like this position to start as soon as is reasonably possible, but ideally no later than Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

To Apply:  

You will be expected to upload a Resume and answer the Acknowledgement and Application Questions

**Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with priority given to applicants who apply by January 5th, 2026. 

Campus Compact strives to attract and retain a diverse and talented staff who will contribute to the organization’s goals, mission, and vision. We encourage individuals of all ethnic, racial, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply. Campus Compact is committed to increasing our team’s diversity, consistent with the values of our network. Campus Compact is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals. It does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), or any other basis prohibited by law. 

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Campus Compact participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Campus Compact will only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.