Director of People and Operations

Director of People and Operations

Remote, US

About Deans for Impact (DFI) 

At DFI, we envision a future where every child is taught by well-prepared teachers. We support educator-preparation programs (EPPs) to bring the science of learning into teaching practice; partner with policymakers to ensure that pathways into teaching are accessible, practice-based, and focused on equitable instruction; and equip leaders with the tools to address today’s most pressing challenges in educator preparation. Guided by principles of learning science, we aim to help aspiring and early-career teachers create rigorous and inclusive classrooms where all children thrive.

Our Values 

We believe that a great workplace is one where you are inspired by your colleagues and deeply engaged in your work every day. Six core values guide us:  

• Design for inclusivity – We take deliberate steps to foster inclusivity in everything we do, from hiring to program design to identifying partners. We are attentive to our nation’s history and its ongoing impact on marginalized identities and communities, actively interrogate our biases, and work to create a sense of belonging for our team and partners. 
• Be good stewards – We care deeply about our culture and organizational health, and we expect everyone to positively nurture its growth and evolution.  
• Practice good pedagogy – We use knowledge of content and how the human mind works to create rigorous learning experiences that foster a sense of belonging, agency, and purpose, and we hold ourselves accountable for learning outcomes. 
• Always seek solutions – We take a nimble approach to develop solutions to problems, test them, and then iterate based on what we’ve learned.  
• Transform the system – We take the long view, shifting mindsets and everyday practices in order to counter pervasive historical inequities. 
• Model professionalism – We model professionalism by seeking out feedback and fostering growth through honesty and humility.  

About the Director of  People and Operations

We believe that every child deserves a well-prepared teacher and that making this a reality requires an extraordinary team of diverse individuals who are rooted in shared values and commitment to creating a more just society where all children thrive. The Director of People Operations  will work to ensure strong people and operations systems to foster an inclusive, sustainable, and values-aligned organization. 

Responsibilities 

The Director of People and Operations will:  

Team Learning & Culture (30%): 

• Proactively identify and oversee implementation of tools, trainings, and other resources to support effective and equitable org-wide management practices, including managing systems for monitoring and projecting staff capacity.
• Develop and lead team learning and culture initiatives including designing bi-annual in-person team retreats, conducting quarterly team pulse checks, coordinating weekly team meetings, and  bi-annual performance conversation process 
• Set the vision and strategy for DFI’s approach to professional learning and proactively steward a values-centered team culture that recognizes and affirms the full humanity of each person.
• Develop and implement an annual arc of team learning aligned to DFI’s strategic plan, and promote learning and development by providing coaching and guidance for teammates.
• Manage professional learning and team culture budgets

Recruitment, Hiring, Onboarding, and Offboarding (25%): 

• Implement and continuously improve strategies to recruit, hire, and retain a diverse, values-driven team of professionals who strive to create an environment where everyone is intrinsically motivated to do outstanding work
• Implement and continuously improve organizational onboarding processes, ensuring that new team members and contractors feel welcomed and supported
• Monitor pool of long-term contractors to ensure consistency of experience and values alignment
• Manage and conduct offboarding process, including exit interviews; analyze data to surface areas for continuous organizational improvement

Human Resource Management (20%) 

• Liaise with Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to manage payroll and benefits, and ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal employment-related laws and regulations
• Develop and administer a transparent and equitable total compensation and benefits system, including periodic benchmarking to ensure DFI is competitive within the market and in line with multi-year financial model
• Serve as a trusted advisor and resource for employees and managers, providing guidance and support on all HR-related matters.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures that are grounded in DFI’s core values, serve all teammates equitably, support organizational growth, and ensure compliance with employment regulations.
• Provide guidance and recommendations to leadership and liaise with external legal counsel, as needed, to address complex human resource challenges

Operations Management (25%)

• Create and manage systems and processes that streamline operations and support growth across DFI, including systems for contract management, customer relationship management, and IT operations in coordination with external IT managed service provider.
• Proactively oversee team member equipment, software, and supplies processes to ensure smooth daily operations and manage associated office expense budget. 
• Perform other operational duties to ensure smooth functioning of organizational operations

About you

We’re looking for a people-centered leader with experience designing and implementing people and operations initiatives that foster an inclusive, sustainable, and values-aligned organization. 

We understand that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the key responsibilities and desired qualifications below. If you believe you have the transferable skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to apply. 

Experience: 

• You have at least five years of progressive work experience in people operations or human resources, with time in a lead or managerial role.
• You have demonstrated experience developing and implementing people and operational strategies, systems, and policies in growing organizations and centering equity and inclusion in this work.
• You have proven experience analyzing information and data to drive decision making.
• If you have served as the lead HR contact for internal staff and management providing guidance across a range of HR areas (e.g. employee relations, employment law, compensation, staffing, training and development, and performance management), that’s a plus.
• If you have experience as the people and/or operations lead in a non-profit organization(s), that’s a plus.

Skills and qualities: 

• You love to build relationships and help teammates and organizations thrive.
• You enjoy and excel at effortlessly transitioning from strategic-level vision setting to hands-on task execution.
• You are able to reflect on and describe the impact of your own identity —and those of others—in a given situation, decision, or process. You are able to hear, reflect, act on, and learn from feedback regarding identity and equity. 
• You can juggle multiple tasks across multiple projects simultaneously, manage time and resources across multiple work streams effectively, and deliver high-quality work on time, and support others to do the same.
• You take initiative, anticipate challenges, and proactively pursue solutions to problems ranging from the mundane to the complex.
• You recognize the connection between historical injustices and present-day inequities in education – and want to work to remedy them.

Location, Benefits, & Compensation

DFI is a national remote organization. The Director of People and Operations will work flexibly from a location of their choosing in the U.S. Occasional travel (estimated at 5%) is expected. 

This is a full-time, salaried position with competitive salary and benefits and a flexible, mission-driven professional environment. DFI’s compensation and benefits are intended to support our ability to recruit and retain a diverse and talented team and ensure internal consistency and equity. The salary for this role is $100,000 - $110,000. New hires will be offered a salary at the starting point of the range. To ensure that starting compensation decisions are equitable and transparent, DFI does not negotiate starting salaries. 

DFI offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 12 holidays plus a winter break from Dec. 24 - Jan 1
• 20 PTO days, prorated during a new hire’s first year
• Generous parental, medical, and bereavement leave policies 
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (covered at 90% individual, 70% dependent-only), life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts 
• 401k plan with an automatic 4% employer contribution 
• One-time stipend to support employees’ home office set-up and reimbursement of a portion of ongoing monthly internet and cell phone use, and
• Dedicated funds for each employee to support professional learning and growth 

Application Process

There are six stages of our application process, which will take roughly six to nine weeks between July-August. Our process is thorough because we want prospective team members to get to know our team and organizational values as much as we are getting to know who you are as a person and what you will bring to our team. Read more about the hiring process here.

To apply, please visit https://bit.ly/DFI_Careers 

DFI provides equal opportunity in employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. DFI participates in the E-Verify program to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees.