Human Resources Director

Help further our mission by ensuring our staff members are cared for and supported to do their best work in alignment with the organizations core values.

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About Shelburne Farms

Who We Are
Shelburne Farms (SF) is an education nonprofit on a mission to inspire and cultivate learning for a sustainable future. We offer learning experiences to help educators and students create a better world. Our home campus is a 1400-acre working farm located on the homelands of the Winooskik band of the Abenaki.

Commitment to Justice Equity Diversity & Inclusion
Shelburne Farms recognizes that justice equity and access are central to sustainability. We are committed to translating these values into action across the organization by improving equitable outcomes in our culture programs and services. Shelburne Farms is working to create experiences of belonging for all including BIPOC LGBTQ communities people with disabilities and people of all economic realities.

Position Overview

The Human Resources Director (HRD) plays an essential role in creating and sustaining positive relationships with staff and an environment that is inclusive nurturing safe respectful and engaging for everyone who works at Shelburne Farms.

Reporting to the President the HRD supports HR activities and initiatives in alignment with Shelburne Farms educational mission strategic goals and core values. This includes partnering with and supporting the farms management team to embed a culture of equitable practices and continuous learning throughout the organization and to cultivate positive employee relationships a sense of belonging and leadership development.

The HRD ensures that SF has the staff it needs during peak periods by supporting managers hiring efforts and providing well-rounded compensation and benefits for employees and their family members. The HRD works closely with accounting staff to execute hands-on administrative and records management responsibilities including job agreements payroll benefits and safety.

Core Responsibilities

Recruitment and Onboarding: Support hiring managers with developing and executing cohesive and equitable recruiting strategies and hiring processes to meet staffing needs and build diverse teams across the organization.

Employee Relations: Provide support and guidance to managers and staff with questions and concerns encouraging direct communication between staff and managers as much as possible.

Management Team Development and Performance Improvement: Work with the management team and consultants to develop and deliver training to optimize individual and team performance and organizational health. Topics include respectful workplace; safety; role of the supervisor (setting job expectations and goals interviewing removing barriers); interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills; giving and receiving timely feedback; and customer service.

Compensation and Benefits: Ensure equitable compensation philosophy and practices that help attract reward and retain excellent staff. Regularly evaluate and help evolve benefit offerings that add value to team members and their families. Engage with employees to build a shared understanding of total compensation.

Staff Planning: Work with managers to plan for future staffing needs and identify and help address skill gaps.

HR Operations and Administration: Ensure HR-related records and data management systems are efficient well-organized and secure. Maintain an employee handbook that contains easy-to-understand and legally compliant employee policies and reflects the Farms core commitments. Perform required compliance and reporting mandated by state and federal laws (i.e. workers compensation unemployment OSHA COBRA etc.). Participate in relevant work teams and committees.

Qualifications

While all applicants need to demonstrate a passion for supporting employees and helping advance Shelburne Farms mission we recognize that some applicants may not possess all qualifications listed below. We are willing to consider individuals who demonstrate comparable life experience and education in lieu of specific requirements and/or the will ability and initiative to grow into new areas of responsibility.

Knowledge and Experience

• 5 years progressive experience in all core HR disciplines including 3 years in a leadership capacity with a strategic focus in a dynamic evolving values- and mission-driven organization
• Leading and supporting individuals in doing their best work
• Promoting a workplace culture that is productive open empowering and equitable
• Working with coaching and inspiring managers and supervisors
• Supporting equity and inclusion initiatives
• Well-rounded knowledge of HR employment laws and regulations and related compliance requirements
• Human resources education and certification valued

Skills and Abilities

• Recruiting staff for a diversity of roles and operations.
• Building respectful and trusting relationships across the organization
• Serving as the principal HR contact and subject matter expert for the organization
• Adapting HR practices to meet the needs of staff across a diversity of operations services and programs.
• Engaging and developing relationships with a diversity of individuals
• Well-organized and able to track and prioritize competing needs
• Effective communication skills including active listening
• Use of common HR technology for payroll and benefits administration recruiting and compliance

Work Location and Travel Requirements

The HRD primarily works on-site five days a week. SF is happy to accommodate a schedule involving both weekdays and weekend days. Occasional remote work to support flexibility is permitted.

Note: This job posting is not intended to cover all of the activities duties or responsibilities that are required of employees at Shelburne Farms.

Total Compensation

Base Salary: A salary commensurate with qualifications will be offered within a hiring range of $90000.00 to $120000.00.

Benefits: Shelburne Farms comprehensive benefits include:

• Health Insurance (SF covers up to 84% of the premium for employees) or a $3000 opt-out payment in lieu of health insurance
• Health Savings Account (SF contributes $750 and $500 for employees on Silver and Gold plans respectively) Flexible Spending Account (Bronze plans) Limited Purpose FSA (Gold and Silver plan participants) Dependent Care Account
• Health Reimbursement Account (Bronze plan participants). SF provides 1st dollar funding of $2k for individual coverage and $4k for two-person and family.
• Dental and vision insurance (Voluntary plans offered at a discounted group rate.)
• Basic life insurance and long-term disability (provided at no cost to employees)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Plan

How To Apply

Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis and are asked to submit a cover letter and resume for consideration by the search committee which expects to start interviews in June and have the new HRD on board by September.

Prospective candidates seeking additional insights before applying may contact our executive search partner Beth Gilpin Consulting at for a confidential exploratory call.

Required Experience:

Director