12 Plus Senior Director of People & Organizational Development Philadelphia, PA · Full time Company website

Apply for Senior Director of People & Organizational Development

For over a decade, 12 Plus has worked with thousands of high-school students to access new opportunities after graduation. Whether it’s attending a college, learning a trade, or entering the workforce, at 12 Plus, we believe in every student’s potential for success. 12 Plus' approach to College & Career Readiness is based on a in-school, whole-school model. Our staff work in the high-schools that our students attend, engaging with every student from 9th to 12th grade. This offers not only the opportunity to flexibly advise and implement programming but also become part of each partner school's unique community and culture. Our Mission is to increase educational equity by building school cultures that inspire academic achievement and empower students to succeed in educational opportunities beyond 12th grade. We invite you to join us in redefining what is possible for our students!

Reporting to the Managing Director of Business Development & Operations (MD-BDO), the Sr. DPOD ensures that 12 Plus staff are hired well, supported consistently, evaluated fairly, developed intentionally, and treated in full compliance with applicable law. The Sr. DPOD serves as the internal expert and point of contact for all HR matters across a multi-state, multi-site organization working with minors in school settings, and is a thought partner to the MD-BDO and Executive Team on workforce planning, compensation strategy, and organizational health.

The ideal candidate is:

• A systems-builder who can design and run clean, reliable HR processes at a growing nonprofit
• A people-first operator who brings empathy and consistency to employee support and accountability
• A compliance-minded professional with deep knowledge of nonprofit employment law, nonprofit tax requirements, and regulations governing work with minors
• An experienced manager who can lead, develop, and collaborate with the Director of People & Culture
• A strategic partner who advises the MD-BDO and executive team on compensation, benefits, workforce planning, and organizational health

RESPONSIBILITIES & RESULTS

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding (20%)

• Partner with hiring managers and the MD-BDO to translate workforce planning needs into clear hiring plans, job descriptions, and candidate pipelines
• Coordinate the end-to-end recruiting process — sourcing, screening, interview design, offer construction — in partnership with relevant supervisors
• Draft new hire offer letters and employment agreements; coordinate onboarding logistics with the Director of People & Culture
• Plan and facilitate new staff onboarding, including orientation to HR systems, benefits, compliance requirements, and organizational culture
• Maintain an inclusive, equitable hiring process and a candidate experience that reflects 12 Plus’ mission and values

Performance Evaluation & Management (20%)

• Aid in designing and implementing a comprehensive and equitable performance review system that helps evaluate staff outputs, areas of growth, and ongoing professional training needs
• Manage the annual performance review cycle across all employment agreement types, including mid-year reviews (December), end-of-year evaluations (June), and ongoing performance check-ins
• Ensure review criteria are clearly tied to job descriptions and mutually agreed-upon goals set at the start of each term
• Oversee and advise on merit increase and COLA adjustment processes in partnership with the MD-BDO, COO, and CEO; ensure consistency with organizational budget and compensation benchmarks
• Support managers at all levels in conducting effective, equitable evaluations and delivering feedback
• Develop and maintain Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) processes; train and advise managers on implementation and documentation when performance concerns arise
• Conduct annual review and refresh of all job descriptions in partnership with relevant supervisors; ensure changes are reflected in amended employment agreements
• Track performance outcomes across the organization and surface trends to the MD-BDO and senior leadership

Employee Relations & Team Leadership (20% of time)

• Directly manage the Director of People & Culture; provide strategic leadership, additional capacity, and senior oversight of staff support and culture-building functions
• Investigate and resolve employee relations issues with appropriate documentation, escalation, and discretion; partner with the MD-BDO and outside legal counsel as needed
• Advise managers on coaching conversations, accommodation requests, leaves of absence (FMLA, parental leave, ADA), and other sensitive personnel matters
• Champion an inclusive, equitable workplace culture in partnership with the Director of People & Culture; ensure HR practices reinforce 12 Plus’ organizational values
• Represent the HR function to the Executive Team, the Board, funders, and auditors as appropriate

Professional Development & Training (15%)

• Develop and maintain an organization-wide professional development calendar in partnership with MD-BDO, MD-Programs, the Director of People & Culture, and site teams
• Coordinate summer training for Site Directors and other site-based staff in partnership with Impact Directors
• Manage the Continued Education Reimbursement program, including the approval process, qualifying criteria, and reimbursement tracking
• Source and vet external professional development opportunities and speakers; coordinate logistics for organization-wide PD sessions
• Build staff learning pathways and career ladders that support growth from Fellow through senior leadership

Compliance: Employment, Tax & Work with Minors (15%)

• Ensure all staff complete required background checks prior to employment and upon renewal, including Pennsylvania or New Jersey criminal background checks, PA and NJ child welfare history clearances, and FBI fingerprinting as required by state law and partner school district policies
• Maintain a clearance tracking system to ensure no staff member works with students without current, valid clearances; flag and resolve lapses immediately
• Ensure organizational compliance with FERPA and other data privacy regulations as they pertain to personnel records and student-adjacent information
• Oversee compliance with FMLA, ADA, Title IX, and all applicable federal and state employment laws across multi-state operations (PA + NJ)
• With MD-BDO, ensure proper nonprofit tax compliance as it relates to HR, including IRS Form 990 staff compensation disclosures, payroll tax filings, and worker classification
• Maintain and update the 12 Plus Employee Handbook (The Blue Pages) annually; ensure all policies reflect current law and organizational practice
• Partner with the MD-BDO and outside legal counsel on HR compliance matters, employee relations issues, and the enterprise risk register

Benefits Procurement & Administration (10%)

• Lead annual benefits renewal and open enrollment process; evaluate plan options, negotiate with brokers and carriers, and recommend changes to the Executive Team
• Manage current healthcare relationships with insurance carriers; monitor plan performance and employee utilization
• Help administer FSA/HSA/LPFSA/DCFSA programs and employer matching contributions; ensure accuracy in payroll deductions and employer contributions
• Oversee the 401(k) plan, including eligibility tracking, employer match disbursements, 3-year cliff vesting schedule management, and employee communications
• Manage supplemental benefits including the EZ Pass commuter program (and southwest PA equivalents) and other transportation reimbursements
• Ensure all employees are enrolled in correct benefit tiers; process benefit changes accurately upon hire, life events, or transitions
• Serve as the primary point of contact for staff benefits questions; communicate benefit details clearly and accessibly