Human Resources Manager

About the School

Kennedy International School provides a bilingual, well-rounded education for its students from preschool through 12th grade. We pride ourselves on the strength of our faculty, the diversity of our student body, and our cultural richness. Through our individualized approach to instruction, thanks to our small student-teacher ratio, students are encouraged to leverage their personal strengths and passions as they develop their language and academic knowledge.

Position overview

Under the direction of the Head of School, the Human Resources Manager oversees the School’s day-to-day human resources operations and supports a positive, collaborative workplace culture.

This position is responsible for employee relations, recruitment, onboarding, compliance, payroll and benefits administration, performance management, and staff engagement initiatives across the School community.

The ideal candidate will support the mission and values of Kennedy International School and contribute positively to a bilingual and international community.

The Human Resources Manager is a full-time exempt, fully in-person position. Remote or hybrid work arrangements are not available for this role.

Key responsibilities

Human Resources Administration & Employee Relation

§  Maintain the employee handbook, HR policies, procedures, and personnel forms.

§  Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations.

§  Maintain accurate and confidential employee records.

§  Serve as a resource to employees and administrators on HR matters.

§  Support a positive workplace culture.

§  Assist leadership with employee relations matters and workplace concerns.

§  Prepare HR reports and internal data summaries.

§  Remain current on HR practices and employment law developments.

Recruitment, Hiring & Onboarding

§  Support all phases of recruitment and hiring for faculty and staff.

§  Draft and post job descriptions and employment advertisements.

§  Coordinate candidate screening, interviews, and reference checks.

§  Verify credentials, background checks, and employment documentation.

§  Oversee onboarding, orientation, and benefits enrollment for new hires.

§  Manage visa and immigration processes for international employees.

§  Coordinate with immigration attorneys, sponsors, and employees regarding visa matters.

Payroll, Benefits & Employee Support

§  Manage payroll processing for exempt, non-exempt, and part-time employees.

§  Administer employee benefits programs and related communication.

§  Manage employee leave administration and compliance requirements.

§  Oversee workers’ compensation procedures and documentation.

§  Respond to employee questions regarding payroll, benefits, and leave.

Professional Development & Performance Management

§  Maintain and review job descriptions.

§  Support employee classification practices.

§  Assist with employee evaluation and performance review processes.

§  Coordinate professional development and staff training opportunities.

§  Develop onboarding and training resources.

Community Engagement & Staff Culture

§  Support initiatives that strengthen employee engagement and morale.

§  Oversee faculty appreciation initiatives and community events.

§  Promote a welcoming workplace culture.

Qualifications

§  Bachelor’s degree required; HR certification preferred.

§  Minimum of 5 years of human resources experience required.

§  Previous human resources experience in education preferred.

§  Strong organizational and communication skills.

§  Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

§  Knowledge of employment law, payroll, and benefits administration.

§  Experience in a multicultural environment preferred.

§  Proficiency with HR and payroll systems.

§  French and/or Japanese language proficiency is a plus.

The annual salary range for this position is $110,000 to $115,000.

Benefits include private medical premium partially covered (80%), dental, vision, commuter benefits, Flexible Savings Account (FSA), and 401K retirement plan.