Supervised by: Managing Director of Finance and Operations
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Date: January 2025
ORGANIZATION HISTORY
VOCEL is a non-profit early childhood education organization that equips and supports parents, teachers, and school leaders to strengthen early learning in their homes and schools. With a core focus on brain-building playful learning, VOCEL designs and implements group learning programs across Chicago, prioritizing under-resourced neighborhoods that have experienced decades of disinvestment. On a mission to help ensure every child has the foundation to learn, grow, and lead, VOCEL is committed to raising the bar for early childhood excellence in Chicago and propelling children citywide to social, emotional, language, and academic success.
THE OPPORTUNITY
VOCEL places a high priority on workplace culture, and its team members express extremely high satisfaction. Having completed a five-year strategic plan that focuses on the growth in size, scope, and impact of its programming, VOCEL has set a goal to maintain our people-first culture while growing our team.
The People and Culture Manager will be called upon to develop and implement consistent, predictable, and well-communicated processes and legal compliance for VOCEL team members. At the same time, they will be encouraged to work with the Leadership Team to develop and implement initiatives that build on and grow VOCEL’s strong culture.
WHAT YOU’LL DO: ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to more typical generalist HR duties, VOCEL’s People and Culture Manager will help to position VOCEL as a leading joyful, inclusive, and people-first workplace, renowned for attracting, developing, and retaining top talent.
- Manage the employee life cycle (30 – 50%):
- Facilitate the process to attract and hire talented individuals
- Guide Hiring Managers through the process of developing job descriptions, selecting competencies for open positions, determining interview questions, and setting hiring timelines
- Manage job posting and sharing job openings
- Communicate with and guide applicants through stages of the hiring process
- Conduct initial phone screen for applicants, document applicant information and make recommendations to Hiring Managers
- Individualize and implement onboarding processes so that new hires are acclimated to VOCEL’s culture, policies, and processes
- Provide structured follow-up during new hires’ first year to address questions and strengthen understanding of policies and benefits
- Manage updates to job descriptions
- Facilitate annual benefits enrollment
- Facilitate enrollment in retirement account
- Advise leadership team on trends in benefits and human resources
- Be available on an ad hoc basis for ongoing communication with team members about their work experience at VOCEL
- Administration of ADA or other employee requests that arise
- People and Culture (10% – 30%)
- Participate in projects with consultants, contractors, or partner organizations related to human resources, people & culture strategy, talent acquisition, talent development, etc.
- Potentially play a leadership role in managing internal projects related to topics above
- In 2025, this will likely include researching employee satisfaction survey methods that VOCEL could use to better understand the nuances of employee experience; and if relevant, implementing a new survey approach including clearly communicating the change to VOCEL’s team and investing relevant stakeholders
- On an ongoing basis, collect input on employees’ experience (currently via biannual survey through BambooHR), summarize data, and report findings to leadership for discussion and potential action
- Oversee VOCEL’s Team Culture Committees (currently focused on celebrating birthdays, work anniversaries, other individual accomplishments and milestones, and team gatherings)
- Performance Management (5 – 10%)
- Guide supervisors and employees through the annual process of setting goals
- Provide supervisors and employees with reminders and guidance related to reflecting on performance goals (quarterly)
- Training and Professional Development (5%-10%)
- Ensure that all VOCEL employees participate in the required training, per US, Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago laws
- Track all VOCEL professional development experiences and summarize data as needed
- Legal and Compliance (10% – 20%)
- Update handbook on an annual basis as guided by VOCEL Leadership Team, to articulate new policies and processes
- Work with VOCEL’s attorney on a bi-annual legal review of the handbook
- Facilitate subgroup of staff members reviewing handbook through Equity, Diversity & Inclusion lens every three years; update handbook’s language and policies as relevant
- Field questions or concerns from employees regarding policies
- Ensure VOCEL’s office is populated with up-to-date employment information from governmental agencies
- Miscellaneous (5% - 10%)
- Perform clerical responsibilities and other duties as assigned
- Participate in required staff, committee, and/or Board meetings
- Provide support for development events
- Protect the organization by keeping information confidential
- Participate in additional VOCEL initiatives and projects, including culture committees
- Other duties as assigned
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- This role is full-time, with a minimum of 36 hours a week and not to exceed 40 hours per week. The daily schedule can be expected to fall between 7am and 5pm Monday through Friday. Some evening and weekend hours may be required.
- This position operates in multiple contexts: an office environment with wireless internet and limited space and remotely at home. Occasional travel in the Chicagoland area may be expected.
- This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers (laptops), photocopiers, scanners, filing cabinets, and common office supplies as well as software including Google Workspace, Slack, etc.
- This position requires a reliable cell phone with the capability to add apps for communication with participants and staff, i.e., Slack, Bamboo, etc.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be regularly expected to:
- communicate with colleagues
- operate office equipment
- VOCEL offers a smoke- and drug-free environment
- Employee will be required to provide documentation of U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S.
Equal Opportunity Employer. All decisions and criteria governing the employment relationship with all employees are made in a non-discriminatory manner, without regard to race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, military service, order of protection status, physical, mental, or neuro disability, or any other factor determined to be unlawful by federal, state, or local statutes.
WHAT YOU BRING
This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is interested in working in an entrepreneurial and collaborative organization that is highly focused on its mission. Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the preferred qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.
Background and experience we’d like to see:
- Knowledge of HR laws applicable for a small employer
- At least 2 years of experience working in HR capacity
- Human Resources Certification, such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR
- Bachelor’s degree
The ideal candidate demonstrates:
- Alignment with VOCEL’s core values (https://www.vocel.org/core-values)
- Strong attention to detail
- Strong communication skills
- Excellent organizational and logistical skills
- Commitment to cultural sensitivity, equity, self-reflection, and growth
- Strong ability to project plan, delegate responsibilities to team members, take accountability, and follow-up accordingly to meet deadlines and due dates
- Patience and willingness to provide support to others
- Entrepreneurial spirit and flexibility
VOCEL OFFERS A COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGE INCLUDING:
- Salary of $54,380 - $59,200 per year, at 36 hours per week
- Health, dental, and vision insurance (50-60% covered by VOCEL)
- IRA with employer matching up to 3%
- Technology reimbursement
- Mileage reimbursement
- Generous paid time off including:
- Paid holidays with opportunity to swap holidays for personal/religious observance
- 20 days of elective paid time off per year
- Four days of Winter Break
- Up to five paid sick days
- Up to five paid self, family, and community care days
- “VOCEL Fridays” (staff work an abbreviated workday ending at 1pm)
TO APPLY:
- Follow instructions at this link
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted
- No phone calls please
- Deadline is January 10, 2025
