Assistant Director of Human Resources

Catholic Diocese of Gary; Merrillville (IN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Excellent benefits package

Mission-driven organization

Job summary

The Catholic Diocese of Gary in Merrillville, Indiana invites an experienced Assistant Director of Human Resources to lead recruitment, onboarding, compliance, and employee relations for our faith-based nonprofit.

Reporting to the CHRO, you will supervise the HR Specialist, manage records and payroll backup, and help foster a positive, mission-centered workplace aligned with our Catholic mission and parish/school communities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 3–5+ years of progressive HR management experience.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Experience supervising direct reports.
• Strong computer skills, especially Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and retention processes.
• Guide candidates and ensure a professional onboarding experience.
• Ensure compliance with wage-hour laws, FMLA/ADA, and FLSA.
• Supervise the HR Specialist and support professional development.
• Maintain accurate personnel records and files.
• Oversee unemployment claims and related costs.
• Assist with HR data collection/reporting and backup Payroll tasks.
• Participate in annual HR budget planning and program improvements.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Discretion

Confidential handling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

ADP HRIS

Job description

Help build a workplace where people can thrive—and where faith -filled service guide the work.

The Catholic Diocese of Gary is seeking an experienced and people-focused Assistant Director of Human Resources to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity for an HR professional who combines strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices with a genuine commitment to serving others.

As Assistant Director, you will play a key role in shaping the employee experience across the Diocese—from recruitment and onboarding, employee relations, compliance, and retention. Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), you will help ensure our HR policies and practices remain current, legally compliant, and aligned with best practices.

You will also supervise the Human Resources Specialist, partner with leaders throughout the organization, and help foster a positive, respectful, and mission-centered workplace.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the Employee Life Cycle: Oversee recruitment, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, leaves of absence management, retention, and other key stages of the employee experience.
• Support Great Hiring: Conduct interviews and guide candidates through the hiring process, creating a professional and welcoming experience from first contact throughout employment.
• Champion Compliance: Ensure adherence to federal, state, and local employment and benefits/ACA laws and regulations, including wage and hour requirements, FMLA/ADA and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• Lead and Develop: Supervise and manage the performance of the Human Resources Specialist while supporting professional development across the organization.
• Protect Accurate Records: Oversee employee record-keeping and ensure personnel files are complete, accurate, and maintained appropriately.
• Manage Unemployment Claims: Oversee unemployment claims and work to mitigate associated costs.
• Support HR Data & Systems: Assist with employment-related data collection and reporting through ADP Workforce Now our HRIS system. Act as backup to the Payroll Administrator.
• Contribute to Planning: Participate in the annual HR Department budget process and help identify opportunities to improve HR programs and practices.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for an HR professional who is knowledgeable, approachable, organized, and comfortable working with employees and leaders at all levels.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or related field.
• 3–5+ years of progressive Human Resources management experience.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment and labor laws.
• Experience supervising and managing direct reports.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive employee matters with professionalism and discretion.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience working in a Catholic or Christian, faith-based nonprofit organization.
• HR certification such as SHRM-CP.
• Experience with ADP HRIS and/or payroll processing.

Why Join the Catholic Diocese of Gary?

At the Diocese of Gary, HR is more than policies and procedures—it’s about people. Your work will directly contribute to creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and equipped to fulfill their roles in service to our Catholic mission and parishes and schools.

We offer:

• Competitive salary: $80,000–$90,000 annually
• Excellent benefits package
• An opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a mission-driven organization
• The chance to help shape a positive and supportive employee experience across the Diocese

If you’re an experienced HR professional who is passionate about people, compliance, and creating a workplace where employees can succeed, we invite you to bring your talents and experience to the Catholic Diocese of Gary.

Catholic Diocese of Gary

9292 Broadway

Merrillville,IN 46410

Phone: [phone]