Director HR

Ascend Learning; Leawood (KS); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and generous paid time off

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

401(k) employer matching program

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Ascend Learning is seeking a Director of Human Resources to serve as a strategic advisor across corporate functions. This role involves aligning people strategy with business priorities to drive effectiveness and performance in a hybrid work setting between Leawood, Kansas, and Burlington, MA. Candidates should have over 10 years of progressive HR experience with strong strategic thinking and data analytics skills. The position includes benefits like flexible paid time off and 401(k) matching, encouraging a vibrant workplace culture.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including HR Business Partner roles.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Ability to influence, coach, and advise senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior operations leaders.
• Diagnose organizational challenges using data insights.
• Lead organization design and operating model evolution.

Skills

HR Business Partner experience

Strategic thinking

Data analytics

Change leadership

Executive presence

Coaching skills

Employee relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in human resources or business

High school diploma or GED

Job description

What You’ll Do

The Director Human Resources serves as a strategic advisor and thought partner to senior leaders across key corporate operations functions. This role aligns people strategy with business priorities to drive organizational effectiveness, leadership capability, and scalable performance in complex, fast‑paced environments. Operating with a strong enterprise mindset, the Director balances immediate business needs with long‑term workforce and organizational health. As a member of the HRBP team, this role influences outcomes at scale through trusted leadership partnership and data‑driven insight. Your leadership will be pivotal in nurturing our culture and guiding our talent to new heights of success.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior operations leaders, translating business strategy into integrated people strategies
• Diagnose organizational challenges and opportunities using data‑informed insights to drive sustainable performance
• Partner with leaders on workforce planning, capability needs, and operating rhythm to support current and future business demands
• Lead organization design and operating model evolution, including role clarity, spans of control, and team effectiveness
• Guide leaders through change initiatives such as restructures, growth, integration, and transformation
• Guide organization through performance management, succession planning, leadership development, and internal mobility
• Provide expert guidance on complex employee relations matters, investigations, performance issues, and workplace concerns
• Collaborate with HR Center of Excellence (COEs) to deliver cohesive, scalable enterprise solutions and contribute to enterprise‑wide HR initiatives

Where You’ll Work

This position will work a hybrid schedule from our Burlington, MA office location preferred. Hybrid work from our Leawood, Kansas office location or remote will be considered within the United States. Working Eastern and/or Central time zone hours is required.

How You’ll Spend Your Time

• Service as a trusted advisor to senior operations leaders, translating business strategy into integrated people strategies
• Diagnose organizational challenges and opportunities using data‑informed insights to drive sustainable performance
• Partner with leaders on workforce planning, capability needs, and operating rhythm to support current and future business demands
• Lead organization design and operating model evolution, including role clarity, spans of control, and team effectiveness
• Guide leaders through change initiatives such as restructures, growth, integration, and transformation
• Guide organization through performance management, succession planning, leadership development, and internal mobility
• Provide expert guidance on complex employee relations matters, investigations, performance issues, and workplace concerns
• Collaborate with HR Center of Excellence (COEs) to deliver cohesive, scalable enterprise solutions and contribute to enterprise‑wide HR initiatives

What You’ll Need

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including significant experience in HR Business Partner roles supporting complex operations
• Proven ability to influence, coach, and advise senior leaders through ambiguity and change
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen with an enterprise mindset
• Strong ability to utilize data analytics to drive decision‑making and measure effectiveness
• Experience supporting corporate operations or similarly complex, matrixed environments
• Expertise in organization effectiveness, change leadership, and workforce planning
• Executive presence with strong judgment and decision‑making capability
• High emotional intelligence and advanced coaching skills
• Solid knowledge of employment law, employee relations, and HR best practices
• Proven experience in merger and acquisition due diligence and integrations
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex initiatives in a fast‑paced, matrixed organization
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or other areas combined with relevant work experience is preferred. High school diploma or GED required

Benefits

• Flexible and generous paid time off
• Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• 401(k) employer matching program
• Parental leave
• Wellness resources
• Charitable matching program
• On‑site workout facilities (Leawood, Gilbert, Burlington)
• Community outreach groups
• Tuition reimbursement

Legal Statements

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S.-based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.