Director of Human Resources

Clark Schaefer Hackett; Cincinnati (OH); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Employer‑paid life and long‑term/dis–b

Paid time off and holidays

403(b) retirement plan with employer*

Parking provided

Job summary

Cincinnati Opera in Cincinnati, OH is seeking a Part-Time Director of Human Resources to lead the HR function in a department-of-one role for about 25 year-round employees and seasonal staff, with a hybrid work arrangement. The role focuses on employee relations, payroll oversight, onboarding, compliance, and HR operations.

The ideal candidate is a trusted advisor to leaders, will coach on performance and development, manage recruiting and benefits, and maintain HRIS and policy materials

Qualifications

• Five to seven years of progressively responsible HR experience with ownership of multiple HR functions.
• Strong knowledge of federal and Ohio employment laws and HR best practices.
• Experience advising leaders with strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently in a department-of-one environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary HR resource for employees and leaders on relations, performance, policy interpretation, and employment matters.
• Coach leadership on performance, compensation, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness.
• Manage employee relations, payroll, benefits, onboarding, and HR operations.
• Oversee recruitment, benefits administration, and HRIS data management.
• Lead onboarding/offboarding and coordinate with payroll and vendors.
• Develop and update HR policies and deliver training on HR topics.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

Payroll processing

HR compliance

Coaching leaders

Policy administration

Communication

Education

HR certification (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP/PHR/SPHR)

Tools

HRIS

Payroll systems

Job description

Career Opportunity: Director of Human Resources with Cincinnati Opera in Cincinnati, OH

Part-Time | Hybrid

Are you an experienced HR leader who enjoys both strategic partnership and hands‑on execution? Do you thrive in environments where you can build relationships, improve processes, coach leaders, and serve as a trusted resource for employees? Are you looking for a meaningful opportunity to shape the employee experience within a mission‑driven arts organization? If so, Cincinnati Opera may be the perfect fit for you.

Cincinnati Opera is seeking a Part-Time Director of Human Resources to lead and strengthen the organization’s HR function. This role is ideal for an experienced HR professional who enjoys serving as a trusted advisor to employees and leadership while personally managing employee relations, performance management, recruiting, payroll oversight, compliance, onboarding, and HR operations in a department-of-one environment. Supporting approximately 25 year‑round employees and a significantly expanded seasonal workforce, this role offers the opportunity to strengthen HR processes, support organizational growth, and help shape the future of HR at Cincinnati Opera.

As the Director of Human Resources, you will:

• Serve as the primary HR resource for employees and leaders, providing guidance on employee relations, performance management, workplace concerns, policy interpretation, and employment matters while building trust and credibility across the organization.
• Coach and advise leadership on performance management, employee development, compensation matters, workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, and employment decisions.
• Manage employee relations concerns and workplace investigations while partnering with legal counsel and external advisors when appropriate.
• Lead recruiting activities, including job postings, candidate screening, interview coordination, offer administration, and onboarding.
• Coordinate and administer employee benefits, PTO, leave programs, workers' compensation, unemployment claims, employment verifications, and related HR processes.
• Review and oversee payroll preparation and processing, ensuring employee data, deductions, classifications, compensation changes, and payroll inputs are accurate and compliant.
• Maintain employee records, HRIS data, organizational documentation, and workforce reporting.
• Manage onboarding and offboarding processes while partnering with leaders, IT providers, payroll vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure a positive employee experience.
• Serve as the primary liaison with payroll, benefits, HR, and shared‑services providers.
• Support implementation and transition efforts related to new payroll, HRIS, and outsourced service providers.
• Maintain and update HR policies, procedures, employee handbook materials, and compliance‑related documentation.
• Develop and improve HR processes that promote consistency, communication, accountability, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
• Deliver training and guidance to leaders and employees on HR‑related topics.

Qualifications:

• Five to seven years of progressively responsible HR experience with independent ownership of multiple HR functions, including employee relations, performance management, payroll, benefits, recruiting, compliance, policy administration, and onboarding/offboarding.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and Ohio employment laws, HR best practices, and employee relations principles.
• Experience serving as a trusted advisor to leaders, with strong communication, coaching, relationship‑building, organizational, and problem‑solving skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, and exercise sound judgment.
• Experience working with HRIS and payroll systems and supporting day‑to‑day HR operations.
• Ability to work independently in a department‑of‑one environment and occasional evenings or weekends during Cincinnati Opera's production season.
• Experience supporting seasonal workforces, payroll administration, compensation planning, workforce planning, vendor management, HR/payroll system transitions, unionized environments, and/or nonprofit or arts organizations is preferred.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or similar HR certification is a plus.
• An appreciation for the arts and Cincinnati Opera's mission is highly valued.

Salary Range:

$75,000-$85,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Schedule:

Part-time, averaging approximately 30 hours per week with a hybrid work arrangement. Preferred onsite availability Tuesday through Thursday during much of the year, with increased onsite presence during the summer production season. As a seasonal organization, Cincinnati Opera's HR activity increases significantly during the spring and summer months, particularly in recruitment, onboarding, payroll, employee support, and offboarding.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer‑paid life and long‑term disability insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
• Parking provided

About Cincinnati Opera

Founded in 1920, Cincinnati Opera is one of the oldest and most highly regarded opera companies in the United States. Known for its longstanding partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a roster of world‑class singers, and its performance venue, Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati Opera has received numerous accolades and awards, including a nomination for the International Opera Award. Cincinnati Opera presents its primary season from June through August, with paid attendance of approximately 17,000-20,000, as well as year‑round educational programming, small‑scale public performances, recitals, and fundraising events.

Join a team dedicated to enriching our community through the power of opera while helping shape an exceptional employee experience behind the scenes.

Cincinnati Opera is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment where a variety of backgrounds, cultures, orientations, ideas, and talents can flourish.

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