HR & Executive Specialist

districtofcolumbiainternationalschool; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

District of Columbia International School (DCI) is seeking a full-time HR & Executive Specialist to provide high-level administrative, operational, and HR support to the HR team and senior leadership. This role partners with leaders to coordinate confidential meetings, HR processes, and day-to-day operations.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, discreet, proactive, and able to manage competing priorities with professionalism and confidentiality, and must pass a background check.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• HR experience in benefits, onboarding, offboarding, training, and data analysis.
• Education or mission-driven setting preferred.
• Proficient with Google Workspace and Excel; comfortable learning new tools.
• Strong written and oral communication.
• Excellent attention to detail and project management.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities with discretion.
• Background check clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support for day-to-day HR operations.
• Maintain confidential HR files and records.
• Assist onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Support leave administration and accommodations.
• Prepare HR communications and reports.
• Maintain calendars and compliance tracking.
• Assist recruitment activities and interview coordination.
• Support engagement initiatives and HR events.
• Coordinate executive calendar and meeting prep for the Executive Director.
• Plan and coordinate Senior Leadership Team meetings and events.
• Distribute meeting notes and track next steps.
• Manage bookable spaces with ED and Chief of Staff.
• Update internal calendars and staff hub.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
• Support general administrative tasks for ED and SLT.
• Embrace French, Spanish language interactions.

Skills

Strong communication

Attention to detail

Project management

Discretion/confidentiality

Collaboration with diverse Stakeholder

Background check readiness

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Google Workspace

Excel

Job description

Who We Are

District of Columbia International School (DCI) is a public charter school serving over 1600 racially and economically diverse students in grades 6-12 from across the District of Columbia. We aim to provide our students with a world-class education that empowers them to follow their passions and change the world. DCI's education centers on an International Baccalaureate curriculum, advanced language learning in Chinese, Spanish, and French, and a culture focused on student agency supported by 1:1 technology.

Position Overview

DCI is hiring a full-time HR & Executive Specialist. The HR & Executive specialist provides high-level administrative, operational, and human resources support to the HR team and senior leadership. This position serves as a key organizational partner, coordinating confidential HR meetings, senior leader administrative responsibilities, communications, records, and day-to-day operational priorities.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, discreet, proactive, and able to manage competing priorities while maintaining a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.

Salary Range

$50,000 - $65,000 (Starting salary is determined by education and years of relevant experience)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Prior human resources experience in benefits, onboarding, offboarding, training and data analysis is required
• Prior experience in education or a mission-driven organization strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to use multiple technology platforms, including Google Workspace and Excel, with comfort learning new tools.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Superior attention to detail and project management ability.
• Proven capacity to make progress through ambiguity and handle multiple priorities independently.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse set of stakeholders and maintain a positive, professional demeanor.
• Must be able to pass a background check.

Essential Responsibilities

Human Resources Support

• Provide administrative support for day-to-day HR operations.
• Maintain confidential personnel records, HR files, forms, and documentation.
• Assist with onboarding and offboarding processes, including preparation of employee documentation and coordination of required activities.
• Support employee leave administration, including tracking documentation, deadlines, balances, and related correspondence.
• Assist with employee accommodation and other HR administrative processes under the direction of HR leadership.
• Prepare HR correspondence, notices, reports, and employee communications.
• Maintain HR calendars, deadlines, and compliance-related tracking systems.
• Assist with recruitment activities, including scheduling interviews, communicating with candidates, preparing interview materials, and maintaining applicant records.
• Support employee engagement initiatives, training, meetings, and HR events.
• Prepare and maintain HR reports, spreadsheets, audits, and tracking documents.
• Handle sensitive employee and organizational information with discretion and confidentiality.
• Serve as an administrative liaison between HR, employees, managers, and organizational leadership.

Executive Support

• Manage the Executive Director's calendar, appointments, and other logistics to ensure optimal use of time.
• Prepare the Executive Director for meetings by gathering materials, compiling talking points, and ensuring follow‑up tasks are tracked and completed.
• Monitor and organize the Executive Director's email inbox, flagging priorities, drafting responses, and ensuring timely communication with key stakeholders.
• Support on any logistical / administrative tasks to enable the Executive Director to be more efficient or effective at their job.

Meeting & Event Coordination

• Plan and execute meetings and events for the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), including scheduling, logistics, materials preparation, catering, and on‑site coordination.
• Logistics for all staff professional development days including food ordering and handout (including other similar events).
• Record and distribute meeting notes, ensuring next steps are documented and followed through including for public board meetings.
• Management of bookable spaces for the organization with strategic support from the Executive Director (ED) and Chief of Staff.

Calendar and Information Management

• Support on the updating and implementation of DCI, SLT, and other relevant calendars (including supporting the Director of Communications with the DCI Internal Calendar).
• Support the creation of presentations, reports, and written materials that reflect DCI's tone, values, and professionalism.
• Update and manage the Staff Hub - the internal informational website for DCI.

Other Duties

• Maintain a high level of confidentiality and professionalism in all matters.
• Provide general administrative support to ensure the smooth operation of the ED and SLT.
• Embrace French, Spanish,