HR SPECIALIST

Prospect Hill Academy Charter School; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Prospect Hill Academy Charter School in Somerville, MA, is seeking an HR Specialist to support recruitment, compliance, onboarding, and staff development across the PK-12 district. The role focuses on building strong talent pipelines and strengthening hiring manager capacity to drive an effective, diverse workforce.

You will collaborate with school leaders and the HR team to attract, develop, and retain high-performing staff, manage employee records, implement DEI-aligned recruitment practices,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Education, or a related field preferred.
• Certified SHRM-CP Certification preferred.
• Experience in recruitment and HR operations in education or nonprofit sector required.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience with applicant tracking systems, HRIS platforms, and online job boards.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of HR systems, data tracking, and reporting tools; Power BI preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic recruitment plans to attract qualified candidates for instructional, administrative, and support staff roles.
• Post and manage job openings across multiple platforms.
• Build relationships with universities, community organizations, and professional networks to expand candidate pipelines.
• Attend recruitment fairs and community events to promote employment opportunities.
• Manage the creation and maintenance of employee job descriptions.
• Create and maintain recruitment, screening, and interview materials.
• Train hiring managers on recruitment best practices, including screening, interviewing, and selection.
• Coach hiring managers on equitable, bias-aware hiring practices aligned to DEI commitments.
• Collaborate on the onboarding of new hires to ensure strong transitions into the organization.
• Support hiring managers in effectively managing new employees through the first 30-60-90 days.
• Develop, with the Director of HR, tools, templates, and clear expectations to support early performance and goal-setting.
• Review resumes and applications to identify qualified candidates.
• Conduct initial phone screens and coordinate interviews with hiring teams.
• Support the development of interview questions, rubrics, and evaluation criteria.
• Maintain new hire onboarding with third-party systems and the creation of personnel files.
• Support onboarding processes to ensure all required documentation is completed and compliant.
• Support with maintaining employee records and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws.
• Process employee separations and maintain related documentation.
• Design and deliver professional development sessions for staff.
• Collaborate in new faculty and full faculty orientation at the start of each school year.
• Collaborate with school leaders to provide individualized hiring support.
• Track staff training and education data, including certifications, licensure, and degree completion.
• Manage employee evaluation structures and templates in accordance with state compliance.
• Develop and manage an annual training calendar aligned to organizational priorities.
• Stay informed on best practices with employee recruitment and retention.

Skills

Recruitment

Onboarding

HRIS

Communication

DEI

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

SHRM-CP certification

Tools

Power BI

Applicant tracking systems

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

HR SPECIALIST

120000 - Human Resources Regular Full-Time Somerville, MA, US

Salary Range: $50,000.00 To $60,000.00 Annually

Job Summary

The Human Resources Specialist plays a critical role in supporting recruitment, compliance, and staff development across the PK-12 district. This position is responsible for building strong talent pipelines, strengthening hiring manager capacity, and ensuring effective onboarding and early employee success.

The HR Specialist works closely with school leaders and the Human Resources team to attract, develop, and retain a diverse and high-performing workforce aligned with the school’s mission and values.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment & Talent Acquisition

• Develop and implement strategic recruitment plans in collaboration with the Director of Human Resources to attract qualified candidates for instructional, administrative, and support staff roles
• Post and manage job openings across multiple platforms
• Build relationships with universities, community organizations, and professional networks to expand candidate pipelines
• Attend recruitment fairs and community events to promote employment opportunities
• Manage the creation and maintenance of employee job descriptions
• Create and maintain recruitment, screening, and interview materials
• Train hiring managers on recruitment best practices, including screening, interviewing, and selection
• Coach hiring managers on equitable, bias-aware hiring practices aligned to DEI commitments
• Collaborate on the onboarding of new hires to ensure strong transitions into the organization
• Support hiring managers in effectively managing new employees through the first 30-60-90 days
• Develop, in collaboration with the Director of Human Resources, tools, templates, and clear expectations to support early performance, feedback, and goal-setting
• Review resumes and applications to identify qualified candidates
• Conduct initial phone screens and coordinate interviews with hiring teams
• Support the development of interview questions, rubrics, and evaluation criteria

Onboarding, HR Operations & Compliance

• Manage new hire onboarding with third-party systems and the creation of personnel files
• Support onboarding processes to ensure all required documentation is completed and compliant
• Support with maintaining employee records and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws
• Process employee separations and maintain related documentation

Training & Professional Development

• Support the development, implementation, and delivery of new employee orientation and onboarding programs in collaboration with the Human Resources team
• Design and deliver professional development sessions (in-person and virtual) for staff
• Collaborate in new faculty and full faculty orientation at the start of each school year
• Collaborate with school leaders and instructional teams to provide individualized hiring support
• Track staff training and education data, including certifications, licensure, and degree completion
• Manage employee evaluation structures and templates in accordance with state compliance
• Develop and manage an annual training calendar aligned to organizational priorities
• Stay informed on best practices with employee recruitment and retention

Data, Reporting & Administrative Support

• Maintain accurate records of recruitment, compliance, onboarding, and training activities
• Develop recruitment and workforce reports to support leadership decision-making
• Create and maintain employee data trackers and dashboards
• Manage recruitment platforms and HR systems to ensure data accuracy and reporting
• Lead or contribute to HR projects related to talent systems, compliance, and process improvement
• Assist with additional HR initiatives as needed

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Partner with the Director of Human Resources to ensure recruitment and hiring practices prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Promote equitable hiring practices and inclusive candidate experiences

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Education, or a related field preferred
• Certified SHRM-CP Certification preferred

Experience

• Prior experience in recruitment, HR operations in an education or nonprofit sector is required
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
• Experience with applicant tracking systems, HRIS platforms, and online job boards
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite
• Knowledge of HR systems, data tracking, and reporting tools; Power BI preferredKnowledge of record-keeping requirements for state and federal compliance and auditing
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Experience working in charter, urban public school, or multi-school network settings preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

• Ability to compile and maintain accurate and complete records with strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, efficiently, and with a high degree of accuracy
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills