Strategic HR Director for Scientific Research

Forsyth; Somerville (MA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

ADA Forsyth Institute seeks a seasoned Director of Human Resources to lead the HR function across research, clinical, educational, and administrative operations. This role combines strategic guidance with hands-on execution and acts as a trusted adviser to senior leadership, faculty, managers, and employees.

You will oversee recruitment, performance management, employee relations, benefits, payroll, HRIS, compliance, and workforce planning, partnering with ADA and external vendors to sustain a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years HR experience with broad HR functions.
• Hands-on HR leadership balancing strategic priorities with operations.
• Experience advising managers on employee matters and in policy execution.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary HR resource for AFI employees, faculty, and managers and provide leadership for the day-to-day HR function.
• Partner with executive leadership and department leaders on workforce needs, organizational priorities, and HR strategies.
• Advise and coach faculty and managers on employee relations, performance management, corrective action, organizational changes, staffing, compensation, and other employment matters.
• Manage sensitive employee relations matters and conduct or coordinate workplace investigations in partnership with leadership and Legal, as appropriate.
• Lead the annual performance management process and support managers in providing effective feedback, coaching, and employee development.
• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle for research, clinical, and administrative positions, including job development, compensation, recruitment strategy, candidate selection, and offers.
• Support workforce planning, organizational changes, promotions, transfers, succession planning, onboarding, and offboarding.
• Provide guidance on compensation decisions and coordinate annual merit and compensation processes in partnership with leadership and Finance.
• Support the administration of employee benefits and retirement programs in partnership with ADA and external vendors.
• Provide oversight and support for payroll-related HR processes and ensure employment changes are accurately and timely processed.
• Oversee HRIS administration and utilization, including employee records, onboarding, performance management, learning, and reporting.
• Develop, review, implement, and communicate HR policies, procedures, and practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and Massachusetts employment laws and regulations.
• Manage employee leaves and workplace accommodations, including FMLA, Massachusetts PFML, and ADA accommodations.
• Coordinate employment-related immigration matters with employees, managers, and appropriate immigration resources.
• Develop and support employee engagement, recognition, communication, and organizational culture initiatives.
• Identify training and development needs and support leadership and manager development.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, IT, Research Administration, and other functions on cross-functional initiatives and employment matters.
• use HR data and reporting to identify trends and support organizational decision-making.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

Policy development

Compliance

Recruitment

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field

Job description

Description

The ADA Forsyth Institute was founded in 1910 as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children (later, the Forsyth Institute), to provide dental care to the disadvantaged children of Boston. While continuing to serve children in need, yet recognizing the ultimate goal is to prevent dental disease, the Institute in 1915 began to focus on scientific research and is today the world’s leader in oral health research. In October of 2023, the Institute joined with the American Dental Association to form the ADA Forsyth Institute, a 501(c)(3) entity dedicated to improving people’s oral and overall health and powering the profession of dentistry through cutting-edge basic research, creative translational science, innovative clinical technologies, and global public health outreach. Consistent with the Institute’s founding mission, the ADA ForsythKids mobile dental program continues to serve children in need.

The ADA Forsyth Institute (AFI) is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and hands-on Director of Human Resources to lead the Institute’s Human Resources function and support our research, clinical, educational, and administrative operations. This is an opportunity for an HR leader who enjoys being both strategic and hands-on. The Director will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, faculty, managers, and employees while overseeing the day-to-day delivery of HR programs and services. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between advising leadership on complex employee matters and managing the operational details necessary to keep the HR function running effectively. Working closely with leaders across AFI and the American Dental Association (ADA), the Director will help ensure that our HR practices support AFI’s mission, organizational priorities, and commitment to a positive and inclusive workplace.

What You’ll Do

As Director of Human Resources, you will lead a broad range of HR activities, including:

• Serve as the primary HR resource for AFI employees, faculty, and managers and provide leadership for the day-to-day HR function.
• Partner with executive leadership and department leaders on workforce needs, organizational priorities, and HR strategies.
• Advise and coach faculty and managers on employee relations, performance management, corrective action, organizational changes, staffing, compensation, and other employment matters.
• Manage sensitive employee relations matters and conduct or coordinate workplace investigations in partnership with leadership and Legal, as appropriate.
• Lead the annual performance management process and support managers in providing effective feedback, coaching, and employee development.
• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle for research, clinical, and administrative positions, including job development, compensation, recruitment strategy, candidate selection, and offers.
• Support workforce planning, organizational changes, promotions, transfers, succession planning, onboarding, and offboarding.
• Provide guidance on compensation decisions and coordinate annual merit and compensation processes in partnership with leadership and Finance.
• Support the administration of employee benefits and retirement programs in partnership with ADA and external vendors.
• Provide oversight and support for payroll-related HR processes and ensure employment changes are accurately and timely processed.
• Oversee HRIS administration and utilization, including employee records, onboarding, performance management, learning, and reporting.
• Develop, review, implement, and communicate HR policies, procedures, and practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and Massachusetts employment laws and regulations.
• Manage employee leaves and workplace accommodations, including FMLA, Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave, and ADA accommodations.
• Coordinate employment-related immigration matters with employees, managers, and appropriate immigration resources.
• Develop and support employee engagement, recognition, communication, and organizational culture initiatives.
• Identify training and development needs and support leadership and manager development.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, IT, Research Administration, and other functions on cross-functional initiatives and employment matters.
• Use HR data and reporting to identify trends and support organizational decision-making.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is an experienced HR professional who is comfortable serving as the senior HR leader for an organization while remaining actively involved in day-to-day HR operations. This role requires strong judgment, a practical and solutions-oriented approach, and the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, including significant experience independently managing a broad range of HR functions.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a hands-on HR leadership role while balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day HR operations.
• Demonstrated experience advising managers and senior leaders on employee relations, performance management, organizational matters, and other employment-related issues.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and Massachusetts employment laws and HR compliance requirements.
• Broad HR experience encompassing talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, performance management, HR operations, and employee relations.
• Experience managing sensitive employee relations matters and workplace investigations.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively with employees and leaders at all levels of an organization.
• Sound judgment and demonstrated ability to independently assess complex or sensitive situations and develop practical solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a hands-on, fast-paced environment.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, integrity, and commitment to confidentiality.
• Proficiency with HR information systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
• Experience in a nonprofit, healthcare, academic, scientific research, higher education, or similarly complex environment.
• Experience supporting scientific, clinical, faculty, or highly specialized professional populations.
• Experience with Paylocity or a comparable HRIS/payroll platform.
• Experience with immigration and employment authorization matters.
• Experience leading HR initiatives within a small HR team or serving as the senior HR leader or primary HR representative for an organization or business unit.

ADA Forsyth is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions or any other characteristic protected by law.