Strategic HR Director — People Operations & Compliance

Center for Early Childhood Advancement; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Agenda for Children, Inc. seeks a Director of Human Resources to serve as the senior HR leader, owning people operations, employee relations, compliance, and manager support.

This hands-on director role will design HR systems and guide complex decisions, reporting to the Chief of Staff and supervising the HR Manager who handles payroll, benefits, onboarding, and HRIS. You’ll partner with the CEO and senior leadership to shape our people strategy as Agenda grows, ensuring scalable, compliant

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive HR experience with hands-on employee relations and performance management.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, business, public administration, organizational development, or related field.
• Strong knowledge of federal and Louisiana employment practices including ADA, FMLA, wage-hour classification, and investigations.
• Experience designing HR processes such as performance evaluations, policies, manager tools, and employee-relations protocols.
• Experience with recruiting, compensation analysis, benefits strategy, engagement, and HR analytics.
• Sound judgment and discretion with sensitive information; know when to bring in legal/specialist help.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills to earn trust from senior leaders and staff.
• Ability to act as strategic advisor and hands-on practitioner in a lean, growing organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR operations and compliance. Own policies, handbook, and annual HR calendar; ensure Louisiana employment practice compliance.
• Own employee relations and strengthen managers; coach supervisors and maintain aconsistent performance-management cycle.
• Shape talent and compensation strategy; guide recruiting, role design, and market-based pay decisions.
• Support a strong, collaborative culture; lead manager training and provide HR reporting to leadership.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

Policy development

Compliance knowledge

Performance management

Manager coaching

HR analytics

HRIS (Rippling)

Strong communication

Strategic advisory

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

Rippling

Job description

Agenda for Children, Inc. seeks a Director of Human Resources to serve as the senior HR leader, owning people operations, employee relations, compliance, and manager support.

This hands-on director role will design HR systems and guide complex decisions, reporting to the Chief of Staff and supervising the HR Manager who handles payroll, benefits, onboarding, and HRIS. You’ll partner with the CEO and senior leadership to shape our people strategy as Agenda grows, ensuring scalable, compliant