HR Manager, Leaves & Workplace Mental Health
Description
Please note: a cover letter is required for this position. Please tell us about your interest in working for KIPP!
________________________________________________________________
Position Summary
In order to advance educational equity, KIPP Northern California strives to be a pioneer in implementing holistic, evidence-based, accessible, and community-oriented systems to support the wellbeing of staff, who can then better create joyful, academically excellent schools that enable the wellbeing of students and families. Reporting to the Associate Director of Human Resources, the Manager of Leaves and Workplace Mental Health is responsible for providing leadership, independent judgment, management decisions and direction in two program areas: Leaves of Absences and the Mental Health for All Initiative.
The Manager serves as the primary contact for staff absences and leave requests, managing the Leave of Absence platform and ensuring compliance with relevant laws. They handle all leave-related administrative processes, including eligibility determination, medical certification, and coordination of return-to-work plans. Additionally, this role involves advising on the interaction of leave laws with other benefits and maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information.
In regard to the Mental Health for All Initiative, the manager develops and implements strategies to enhance employee mental health programs, providing leadership and expertise in workplace mental health practices. They also increase awareness of mental health resources, support crisis response efforts, and suggest policy improvements to promote a mentally healthy workplace.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience:
- 3 years of experience in human resources, program management, organizational health and/or workplace culture development.
- Experience in learning and development, facilitation, and/or adult learning.
- Extensive knowledge of the leave requirements and other legal protections afforded by the FMLA, ADA, and other applicable laws.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Public Health, Education, Organizational Development, or related field experience required.
- HR certification preferred (PHR,SPHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP)
- Completion of specialized certification or training on FMLA/leave administration is a plus.
Knowledge/skills required:
- Experience in Human Resources, or Workplace Wellness Programs interpreting laws and regulations, and exercising independent judgment in the application of defined principles, practices, and regulations.
- Facilitation and presentation skills - Develops and articulately delivers compelling and professional formal presentations to group audiences.
- Ability to lead professional development training and coaching.
- Experience in K-12 education and educational equity is preferred
- Experience with envisioning and developing programs and implementation with multiple stakeholders
- Demonstrated flexibility and focus on results when situations change unexpectedly
- Demonstrated commitment to educational equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging
- Ability to translate between an understanding of the micro, individual wellbeing perspective and systems change
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of leaves, ADA requirements and federal and state laws regulating leaves of absences (FMLA, CFRA, PDL etc.)
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Leaves of Absence
- Serves as the initial point of contact for staff absences and leave of absence requests.
- Serves as the subject matter expert for leave of absences with guidance and consultation from legal.
- Manages Leave of Absence Administrator platform- responsible for entering and revising data in platform, generates information and reports as requested according to established timelines.
- Manages Leave of Absence Administrator vendor
- Communicates with employees regarding their needs for leave and/or modified work schedules. Ensures that employees are aware of their responsibilities and of any documentation and notice required to qualify for and to take leave.
- Handles all leave administration processes from the employee's initial notice of the need for leave to the return to work. This includes gathering and completing all required paperwork, determining leave eligibility, designating leave as appropriate, requesting medical certification as needed, and accounting for intermittent and reduced schedule leave use.
- Maintains reasonable communication with employees on leave to facilitate smooth and timely return to work; relays communication between employees and their managers during leave within reason.
- Advises managers and employees on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off, workers compensation, and short-term and long-term disability benefits.
- Facilitates other requests, which can include accommodation under the ADA.
- Oversees the return-to-work process for employees returning from extended FMLA, workers compensation, or other leave(s).
- Acts as a liaison between employer, staff and payroll department for the purposes of determining leave eligibility under state and federal laws, and following organizational policies; obtaining medical certifications and following state and federal requirements for documentation and leave tracking.
- Processes state agency employment verifications related to leave of absences
- Drafts and/or recommends revisions to company leave policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
- Uses research and data to inform plans and suggest process improvements
- Maintains confidentiality of sensitive information, ensures compliance with HIPAA.
Mental Health For All Initiative
- Strategizes and creates action plans to grow and enhance programs that support employee mental health.
- Provide visionary leadership to influence organization leaders and create shared ownership of employee wellbeing.
- Serve as a content expert in mentally healthy workplace practices
- Makes independent decisions and provides direction to others in the development and management of the assigned areas Mental Health for All Initiatives.
- In coordination with Directors/Associate Directors, creates and implements development program that includes: workshops, trainings, seminars, professional skills trainings, staff committee oversight
- Increases awareness among employees on available mental health resources and supports.
- Supports emergency preparedness and crisis response efforts relating to individual employee mental health challenges and events impacting employee mental health.
- Identifies policy and procedure changes for assigned program areas, suggests and implements suggested changes to the program with supervisor approval.
- Liaise and support between staff members and Headspace Health, Kaiser and KIPP Benefits Advocate Center (BAC).
Other duties as assigned.
Physical, Mental and Environmental Demands
Physical: Ability to navigate office and school campuses, and hold meetings in different spaces. Traditionally, much of the day involves sitting. Ability to access and utilize technology. Occasional lifting/carrying of equipment 1-20 lbs. Physical agility to move self in various positions in order to execute duties effectively, which may include kneeling, walking, pushing/pulling, squatting, twisting, turning, bending, stooping and reaching overhead
Mental: Stress of deadlines and normal work standards, ability to analyze problems and generate alternatives, work with interruptions, concentrate for long periods of time, read, calculate, perform routine math problems, memorize and recall objects and people.
Environmental: Office environment subject to constant interruptions and distractions. Frequent school environment and travel. Adhere to KIPP’s health and safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC, CDE, and public health agencies’ recommendations.
Classification
This is a full-time exempt position based on a full year calendar cycle and time off, located in our Regional Support Office with frequent travel to schools.
The KIPP Regional Support Office is currently operating in a hybrid fashion. Most positions can expect to work in person 2-3 days per week and remotely the remaining days, subject to change based on the needs of the role.
About KIPP Public Schools Northern California
We are a thriving nonprofit network of 22 free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.
Our student community consists of over 7,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San Jose, Redwood City, and Stockton. 79% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 23% are multilingual learners, and 10% have special needs. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students’ diversity.
Compensation
KIPP Northern California is dedicated to you and your family's well-being! We offer a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and transportation benefits.
We benchmark annually against comparably-sized non-profit organizations in the regions where we operate, to offer competitive salaries. The salary range for this position is between $87,000 and $105,000. Most candidates would be compensated at $93,000.
How to Apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume by clicking apply on this page.
Please note: a cover letter is required for this position. Please tell us about your interest in working for KIPP!
KIPP Northern California Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, color, national origin or ancestry, cultural background, religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital/registered domestic partner status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, primary language, citizenship or immigration status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.