Job Description

Since 1966, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) has been dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective educational programs and services to meet the diverse needs of children and adults in Greater Hartford. Serving 33 member districts and reaching additional communities statewide, CREC supports approximately 12,000 students annually through more than 120 educational programs. Our offerings include professional learning and coaching for educators, specialized programming for students with diverse needs, and PreK-12 education across 16 interdistrict magnet schools. Additionally, CREC provides school construction, operations, and cooperative business services, while also delivering programs that help adults build real, job-ready skills.

The Managing Director of River Street Schools Human Resources and Operations will serve as a key member of the program's leadership team and is responsible for overseeing day-to-day administrative operations, human resources functions, site facilities and technology across River Street Schools and Programs. This position leads a portfolio of high-priority projects, ensuring alignment with division and organizational goals to ensure operational excellence while fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performing workplace culture that supports employee engagement, retention, and organizational effectiveness.

The Managing Director partners closely with program leadership, Central Office, and employees to lead site-based operations impacting students, families, and staff. This role champions a strong employee experience by building systems and practices that promote staff engagement, professional growth, and program success. The Managing Director actively contributes to strategic planning and decision-making, influencing organizational direction, and participates in CREC's Leadership Assembly. The Managing Director will drive business transformation by promoting continuous improvement and leveraging data-driven solutions to ensure sustainability and long-term growth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties/Responsibilities

Human Resources:

• Lead and coordinate site-based human resources operations including hiring and onboarding, compliance monitoring, and payroll.
• Partner with Human Resources to support people management processes.
• Provide guidance and support to program leadership regarding personnel policies, procedures, employment and program practices.
• Ensure accurate maintenance of personnel records, reports, and confidential employee information.

Operations:

• Lead and coordinate program-based operational functions, ensuring efficient and effective administrative processes that support staff, students, and organizational goals.
• Develop, implement, and improve systems, procedures, and workflows to enhance operational effectiveness.
• Monitor operational performance and recommend process improvements to increase efficiency and effectiveness across River Street Schools and Programs.

People Management:

• Partner with Human Resources to lead strategic talent initiatives designed to attract, engage, develop, and retain high-performing employees.
• Coordinate employee onboarding and orientation programs that promote successful integration and long-term engagement.
• Facilitate stay interviews to identify retention risks, improve workplace satisfaction, and strengthen employee engagement.
• Collaborate with leadership to support professional growth opportunities and workforce planning.
• Coordinate 30/60/90-day check-ins for leadership.

Leadership and Strategic Partnership:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to program leadership across River Street Schools and Programs, shaping initiatives, actively contributing to Leadership Assembly, and influencing organization direction.
• Provide direct supervision and support to the facilities manager, IT staff, human resources coordinators, operations coordinator, and other staff, as appropriate.
• Provide indirect supervision of staff across the site-based human resources and operations teams to develop and implement consistent processes, building efficiencies and a strong and inclusive employee experience across River Street Schools and Programs.
• Provide data, reporting, and recommendations to support workforce planning and strategic decision-making.
• Lead special projects that advance employee engagement, operational excellence, and talent development goals.
• Exercise senior-level decision-making across functions, providing visionary leadership that drives the success, growth, and transformation of River Street Schools and Programs.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, using data-driven problem-solving to drive sustainability, profitability, and long-term organizational growth.

• Comply with all company policies and procedures.

• Other duties as assigned.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position manages and oversees the performance of the supervisors across the site-based human resources and operations support areas, as well as the facilities manager and IT staff.

COMPETENCIES

• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs work flows and procedures.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Project Management - Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Written & Oral Communication - Speaks and writes clearly; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Speaks and writes clearly and informatively; Varies communication style to meet needs; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Visionary Leadership - Displays passion and optimism; Inspires respect and trust; Mobilizes others to fulfill the vision; Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates.
• Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Accepts feedback from others; Gives appropriate recognition to others.
• Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; Takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; Makes self available to staff; Provides regular performance feedback; Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; Solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); Fosters quality focus in others; Improves processes, products and services.; Continually works to improve supervisory skills.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's Degree (MA) or equivalent, or five to ten years of related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Motor Vehicle Operator's License or ability to provide transportation to job sites, meetings, trainings, and professional learning opportunities as required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Standing (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Walking (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Sitting (frequently, 1/3 � 2/3)
• Reach with hands and arms (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Ability to work outdoors (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Lifting up to 25 lbs. (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Carrying up to 25 lbs. (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Moderate Noise

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Group Health Insurance Plans
• Basic & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability & Short Term Disability options
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Matching Contribution if applicable
• Flexible Spending Account Pre-Tax Savings for Health Care, Dependent Care, and Limited Purpose Post Deductible (if contributing to an HSA)
• Comprehensive benefit time package
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bereavement time & Religious Holidays
• Credit Union Access
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Network Groups
• Access to professional learning opportunities with two fully paid courses through CREC University each year, empowering you to expand your skills and advance your career!
• Benefit from our exclusive partnership with Springfield College, offering a 15% discount on tuition for next-level degree programs to support your academic and career aspirations!

Based on terms and conditions during your employment, specific to your job classification and collective bargaining agreement.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION STATEMENT:

CREC strives to understand and confront the symptoms and causes of racism and prejudice�ranging from biases to aggressions to discriminatory policies, practices, and traditions�that harm people from systemically marginalized groups or that benefit privileged groups. CREC staff and students acknowledge and respect people of all identifiers, such as race, socioeconomic status, gender identity and expression, education, age, ability, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, language, nationality, religion, and veteran status.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To access the job description and salary range document, please click https://www.crec.org/careers/jobs.php