Talent Specialist

WHO WE ARE

Foster America is transforming the way our nation supports families. Together with communities and local governments, we’re creating a just, equitable alternative to today’s child welfare system – so parents and children stay together with access to the resources they need to thrive. We:

Drive Innovation: We are designing solutions alongside our nation’s boldest governments and communities. Together, we demonstrate that bolstering support for families is an effective alternative to referring them for a child welfare investigation that may lead to the separation of families.

Catalyze Changemakers: We’re building a network of people with the imagination – and determination – to transform the child welfare system. We nurture and connect leaders, growing their skills and amplifying our collective impact.

Spread and Scale Knowledge:
We share what works, so more families and more organizations in more places have the support they need. Our workshops and training allow child welfare practitioners, community leaders, and those who have experienced the foster care system firsthand to learn from our team and one another. 

To learn more about Foster America, please visit https://www.foster-america.org/

The Opportunity

The Talent Specialist at Foster America is crucial in sculpting the talent and culture within our growing organization. This specialist is pivotal in attracting, nurturing, and retaining exceptional talent while ensuring our workforce remains diverse, inclusive, and aligned with our mission and values. As an equity-centered organization, we are committed to fostering a positive work environment that promotes the growth, development, and impact of our team.

Requirements

Talent Acquisition and Recruitment: 30%

• Lead the recruitment process, including job posting, candidate sourcing, interviewing, and selection.
• Develop and implement creative and effective strategies for attracting top talent.
• Work closely with department heads to understand and fulfill staffing needs.

Organizational Culture, Employee Engagement and Performance: 25%

• Implement talent programs that not only enhance skills but also deeply integrate employees into our organizational culture, reinforcing our core values and ways of working.
• Continuously evaluate the impact of talent initiatives on our organizational culture and employee engagement, adjusting strategies to further embed our values and enhance our ways of working.
• Oversee a performance enablement system that drives high performance.
• Serve as a point of contact for employees and external HR support on various HR-related topics.
• Foster a positive working environment and maintain high levels of employee engagement.
• Implement initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Integrate new employees into HR systems including payroll and benefits.
• Celebrate important milestones and provide continuous support beyond initial onboarding.

Employee Onboarding and Organizational Experience: 20%

• Develop and refine an engaging onboarding program aligned with our mission and values.
• Conduct orientation sessions, introducing new hires to our culture, policies, and procedures.
• Plan and implement role-specific training and ensure access to necessary resources and tools.
• Gather feedback from new hires to continually improve the onboarding experience.
• Integrate new employees into HR systems, including payroll and benefits.
• Celebrate important milestones and provide continuous support beyond initial onboarding.

HR Policies, Audit and Compliance: 10%

• Revise HR policies and procedures, as necessary, incorporating insights from organizational feedback, adapting to legal updates, and other guidance. 
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Maintain employee records and documentation as required by law.

Strategic HR Planning: 10% 

• Assist in the development of HR strategies that support the organization's goals.
• Provide insight and make recommendations to the leadership team regarding HR trends and best practices.
• Collaborate with the VP of Finance and Operations in strategic planning and budgeting for HR needs.

Compensation and Benefits: 5%

• Oversee and manage the compensation and benefits program in partnership with our PEO.
• Ensure our compensation and benefits are competitive and compliant with legal requirements.

FIRST YEAR SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE

The Talent Specialist will demonstrate success during the first year through:

1. Effective recruitment and staffing: Fill key positions within the organization, demonstrating an ability to attract and hire top talent that aligns with our mission and values. Success measures: number of vacancies filled, time-to-hire metrics, quality of new hires based on performance and fit.
2. Successful onboarding and integration: Deliver an engaging onboarding program that effectively integrates new employees into the organization. Success measures: new employee satisfaction rates, retention rates during the first year, feedback from new hires.
3. Effective performance enablement system: Implement a robust performance enablement system. Success measures: completion rate of performance reviews, quality of feedback provided, overall adoption and effectiveness of the system as reported by employees and managers.
4. Positive impact on employee engagement: Increase employee engagement and satisfaction. Establish a baseline and target improvement metrics to measure success in this area. Success measures: internal surveys, feedback mechanisms. 
5. Enhanced HR policies and compliance: Update HR policies, ensuring compliance with employment laws. Success measures: reduced compliance issues, and positive feedback from an audit.

By achieving these goals, the Talent Specialist will make a significant impact in their first year, setting a strong foundation for ongoing success and meaningful contribution to the organization’s mission.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in business administration, human resources, nonprofit management, or a related field (or equivalent field experience supporting an executive team). The preferred candidate will have 5+ years of experience in human resources with a focus on talent management. BA/BS required. An HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR) is preferred.

REPORTING

This role will report to the Vice President of Finance and Operations and work closely with the Leadership Team. The specialist will oversee our engagements with HR contractors.

Benefits

Salary ranges from $106,000 - $115,000 and is commensurate with experience. Foster America offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical insurance, paid vacation, paid parental leave, paid holidays, commuter benefits, participation in a retirement plan, paid sick time, and professional development opportunities. See our detailed benefits package here.

This is a fully remote position. It requires prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This role may include up to 10% travel.

START DATE

This role begins on May 15, 2024.