Cleveland Institute of Art · 1 month ago
Director of Human Resources & People Engagement
Cleveland, OH
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$80K/yr - $95K/yr
10+ years expThe Cleveland Institute of Art is a nationally recognized art and design college seeking a Director of Human Resources & People Engagement. This role involves leading HR operations, shaping employee experience, and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging within the organization.
Responsibilities
Lead day-to-day HR operations and provide strategic partnership to the President’s Cabinet and leadership team on people-related matters
Advise on workforce planning, organizational structure, and change management
Partner with leadership to ensure HR practices reflect CIA’s mission, values, and commitment to inclusion and belonging
Supervise and manage direct reports within the HR department (Associate Director of Human Resources, HR Specialist), and coordinate with external vendors as needed
Oversee full-cycle recruitment for staff positions, from position development and posting through selection and offer
Provide guidance and consultation to faculty search committees in coordination with Academic Affairs
Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes for staff and, in collaboration with Academic Affairs, support aligned processes for faculty in accordance with the Faculty Bylaws
Administer compensation and benefits programs, including salary benchmarking, job evaluations, and annual benefits renewal in collaboration with external brokers and partners
Support the development and maintenance of a total compensation program tied to job descriptions, performance, and market data
Serve as HR liaison to the Employee Retirement Plan Oversight Committee, ensuring effective communication and administration of retirement benefits
Maintain HR records and HRIS data; lead responsible process improvements, automation, and technology/AI solutions to increase efficiency and reduce administrative burden
Serve as primary point of contact for employee relations matters, providing coaching and guidance to supervisors and employees on performance management, conflict resolution, recognition, and retention
Coordinate with legal counsel as appropriate to address complex employee relations issues and ensure compliance with applicable laws
Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies and procedures in the Employee Handbook and support alignment with the Faculty Bylaws, benchmarking against peer institutions and consulting with legal counsel as needed
Ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws (including FLSA, FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, Title VII, and related regulations) and monitor changes in legislation impacting HR practices
Serve as the staff leader for the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) Council, coordinating agendas, supporting Council initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and regulatory considerations, and collaborating on key IDEA initiatives such as MOSAIC (Multicultural Orientation for Students In Art/Design College)
Coordinate employee engagement surveys in partnership with leadership, including vendor selection (if applicable), survey design input, communication, analysis of results, and support for follow-up action planning
Lead or coordinate people-centered culture initiatives such as employee appreciation events, recognition activities, and selected training (e.g., inclusive workplace practices, supervisory skills, harassment prevention), in partnership with appropriate departments
Support institutional efforts to foster a positive, equitable, and engaging work environment in which employees feel respected, valued, and included
Collaborate with the Office of Academic Affairs on HR-related processes affecting faculty, including recruitment, onboarding and offboarding, grievance and problem resolution, and other procedures in alignment with the Faculty Bylaws
Partner with Cabinet-level leaders and department heads to promote strong team dynamics, effective communication, and operational alignment across administrative and academic units
Partner with Cabinet in holistic, operational and strategic workforce planning, analyzing CIA’s current workforce, understanding needs to accomplish strategic goals and address talent gaps in the short and long term
Collaborate with the CIO and Cabinet in advising on AI integration into CIA’s labor strategy, and in implementing responsible AI solutions across workflows to maximize productivity and minimize burnout
Provide HR data and insights (e.g., turnover, recruitment metrics, engagement findings) to inform leadership decision-making and strategic planning
Manage the HR department budget and monitor expenditures to ensure responsible stewardship of resources
Coordinate with external partners (legal counsel, benefits brokers, retirement plan administrators, consultants, etc.) to support HR functions and projects
Represent HR and, as needed, CIA in external meetings, networks, and professional development settings
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or a related field
10+ years of progressive HR generalist experience, including experience providing direct HR counsel to leaders and supervisors
Strong working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR compliance requirements in a higher education or nonprofit context, including FLSA, FMLA, Affordable Care Act, and related regulations
Demonstrated experience in employee relations, recruitment, compensation/benefits administration, and policy development
Supervisory experience, and ability to successfully manage a team
Preferred
Experience in higher education and/or nonprofit organizations
HR certification (e.g., PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP)
Experience with HRIS systems (Jenzabar or similar) and comfort with leveraging data and technology to improve HR processes
Benefits
Employee Retirement Plan Oversight Committee
Annual benefits renewal
Company
Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art is a school in Cleveland.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
John Tortelli, CPA
Vice President for Business Affairs & Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
Cleveland Business Journal
2025-02-06
Crain's Cleveland Business
2022-03-09
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