Human Resources Associate

About KIPP Columbus

KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a nationwide network of free, college preparatory public schools dedicated to helping underserved communities achieve academic and life success. Currently, 255 KIPP schools serve over 100,000 students nationwide. Since its founding in 2008 with 50 fifth graders, KIPP Columbus has grown to educate nearly 2,000 students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. The school has a strong record of academic growth and excellence, ranking among Ohio's top urban schools. In 2021, 100% of KIPP Columbus's graduating seniors were college-accepted, securing over $20 million in scholarships. Beyond academics, KIPP Columbus collaborates with more than 100 community organizations to provide extracurriculars, health services, meals, and is part of Ohio's High School Athletic Association offering multiple varsity sports. The campus serves as a hub for innovative education emphasizing antiracism, excellence, and joy.

Position Overview

The Human Resources Associate role is critical in providing a supportive and efficient experience for KIPP Columbus team members. Working closely under the HR Director, this position handles the end-to-end employee life cycle, focusing especially on onboarding, benefits and payroll management, HR operations, and ensuring compliance. The associate's thorough execution and attention to detail help equip staff to effectively serve students and families.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage new hire onboarding and employee exit procedures, ensuring timely collection of documents, system access, benefits enrollment, payroll coordination, orientation facilitation, and communication during transitions.
• Create and send offer letters detailing roles, compensation, benefit information, and start dates.
• Ensure all onboarding and offboarding paperwork and licensure requirements are completed, maintaining licensure data in the HR system (UKG) and monitoring compliance.
• Assist with student recruitment and enrollment activities as required.
• Maintain and update employee data in UKG Ready including compensation, job status, attendance, leave balances, and changes to employment.
• Coordinate HRIS updates for new hires, promotions, transfers, benefits modifications, and separations, and communicate changes accurately to payroll and external partners.
• Support payroll processing by validating salaries, attendance, leave, and timekeeping data, and resolving discrepancies alongside Finance and the Educational Service Center.
• Generate HR reports and aid in HRIS improvements, ensuring data accuracy, confidentiality, and providing training on attendance and timekeeping.
• Assist in administering benefits programs including open enrollment, benefit changes, new enrollments, terminations, HSA management, and compliance documentation.
• Serve as a primary contact for routine benefits questions and coordinate with plan administrators and vendors for compliance issues.
• Provide guidance on personnel matters and HR policies, supporting managers and team members with policy interpretation and leave processes.
• Maintain HR files, employee handbook materials, and policy documentation in alignment with organizational and labor law standards.
• Offer administrative assistance for HR investigations, including scheduling, documentation, note-taking, and record keeping.
• Support the administration of collective bargaining agreements by managing labor relations documentation and timelines.
• Coordinate scheduling and communications for grievance, investigatory, and labor-management meetings, and respond to routine questions regarding union-related processes, escalating complex issues as needed.
• Contribute to HR projects, trainings, employee engagement efforts, and other organizational priorities as assigned.
• Prepare reports, presentations, training materials, and workforce data analysis to facilitate HR decisions and operations.
• Provide backup support to People team members during busy periods or absences, including managing the HR team inbox.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
• One to three years of proven success in human resources, employee relations, or benefits administration roles.
• Strong customer service skills with the ability to handle sensitive employee information discreetly and confidentially.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
• Solid understanding of HR best practices and compliance with legal requirements.
• Ability to multitask effectively in a fast-paced, startup-like environment and deliver clear solutions.
• Passion for building trusting relationships with leaders, educators, students, families, and the community.
• Strategic thinker who can translate plans into actionable results, demonstrating excellent judgment and follow-through.
• Detail-oriented, with outstanding organizational and communication skills.
• Resilient, optimistic, and eager to grow within a collaborative professional environment.
• Demonstrates commitment to going beyond expectations to support student success.
• Ability to work flexibly and manage multiple high-priority responsibilities with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Embodies KIPP Columbus values: Imagine, Navigate, Seek, Persevere, Integrity, Responsibility, and Empathy.

Compensation and Benefits

KIPP Columbus provides a competitive salary along with a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical and dental insurance, group term life insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Equal Opportunity Statement

KIPP Columbus is dedicated to equal treatment for all candidates and does not discriminate based on disability, gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics as defined under Ohio law.