About the Role
Your After School is hiring a People & Talent Manager, a newly elevated leadership role that reflects our commitment to building a strong, values-driven team as we grow. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll be our sole HR professional and the go-to person for all people matters across three workforce groups: back-office employees, Site Directors, and independent contractor instructors who deliver programming at 20+ school sites across Connecticut and New York. This role is based in Connecticut and supports staff in both states.
You won't be stepping into fully built infrastructure; you'll be building it. Many of our HR, onboarding, payroll, and compliance processes are in early or informal stages. You'll design them, document them, train the team on them, and keep improving them as we grow. Right now, much of the hands-on work still sits with this role. As processes mature and your team develops, you'll shift that work to your direct reports and focus on strategy, compliance, employee relations, and leadership.
What You'll Do
Lead the People & Talent Team
Manage a Scheduling Coordinator, Substitute Coordinator, and HR Coordinator across CT and the Philippines, building connection and accountability across time zones
Build a positive, inclusive culture that supports engagement and retention across all workforce types
Develop and maintain HR policies, procedures, and handbooks, and train staff on them
Manage the HR inbox and all confidential communications with discretion
Recruiting
Own full-cycle recruiting for back-office staff, Site Directors, and contractor instructors, from job posting through offer or signed agreement
Write job descriptions, build sourcing strategies, and test new ways to market open roles
Lead high-volume hiring ahead of fall, winter, and spring sessions, moving quickly without sacrificing quality
Build candidate pipelines and a strong substitute instructor bench across all regions
Onboarding & Clearance
Manage onboarding for all workforce types, including I-9s, W-9s, contractor agreements, payroll setup, and system access
Track and guide hundreds of contractor instructors and vendors through onboarding at once, with persistent follow-up by email and text
Oversee vendor compliance, including current insurance certificates and cleared rosters for every vendor instructor
Manage site-by-site instructor clearance, including NY district submissions through TEACH and CT CCHRS checks, and keep a current record of who is cleared for each school
Set up structured training plans for new Site Directors and back-office hires and check in throughout their onboarding
Scheduling & District Relations
Oversee instructor scheduling and substitute coverage so no class goes unstaffed, including finding cleared substitute Site Directors on short notice
Serve as an escalation point for instructor concerns, review performance feedback, and manage contract endings when needed
Act as a primary contact for school districts on staffing updates, instructor changes, and program-specific requirements
Payroll & Timekeeping
Partner with our third-party accountant on payroll, and serve as the main contact for timesheet questions and pay discrepancies
Review and correct QuickBooks timesheets before each payroll cycle
Administer PTO and the back-office schedule, including holidays and summer flex time
Coordinate year-end W-2s and 1099s, and keep the Contractor Agreement current
HR Operations, Compliance & Employee Relations
Ensure compliance with CT and NY employment law, and maintain personnel and contractor records
Manage company and vendor insurance certificates and school-specific compliance documents
Lead HR compliance for our warehouse, including OSHA standards and safety orientations
Own employee relations end to end: coaching, warnings, PIPs, investigations, and terminations
Run the annual performance review cycle and build recognition programs
Administer leave (including CT Paid Family & Medical Leave), MyCTSavings, required harassment prevention training, and workers' compensation
Maintain the org chart, propose new roles as we scale, and bring AI and HR technology into our workflows
What We're Looking For
8+ years of experience in HR, recruiting, talent management, or people operations (12 preferred)
A proven ability to build HR processes and documentation from scratch, not just maintain them
A systems thinker who spots inefficiency, designs solutions, and follows through
Experience managing direct reports, including remote or international team members
Deep knowledge of CT employment law and HR compliance; NY knowledge a plus
Working knowledge of payroll; QuickBooks experience preferred
Strong organizational skills and comfort juggling recruiting, scheduling, and compliance at once
An excellent communicator who builds trust quickly at every level
Experience in education, youth programs, or mission-driven organizations a plus
Proficiency with Google Workspace; SHRM-CP or PHR a plus