Director, HR Operations

About The Kennedy Center

“I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” – President John F. Kennedy

The Kennedy Center is the nation’s cultural center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Center presents performances across all genres, and is also home to artistic affiliates Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra. 

At the Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law. 

Mission Statement: As the nation's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across America and around the world, reaching and connecting with artists, inspiring and educating communities. We welcome all to create, experience, learn about, and engage with the arts. 

Why Join Us

We offer a comprehensive range of benefits to all full-time employees including: 

• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 11 paid holidays per year 
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA
• Flexible work arrangements
• We like to have fun! Check out the Kennedy Center National Dance Day 2023 staff video!

Job Description

Reporting to the Chief HR Officer, the Director, HR Operations is a key member of the senior leadership team, providing visionary leadership and strategic direction for Human Resources functions, ensuring alignment with the mission of the institution. Operating within a unionized environment with 17 collective bargaining agreements, this position is instrumental in supporting the overall organization by ensuring compliance with labor laws and fostering a harmonious working environment. The incumbent is responsible for: helping development HR operational strategies, implementing HR operational strategies; ensuring high levels of employee engagement and aligning human capital resources with organizational strategies. Responsibilities include: the development of strong partnerships with business leaders and coaching and developing managers and front-line leaders, analyzing business information and leading HR and business project initiatives; proactively engaging in employee relations issues, including investigations, managing employee development/training activities; and developing and managing programs, policies, and procedures. In addition to supervising the Senior Business Partner and an HR Coordinator, the Director, HR Operations also serves as a senior advisor to members of the leadership team. There will be strong collaboration between the Director of Total Rewards, Director of Talent Acquisition and Diversity and this role to ensure a collaborative, strategic approach to supporting the Kennedy Center teams. 

Key Responsibilities

• HR Operations:Oversee, facilitate, and deliver high-quality, responsive, and partnership-focused services to internal customers. Plan, supervise, and carry out human resources activities while managing and mentoring a Senior HR Business Partner and HR Coordinator, ensuring the effective efforts of the Human Resources functions. 
• Strategic Leadership and Advisement: Collaborate with senior leadership to provide strategic input into the development, implementation, and training of policies and procedures that align with organizational objectives. Act as a Business Partner and Advisor to the Office of the President and Senior Staff. Advise senior leadership and provide guidance and input on department restructures, change initiatives, talent development and the succession planning process. Collaborate with the Directors of Talent Acquisition and Total Rewards to ensure a cohesive strategy. Manage the department budget for HR and provide HR metrics and reporting for Board and senior leadership. Provide HR consulting services to designated client departments and executive leadership.
• Employee Experience and Engagement: Drive initiatives for employee experience, engagement, and internal communications. Lead exit interviews and collaborate with Director of Talent Acquisition and Diversity to tell the employee lifecycle story from onboarding to exit. 
• Training and Development: Design, develop, and facilitate training programs that align with organizational goals and foster employee development. Conduct regular assessments to measure the impact of training programs on employee performance.
• Policy Development and Implementation: Draft, advise on, and implement HR policies that are aligned with the organization's overall strategy and compliance requirements. Collaborate with Legal to ensure policies adhere to legal standards. Develop strategies for the effective implementation and rollout of new policies. Manage the Kennedy Center Employee Handbook to ensure accurate and up-to-date information. 
• Labor Relations and Compliance: Oversee and manage HR operations related to labor relations in conjunction with Legal and Total Rewards, ensuring compliance with 17 Collective Bargaining Agreements. Foster positive relations with unions, participate in negotiations, and work to maintain a harmonious working environment. Conduct regular reviews of labor laws to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field required, Master’s degree highly preferred.
• At least seven years of human resource management experience required, with strategic, talent management, and/or business development experience highly preferred.
• Labor experience strongly preferred. 
• HR certification (SPHR, PHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP) strongly preferred.
• Excellent knowledge of federal, state/district employment laws and regulations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking skills.
• Ability to collaborate with and balance the needs of multiple stakeholder groups.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.   
• Excellent analytical and decision-making abilities
• Team management skills
• Coaching skills or certification a plus.
• Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area.

Additional Information

• The Kennedy Center is currently operating in a hybrid work environment with the expectation that regular office presence will occur, specifically for team meetings, trainings, etc. 
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required (typically with advance notice) with travel as needed on a minimum basis.