Department Summary:

The vision of Head Start and Early Head Start is a noble one: “changing lives to change tomorrow.”
Drake University Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age 5, in classroom settings, home-based programming, and childcare partnership locations.

Job Summary:

This position plans, coordinates, and implements the personnel functions for the agency. This position serves to provide Human Resource expertise to aid the program in meeting business, best practices, and employee relations considerations. Oversight of staff recruitment and retention, compensation analysis, performance management, employee leave recording, professional development and training, policy interpretation, and other employee issues with respect to internal/Head Start policies with local, state, and federal employment laws.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, human resource management, or similar/related field of study.
• 3 or more years of human resource experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree
• Experience with Head Start, early childcare, and/or education

Job Duties:

• 15% - Direct the activities of the Human Resource functions and assist supervisors in orientation, transfers, promotions, demotions, or termination of employees. Advise and coach supervisors on ways to consistently and effectively role-model behaviors and communications that create a collaborative environment in which there prevails respectful behavior, trusting relationships, and cooperative interactions. - (Essential)
• 15% - Direct the overall recruiting, interviewing, selection, and placement process to ensure that properly qualified applicants are hired for positions. Ensure reference checks and criminal record checks on prospective employees are conducted to verify prior employment and background. Ensure all hiring and pre-employment program performance standards, state, and/or childcare licensing requirements are met. - (Essential)
• 15% - Assist in development of the Drake University Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Plan and professional development plan for all staff based on the analysis of agency data. Assist the professional development committee with oversight of the professional development schedule to ensure goals are met and documentation needed for audit purposes is maintained. Maintain database of individual training and professional development records. Ensure that all staff working directly with children complete an individual professional development plan and analyze goals for trends to inform professional development needs. Develop and implement a method of obtaining feedback from staff to inform professional development decisions. - (Essential)
• 10% - Develop, recommend, and implement human resources policies and procedures. Ensure such policies and practices are consistent with and support the organization’s mission. Establish and maintain pay structures and policies for salary review. Conduct survey of salaries and benefits in appropriate comparable industries and locations. Prepare or update position descriptions for all staff positions. - (Essential)
• 10% - Maintain strict confidentiality of all employee records. Establish and maintain department records and reports. Manage database of personnel records and maintain paperwork relating to all fair employment practices issues. Conduct annual human resource audit of Delegate Human Resources files. - (Essential)
• 10% - Responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all payroll and personnel records. Maintain weekly contact with Drake University Payroll Administrator regarding payroll/personnel corrections, deadlines, and computer reports. Includes reconciling biweekly time records for non-exempt employees, monitoring absence request entries, and ensure electronic leave reports and time sheets are completed within university timeframes. Monitor leave and/or overtime records. Collaborate with University Human Resource office on workers compensation, claims and FMLA reporting and/or tracking. - (Essential)
• 10% - Support department managers with data, analysis, and report/proposal generation as requested. Conduct continuing study of the entire Human Resources field, including best practices and changes in Federal, State, University, and local regulations. - (Essential)
• 5% - Assist in the administration and management of Drake University Head Start as a member of the Leadership Team. Supervise assigned staff, conduct performance evaluations, assist in the development of professional goals and support staff to obtain the necessary training and resources to fulfill their job responsibilities. - (Essential)
• 5% - Oversee and participate in the completion of assigned projects, such as presentations, operational planning, etc., by gathering and synthesizing data, formatting into documents, spreadsheets, etc., and generating copies or other media for presentation/distribution. - (Essential)
• 5% - Comply with Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards, state and local regulations, rules and requirements. Maintain strict confidentiality of all records and documents. Maintain department records and reports in a secure manner. Represent Drake University and Drake University Head Start in a professional manner. Treat clients, co-workers, staff, parents and community members with respect and civility, and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for everyone at all times. React to change productively, maintain prompt and regular attendance, and perform all other duties as assigned. Promote Head Start philosophy and initiatives. - (Essential)

Salary & Benefits 

The salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications of the selected candidate. This is a full-time, 12-month, exempt (salaried) position.

At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our digital benefits guide: Drake Benefits Guide (Plan Year 2025).

One of our very popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in not one, but two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. You can learn about both the tuition waiver policy and tuition exchange programs here: Tuition Benefits.