Organization Profile:

Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.

We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia – countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. Since our inception, Room to Read’s worldwide team has impacted more than 9.7 million children by constructing more than 1,700 schools, establishing more than 17,500 libraries, publishing 1150 new children’s book titles in 27 local languages, and reaching more than 31,000 girls through our Girls’ Education program.

Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$44 million and our global staff numbers more than 1000. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and we have smaller offices in New York, Hong Kong, London, Zurich, New Delhi, Mumbai, Sydney, and Tokyo. Our country offices are located in Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane.
Position Overview:

The Human Resources Director will have responsibilities that are broad and strategic, as well as tactical. They include developing, implementing, evaluating, and recommending changes to Room to Read’s worldwide Human Resources policies, procedures, and programs. The Director provides best practice guidance in the following areas: employee engagement, talent management, and oversight of our recruiting function. This position reports to the Chief Talent Officer and is based in San Francisco. The Human Resources Director manages a team of 3: Recruiting Associate, Human Resources Associate, and Office & Human Resources Assistant. The HR Director works closely with regionally-based and country office personnel to ensure consistent, worldwide Human Resources practices. International travel is required, including several trips throughout a year, of several weeks duration.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Serve as Global Office liaison to HR colleagues in Asia to implement scalable HR practices that are aligned with our worldwide business strategy
Identify and implement improvements to global Human Resources policies, procedures, and programs across all countries of operation
Manage, mentor and lead team of 3 HR staff members
Serve as HR lead on Internal Communications Team, providing change management guidance and counsel
Lead renewal process and make recommendations for organizational business insurances
Maintain knowledge of industry trends and employment legislation and ensure organization’s compliance (focusing on the US (CA, NY, MD); UK, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Switzerland, and Hong Kong)
Lead the worldwide Capacity Building Initiative to build staff capacity to position Room to Read for continued growth and success
Serve as HR lead on the Annual Planning & Budgeting process, including creation of guidelines, templates, and workforce planning for worldwide personnel
Advise leaders on talent matters including change management, team building and organizational design and effectiveness
Recommend, evaluate, and participate in staff development
Develop and implement employee satisfaction and retention programs
Conduct exit interviews to determine reasons behind separation
Enhance and implement Human Resources, legal, and tax policies for expatriates, third country nationals, and business travelers (in consultation with outside experts as needed)
Prepare Global Office Human Resources salary and benefits budget, manage and own expenditures, and report on variances to budget
Consult with legal counsel or other external experts as appropriate
Mentor and coach staff and foster a collaborative, team-oriented work environment
Other duties as necessary

Qualifications:
Required:

Bachelor’s degree, with 10+ years of relevant, professional experience
General knowledge of the principles and practices of human resources administration
Strong knowledge of federal and state employment law and compliance practices
Outstanding interpersonal relationship building and employee coaching skills
Demonstrated ability to provide follow up on a timely basis and keep stakeholders informed of status of projects
Ability to analyze complex HR problems and develop effective solutions that balance multiple factors, including legal regulations, organizational culture and best practices
Demonstrated expertise in managing large-scale projects, balancing multiple commitments, and adapting effectively in a fast-paced environment
Experience in developing and implementing process improvements
Ability to maintain the highly confidential nature of human resources work
Customer-service orientation, with a focus on understanding and meeting the needs of staff across the organization
Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead
Adept at using MS Excel & MS Word
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
Detail oriented and extremely organized, while being a strategic thinker
Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people
Proven track record of achieving results
Legally eligible to work in the United States; no sponsorship provided

Preferred:

PHR or SPHR certification
Master’s degree in Human Resource management or related Human Resources field
Prior experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization
Experience living or working internationally

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:

Have passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic nonprofit organization
Be an innovative and creative thinker that tries new things and inspires others to do so
Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
Work well independently as well as part of a team
Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

Compensation:

Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits include health, dental, vision, long-term disability insurance, commuter benefits, and a 401K match. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through the lifelong gift of education.

How to apply

Please send a cover letter and resume by email, with “HR Director – ID” in the subject line, (no letters, calls, faxes, or drop-ins) to hiring@roomtoread.org. Due to high applicant volume you may not receive a response from Room to Read. Applications are accepted until the position is filled.

Room to Read is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.