Overview
The Island School, a not-for-profit organization based in The Bahamas, was founded to create and support transformational educational experiences with the vision of leadership effecting change, on the island of Eleuthera. The diverse educational initiatives, including our High School Semester and Summer Term, Deep Creek Middle School, Elementary Learning Center, and our Community Engagement and Partnerships, deliver unique educational journeys in conjunction with the authentic and meaningful work our organization undertakes in research and sustainable development at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, our research, and innovation hub. We are reimagining what education is for, and redesigning how education is delivered.
Job Summary
The Island School is seeking a Chief People & Culture Officer to join the leadership team at our campus on Cape Eleuthera, The Bahamas. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Head of School, the Chief People & Culture Officer will be directly responsible for all human resources functions including talent acquisition and retention, compensation, benefits and wellness, performance management, compliance, and employee relations. The Chief People & Culture Officer will develop and execute initiatives and programs that support and align employee engagement with the vision, values, and strategic mission of the School. The Chief People & Culture Officer will also oversee areas of administration that support the general operations of the School, including IT, Housing and Kitchen. The Chief People & Culture Officer will work collaboratively with the CEO and other senior leaders to lead the organization in all aspects, shaping the overall strategy, direction, and culture.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Plans, leads, develops, coordinates, and implements policies, processes, training, initiatives, and surveys to support the organization’s human resource compliance and strategy needs
- Administers human resource programs including, but not limited to: compensation & benefits, employee rewards and recognition, onboarding, learning and development, employee relations, disciplinary matters, disputes and investigations, performance management, and a focus on improving the employee experience
- Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new/emerging technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law; applies this knowledge to communicate changes in policy, practice, and resources to upper management
- Provides coaching support to management on day-to-day people issues or other organization matters that may arise
- Engage broadly with employees across all levels and departments to build a positive, engaged culture that exemplifies organizational values and works to reflect the interests, talents, and contributions of all employees
- Identify areas of continuous improvement and execute changes, systems, etc. that result in increased retention, engagement, and other positive benefits
- Lead the development and implementation of long-term and short-term strategic processes in order to build human capital through performance management, coaching, training, and development
- Develop, maintain, and deliver an organizational learning and development program to identify and address gaps in competency, knowledge, and skill sets across the organization
- Lead and support a comprehensive talent acquisition process to attract, develop, retain and engage a high-quality workforce
- Foster a culture of belonging and inclusion where team members feel welcomed, valued, and heard, by embedding a culture of equity and belonging into all people processes, developing initiatives, and identifying measures of success
- Identify coaching and leadership development needs of managers and supervisors and deliver effective solutions
- Review and assess organizational performance management systems to ensure alignment with the values and mission of The Island School and support management in setting clear, meaningful goals and objectives for their teams while also ensuring the effective use of metrics to measure performance
- Manage, negotiate, and maintain all benefit-related relationships and programs
- Leverage the use of human resource information systems (HRIS) and business processes to capture, maintain, analyze, and communicate human resources data
- Identify and collect relevant data for the creation of ad hoc and customized HRIS reports, analyze data to report on key findings, trends, and recommendations relevant to organizational needs and business operations
- Ensure compliance with all relevant employment and labour laws and best practices
- Manage and maintain relationships with relevant government agencies
- Lead, coach, and motivate the Human Resources, IT, Kitchen, and Housing teams to deliver high levels of performance that result in exceptional employee and client experiences
- Work closely with the CEO, other school leaders, and the Board of Directors to provide expertise on matters of talent, succession, development, and compensation
As a senior leader within the organization, the selected candidate will be expected to be flexible and may be called upon to step outside of their daily responsibilities, as necessary.
Skills and Qualifications
The ideal candidate has a background in operations strategies and is passionate about people. They have worked for an established non-profit organization and are trained in human resources management. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Education – A Master’s degree in business, human resources, or related field is preferred; however, a bachelor’s degree in business, human resources, or related field with an exceptional track record and significant experience may be considered. SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, SPHRi and/or PHRi certification are also preferred.
- Experience - A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in human resources as a high performer, including HR leadership and people management. Excellent track record of leadership and team building, driving the development of high-performance cultures. Demonstrated expertise in developing HR plans for growth and organizational development and proven success implementing HR policies and procedures and performance management systems. Experience at an educational or non-profit organization is preferred.
- Leadership and People Management – Energetic and inspiring leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and has a creative, engaging and people-focused attitude. Creative and effective problem-solver with prior success in creating and leading initiatives that attract, develop and retain high-potential talent.
- Change Management - Ability to successfully implement change strategies and plans, as well as engage and motivate team members to adopt transformation efforts.
- Interpersonal Skills – Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships both internally and externally. Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with strong negotiation and influencing skills.
- Computer Skills – In-depth knowledge of the Google Suite, Microsoft Office, relevant HR software and payroll systems.
- Adaptability – Able to survive and thrive in a small and tight-knit community located in a remote part of The Bahamas.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary commensurate with experience
- Housing, medical insurance and access to dining hall for meals provided
- 20 days of paid vacation per year in addition to Bahamian public holidays
- Eligibility for matching retirement plan after two years of service
- Professional development opportunities
Schedule
This is a full-time position with an annual performance review. The Cape Eleuthera Island School operates year-round and working hours vary depending on needs but are typically Monday-Friday (40 hours/week), however, evening and weekend work will be required. Special events will require periods of time outside of normal working hours when staff must be on site for extended periods. Given the degree to which this position specifically works with and supports the most senior leaders of the organization the successful candidate should expect, and desire to work a variable and mission-driven schedule.
Application
Applicants should submit the following in PDF format through our Hiring portal:
- Letter of application that states career interests, why you would like to work for The Island School and your relevant experience and qualifications for the position
- Current resume
- Three references (to include name, address, telephone number, and email address) familiar with the applicant's work)
We are a Bahamian equal opportunity employer and preference will be given to suitably qualified Bahamians.