Managing Director, Human Resources

Human Resources, Managing Director

Department:
Human Resources

Division:
Finance & Administration

Location:

Brooklyn, NY (Hybrid)

In-Office:
Twice a week; additional as needed

Reports To:

Chief Executive Officer

Status:
Full Time/ Regular/ Exempt/Non-union

Salary: $120,000 - $150,000

The Managing Director, Human Resources (MDHR) directs and oversees Story Corps’ Human Resources department in ways that actively advance the mission, organizational strategy, and health of the workplace culture. This role holds primary responsibility for shaping, stewarding, and sustaining an inclusive, engaged, and high‑performing culture, particularly within a distributed workforce.

The MDHR is a senior leader and strategic partner who ensures that Story Corps’ values are embedded into leadership practices, people systems, and the day‑to‑day employee experience. This role balances hands‑on execution with strategic leadership, using data, new technologies, listening, and collaboration to strengthen organizational effectiveness, trust, and accountability.

The MDHR is an effective people and team manager and mentor, a problem‑solver and innovator, and someone with demonstrated experience in ensuring accessibility, connection, and a variety of perspectives.

Key responsibilities include the development of HR policies and procedures; management and oversight of talent acquisition, employee and intern recruitment, onboarding and offboarding; employee and labor relations; compensation and benefits; staff learning strategies and professional development; performance management; and legal compliance.

The successful individual must be a hands‑on generalist who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves and doing the work, while also being able to think strategically and analytically. The MDHR role requires excellent judgment, high ethical standards, strong interpersonal skills, cultural competency, emotional intelligence, and discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive information. The MDHR must demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, impeccable attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize and multitask in a fast‑paced, changing, and deadline‑oriented environment.

The Managing Director, Human Resources, reports to the Chief Executive Officer and supervises a staff of three HR professionals and the Director of Legal Contracting.

• Manage a department of three full‑time HR staff and the Director of Legal Contracting, focusing on skill development, performance coaching, and promoting individual growth through constructive feedback.
• Manage the HR budget, including overseeing the organization’s training and professional development budget.
• Contribute to organizational strategic planning activities, developing recommendations for HR and people strategy.
• Develop annual departmental goals and priorities and monitor their completion while building a highly competent and service‑oriented HR team.
• Lead department priorities that strengthen organizational culture, employee engagement, and manager effectiveness, ensuring HR services reinforce Story Corps’ values and ways of working.

Provide leadership and guidance in delivering people processes that strengthen performance, engagement, retention, and organizational culture, including professional development and learning strategies.

• Advise and support managers in the appropriate resolution of HR-related issues, including employee relations, performance management, training, progressive disciplinary actions, and involuntary terminations.
• Conduct thorough and confidential investigations in response to formal complaints.
• Oversee the recruitment function, which is directly managed by HR staff; participate in interviews for manager‑level and above positions; review and approve employment offers.
• Identify and track workforce recruitment metrics, including new sourcing channels.
• Coach and support managers in fostering healthy team cultures, clear expectations, and psychologically safe work environments.