Human Resources Director

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) is a community of dedicated researchers, consultants, educators, and former practitioners who drive innovation and advancement in courts and justice systems. NCSC’s reputation for trusted leadership allows us to work alongside top judicial officers to examine some of the most complex and significant issues facing society. Our team of experts and court leaders are deeply committed to advancing just, free, and safe communities.

To learn more about NCSC, visit NCSC.org

With approximately 160 employees working across the United States, NCSC operates as a remote-first organization with office presence in Williamsburg, VA and Arlington, VA. NCSC serves state courts and justice system partners nationally and internationally, and its work is funded through a combination of grants, cooperative agreements, and fee-for-service contracts.

NCSC is seeking a hands-on, energetic Director of Human Resources who thrives in the details as much as in the strategy. This is not a 30,000-foot role. The Director will own day-to-day HR operations end-to-end — including payroll review and reconciliation, benefits administration, compliance, employee relations, and HR systems management — while simultaneously driving meaningful modernization of HR processes and practices across a fully remote, multistate workforce.

Reporting to the VP, Finance and Administration, the Director leads a team of three and serves as the primary HR business partner to organizational leadership. The ideal candidate is a well-rounded HR professional who has worked deeply across all areas of the HR function (payroll, benefits, compliance, employee relations, talent acquisition, and culture) and brings the kind of integral, hands‑on knowledge that allows them to step into any segment of the function, provide sound guidance, and lead by example.

They must have direct, working experience managing multistate payroll and benefits administration. Beyond technical breadth, they bring genuine enthusiasm for process improvement and HR technology, and the judgment and interpersonal skills to support a mission‑driven staff with care and consistency.

• Own and review the bi-weekly multistate payroll cycle end-to-end in ADP Workforce Now, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with federal, state, and local requirements
• Collaborate with Finance to reconcile payroll to the general ledger (Deltek Costpoint), and contribute to year-end close activities including W-2 processing and ACA reporting
• Maintain and expand NCSC's multistate payroll registrations (SUI, withholding, and other state‑specific requirements) as the remote workforce evolves
• Manage the payroll vendor relationship with ADP; assess new product capabilities and address system issues proactively

• Administer NCSC's comprehensive benefits program: medical, dental, vision, life, STD/LTD, workers' compensation, Section 125 plan, COBRA, and ACA compliance
• Lead annual benefits renewal and open enrollment processes; manage carrier and broker relationships
• Administer NCSC's retirement plans (MPP, 403(b), 457(b)); serve as staff liaison and active member of the Retirement Plan Committee; ensure plan compliance and fiduciary best practices
• Manage the APL program and all applicable state-specific leave benefits; maintain current knowledge of state leave law developments

• Manage the full leave cycle including FMLA, state leave, STD/LTD coordination; ensure proper documentation and timely communication with employees and supervisors
• Serve as the primary employee relations resource: handle workplace issues, performance concerns, and sensitive personnel matters with discretion and sound judgment
• Partner with legal counsel on complex employee relations matters, policy interpretation, and employment law compliance
• Foster a positive, inclusive remote work culture through proactive communication, engagement initiatives, and consistent application of policy

• Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS data; ensure data integrity across all HR systems
• Ensure…