The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a 20-year limited-life foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communities its founder, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., loved and called home: Southeast Michigan and Western New York. Mr. Wilson's mandate of a 20-year spend down requires that the Foundation operate differently, with urgency and a collaborative spirit, and his hope was that its impact would be immediate, substantial, and measurable, felt within the lifetimes of those who knew him best.

The Foundation is seeking a Senior Manager, Talent and People Operations who brings energy, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to the people doing this work. This role is central to ensuring the Foundation's team is supported, developed, and positioned to deliver meaningful impact through the Foundation's close in 2035.

The Senior Manager will collaborate with the leadership team to support the human resource functions, including legal and compliance needs, professional growth and career development of each staff member, management of facilities to ensure a highly functioning team workspace, and coordinate the activities of the administrative team. As a key touchpoint for staff, they will provide coaching, professional development, career planning, and other talent management and human resources support to the whole team.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage human resources functions and benefit plan administration: Implement personnel policies and practices, performance assessment process, and support the team on all HR issues.  Work with benefit providers to meet the legal and operational requirements of the plans, including monitoring costs and effectiveness as important tools for retention.

• Coordinate the Foundation’s administrative team: Optimize team cohesion and provide support across all functions of the organization.

• Manage the facilities and operations of the office: Provide a work environment that ensures all team members have workspaces that foster deep work, creativity, and collaboration.  Responsible for ensuring the building is maintained and its use optimized to accommodate the Foundation’s changing needs all the way through its conclusion.

• Provide strategic support for the team’s professional growth and career development:
  • Career navigation: Works with staff to ensure smooth transitions when positions change, or the foundation reaches its conclusion, including identifying retention and/or transition strategies, creating and facilitating learning experiences, coaching on effective behaviors in their current role, as well as supporting the development of career plans to address “what comes next”. 

• • Optimize resources: Focus on appropriate support and investments in people through the end of the Foundation’s life, including professional development budgets and the appropriate use of retention and transition investments.  Support the development of appropriate succession plans with leadership as work transitions and becomes more focused through spend down.

• • Optimize employee success and satisfaction: Increase staff engagement through understanding concerns and opportunities, supporting effective collaboration practices and feedback, providing support to the Culture Committee, as well as developing effective performance assessment processes and salary benchmarking.

• • Facilitate employees’ understanding of their place on the team: Develop and administer effective onboarding, including supporting deep engagement in organizational culture and assuring staff exits are fully documented to facilitate further learning.

• Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field (i.e., business, organizational development, or psychology). 
• 7 or more years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, organizational development, or a related field. Senior candidates with 10 or more years of experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Experience working in a foundation, nonprofit, or philanthropic ecosystem is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and supervise small cross-functional teams of highly skilled knowledge workers, managing complex projects, and working with senior leadership and external partners. 
• Demonstrated experience with the technical aspects of HR and benefits administration, including health, retirement, other benefit plans, and an understanding of the legal aspects of career transition support.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic talent-focused practices at an organizational level within a small, highly functional team.
• Experience serving as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, particularly in shaping talent retention strategies that support organizational goals.
• Supervisory experience required.
• Understanding of facilities management and demonstrated experience in project management and execution
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with a demonstrated ability to connect with leadership and the team at all levels.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

In addition to competitive compensation, the Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package with a generous retirement plan. 

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Foundation is committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.