Department: Human Resources/Finance
Reports To: Vice President, Finance and Operations
As a condition of employment, the museum requires employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which includes a Pfizer or Moderna mRNA booster vaccine (“original vaccines”). Those who did not receive the “original vaccines” as of April 18, 2023 must be vaccinated with the most currently authorized updated vaccines.
BACKGROUND
The George Eastman Museum is located in Rochester, New York, on the estate of George Eastman, the pioneer of popular photography and motion picture film. Founded in 1947 as an independent nonprofit institution, it is the world's oldest photography museum and one of the oldest film archives. The museum holds unparalleled collections—encompassing several million objects—in the fields of photography, cinema, and photographic and cinematographic technology. The museum's departments include: one for each collection area (Photography, Moving Images, Technology, George Eastman, Library and Archives); Conservation; Registrar; Marketing & Engagement; Publishing, Exhibitions & Design; Development; Special Events; Facilities; Finance & Operations; and the Office of the Director. The museum has 105 employees (85 full-time).
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Museum is seeking an experienced Senior Manager who will join an engaged and dedicated senior leadership team. The position is a newly created position and the successful applicant is expected to be a working leader (hands-on) that will lead and evolve the museum's human resources functions that include shaping and refining talent acquisition, retention, professional development, and training; collaborating across all museum departments to support building and maintaining constructive relationships; and to serve as a thought-leader to strengthen the museum's commitment to enhancing an inclusive, diverse, and respectful culture.
JOB SUMMARY
Talent Acquisition:
- Develop and execute effective strategies to identify, recruit, develop, integrate and retain top talent across the museum.
- Cultivate and enhance a compelling museum culture to attract talent, ensure effective and consistent on-boarding and off-boarding experiences.
- Research and identify recruitment and industry trends and resources to identify top talent.
- Review, create, and update job descriptions, determine FLSA status, and with Museum Director and VPFO, identify pay ranges for transparency, and ensure compliance with minimum wage and exemption thresholds.
- Assist department managers in the recruitment process.
- Prepare offer letters and new hire packages, conduct and interpret references checks, including securing background checks. Work closely with the Museum Controller and Payroll Administrator to ensure a seamless integration of all data to employee's payroll records.
- Foster and support efforts to attract and hire candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience.
Compliance:
- Ensure all HR policies, procedures, and practices are in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations which will include the development, maintenance and implementation of appropriate policies to include updates and maintenance of the employee handbook.
- Ensure timely distribution of required notices, delivery of required training, and updates and distribution of plan documents and amendments.
- Provide communication, clarification and training to museum leadership and employees regarding policies and procedures.
Benefit Administration:
- Administer and manage all health, welfare and retirement programs, including annual review of plans, premium costs, and day-to-day maintenance of each program.
- Act as primary liaison and administrator with various benefit providers and retirement plan external auditors
- Manage the Open enrollment processes to deliver information sessions and employee communications, ensure timely enrollment with the carriers, and support for employee questions.
- Monitor and ensure the organization's compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations as they relate to the Museum's benefit programs. Recommend best practices; review and modify policies and practices to ensure compliance.
Training & Development:
- Collaborate with department managers to understand skills and competencies required, research and recommend training alternatives to address needs. Coordinate and ensure effective delivery of training initiatives.
- Develop and coordinate management training in leadership, teamwork, and compliance as well as in interviewing, hiring, termination, promotion, and performance review.
Employee Relations:
- Support museum managers in addressing employee concerns.
- Respond to employee concerns and complaints, conduct investigations, and respond to unemployment claims.
- Support managers in responding to and managing employee performance issues by providing guidance related to managing an underperforming employee, documentation protocols, meetings, and procedures in any disciplinary process.
Museum Culture:
- Build strong relationships and be a trusted advisor to the museum leadership team and employees.
- Serve as Co-chair of the staff's Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion Committee.
- Develop strategies and facilitate efforts to enhance workplace culture and practices that cultivate a healthy and productive work environment for all employees.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or related field (preferred).
- A minimum of 8 years of demonstrated direct expertise across the primary human resources functions (e.g., compensation, benefits, recruitment, employee relations, professional development and training) is required.
- Experience in non-profit organizations is required.
- Multi-state experience (NY and CA) is highly desirable.
- Experience in the hospitality industry is a plus.
- Professional certification (SHRM or HRCI) preferred but not required.
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Self-directed and highly motivated
- Team player with leadership ability
- Collegiality, diplomacy, and constructive interpersonal approach
- Strong administrative, managerial, and mentoring skills
- Recognizes and understands the need for confidentiality due to the nature of privileged information
- Outstanding professionalism and strong business acumen with the ability to work effectively with employees at all levels of the organization.
- Ability to prioritize, multi-task and work effectively to meet deadlines
- Proactive problem-solver with the ability to see the big picture
- Superior written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong knowledge of state and federal employment and benefit laws and a proven ability to apply knowledge to enhance and/or develop appropriate policy and procedure to reduce organizational risk.
- Proficient with Word, Excel, Power Point, Gmail, etc.
- Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time at a desk, work on a computer, and lift up to 15 pounds at a time.
How to Apply / Contact
To be considered for this position, please e-mail a cover letter and current curriculum vitae to Jacqueline DiStefano (Vice President, Finance & Operations) via e-mail to ...@eastman.org, or via mail to George Eastman Museum, 900 East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14607. Submission of application and other communication via e‑mail is preferred.
The Eastman Museum is committed to equal opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic. The Eastman Museum will make reasonable accommodations for known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified employees and applicants with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.