Director of Human Resources and Payroll Specialist – Minnesota Transitions Charter School

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Position Summary

The director of Human Resources and Payroll Specialist supports HR operations and payroll processing for Minnesota Transitions Charter School, ensuring accurate employee compensation and consistent adherence to state and federal education and labor regulations. This role works closely with school leaders, central office teams, and instructional/support staff to maintain efficient HR processes that directly support school operations and student success.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

• Process semimonthly payroll for all school-based and central office employees, including teachers, paraprofessionals, substitutes, hourly staff, and contracted service providers.

• Validate timesheets, extra-duty stipends, supplemental pay, and attendance records across multiple school sites.

• Maintain payroll compliance with state education agencies, charter authorizer requirements, and applicable federal and state labor laws.

• Manage payroll adjustments, retroactive pay, step increases, and contract-based compensation.

• Prepare year-end payroll documentation (W-2s, 1095-Cs, etc.) and coordinate with finance for audits and state reporting.
   

Human Resources Support

• Facilitate new hire onboarding for teachers, instructional support, operations staff, and administrators, ensuring completion of contracts, credentials, I-9 documentation, background checks, and required training.

• Maintain accurate personnel files and HRIS records for multi-site staff, ensuring alignment with school calendars and staffing models.

• Support recruitment by posting vacancies, tracking applicants, coordinating interviews, and assisting with offer letters and contracts.

• Administer employee benefits, including open enrollment, qualifying life events, workers’ compensation claims, and FMLA/leave management for school personnel.

• Ensure compliance with state educator credentialing and certification requirements.
   

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure HR and payroll practices align with charter policies and state education regulations.

• Prepare HR and payroll reports for audits, annual renewals, and reporting required by the charter authorizer or state department of education.

• Maintain knowledge of school-specific labor requirements, such as mandatory trainings, fingerprint clearance, and certification renewals.
   

Employee Relations

• Serve as a point of contact for staff concerns related to payroll, benefits, and HR policies across multiple campuses.

• Uphold confidentiality and promote a positive, inclusive, mission-driven culture aligned with the charter school’s values.

• Support administrators in documenting and processing employee relations matters, performance concerns, and corrective action plans.
   

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, or related field (preferred).

• Minimum of 5 years of HR and payroll experience in K–12 education, preferably charter schools.

• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems commonly used in school settings (SMART, SMARTer).
   

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of school-based HR needs, including teacher contracts, certification requirements, and academic-year employment cycles.

• Familiarity with FLSA, FMLA, state labor laws, and education-specific compliance standards.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to support diverse staff across multiple campuses.

• High attention to detail, confidentiality, and professionalism.

• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills.

• Proficiency with Excel and data management.
   

Work Environment

• .75 FTE - 1.0 FTE  position leading the central office HR department with regular interaction with school sites.

• May require occasional travel to campuses and additional hours during payroll deadlines, onboarding seasons, and school-year start/end periods.
   

Salary Range:

• $85,000 to $120,000 Based on 1.0 FTE, skills and experience.

To Apply:

• Interested applicants should complete the application in the Frontline system. Completed application will include a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references.

About Minnesota Transitions Charter School:

• Minnesota Transitions Charter School (MTCS) is the largest charter school in Minnesota with seven public, tuition free schools. MTCS employs more than 400 staff while serving more than 6,000 students across the state of Minnesota.

Non-discrimination Notice:

Minnesota Transitions Charter School does not discriminate in the employment of in any of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, membership or activity in local human rights commission, disability, sexual orientation, age, or genetic information.