Director of Team & Culture

AOE is seeking a strategic, experienced Director of Team & Culture to lead our human resources function in alignment with our mission and long-term vision. At AOE, “Team & Culture” reflects our belief that people are more than resources - they are the foundation of our impact. This role will guide the continued strength, stability, and effectiveness of our team as we focus on operational excellence, engagement, and sustainable success.

Structured as a remote full-time, exempt, salaried position. This position will report to the Chief Financial Officer.

We have been a 100% remote company since the beginning! This position is eligible for remote work from the following locations: USA.

Who We Are

We grow amazing teachers by providing rigorous, relevant, and engaging learning at every stage of their career. Our values are artistry, connection, and impact.

Job Details

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Department Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and oversee all aspects of the Team & Culture department, ensuring alignment with AOE’s strategic goals and long-term vision.
• Develop and execute departmental strategic plans, annual goals, and budgets.
• Provide regular updates, data insights, and strategic recommendations to the Executive Leadership Team.
• Develop, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to team engagement, retention, recruitment, and organizational effectiveness.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Oversee and direct the full recruitment and talent acquisition lifecycle, including sourcing, employer branding, interviewing, and hiring strategy.
• Partner with senior leaders to ensure thoughtful workforce planning and role design aligned with business needs.
• Continuously improve hiring processes, candidate experience, and onboarding practices.

Team Member Experience & Development

• Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes, including execution of exit interviews and identification of emerging themes or risks.
• Lead professional development initiatives, training, evaluation processes, and performance management systems.
• Design and manage compensation and benefits strategy in collaboration with Finance and leadership.
• Administer and analyze the engagement surveys; present findings and actionable recommendations.
• Serve as a trusted liaison between team members and leadership, proactively identifying and addressing culture or engagement concerns.
• Partner with leadership to organize and execute certain company-wide events and recognition initiatives.

Compliance, Systems & Operations

• Ensure compliance with all applicable employment laws and regulations across states.
• Collaborate with Finance, Compliance, and other departments to improve systems, workflows, and platforms.
• Evaluate and implement process improvements and HR technology solutions to increase efficiency and transparency.

Since AOE operates in a fully remote/online environment, requirements include frequent and prolonged use of computers and other technology, and the ability to enter information into a computer using a keyboard or alternative. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Strong foundation in human resources leadership within established organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically while executing tactically.
• Proven project management skills with the ability to prioritize, anticipate obstacles, and meet deadlines.
• Experience leading and supporting distributed or remote teams.
• Strong recruitment and talent acquisition expertise.
• High level of emotional intelligence, sound judgment, healthy boundaries, and discretion in employee relations matters.
• Passion for innovative HR practices and continuous process improvement.
• Experience with HRIS platforms (Paycom preferred) and comfort adopting new technologies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret engagement and performance data into actionable insights.
• Integrity-driven leadership style; trusted to handle sensitive matters with professionalism and care.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across departments.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

While we have identified specific requirements for this role, we acknowledge that not all candidates may possess every requirement listed. We encourage applicants who believe they possess the necessary skills and experience to apply for consideration, regardless of whether they meet each requirement to the fullest extent.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive HR experience, including 4 years of leadership or managerial responsibility.
• Experience supporting organizations with 75+ employees strongly preferred.
• Experience in remote-first organizations preferred.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field preferred but not required.
• SHRM or similar professional HR certification preferred.

The Interview Process

For most roles, the process is as follows:

• Step 1: ~30-minute phone interview with hiring manager
• Step 2: Round 2 packet & corresponding panel interview
  • This step is intended to see how you might work through some of the daily tasks, responsibilities, and challenges that could arise in this role. You will be given a prompt and be asked to complete an assignment, which will then be used to guide a ~1-hour follow-up Zoom interview with stakeholders. The intention is for you to get a sense of the role and give us an opportunity to see your skills in action. Your answers will not be used for any other purposes beyond evaluating your candidacy.
• Step 3: Executive Leadership panel interview
  • Because this is a high-visibility role that will have frequent touch points with the Executive Leadership team, you will meet with the leadership team for a 1-hour panel interview

Compensation and Benefits

BENEFITS

• Health, dental, and vision plans with 100% premium coverage for individual employees, 80% family premium coverage, employer HSA contribution, and no waiting period (effective 1st month after hire)
• 401K plan with 4% match with Fidelity, no waiting or vesting period
• Self-managed PTO and sick/personal time (15+ days/year encouraged)
• All federal holidays off, and the end-of-year holiday shutdown
• $50/month mobile, internet, or coworking space stipend
• $600 home office equipment stipend
• Fully remote, flexible schedule
• Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Dependent Care FSA
• Life insurance
• Lifelong Learning Fund for professional development and educational reimbursement
• Free product access (1 FLEX/PRO license to use or gift, plus free AOEU grad courses)
• Mac tech suite, 1Password, ChatGPT subscriptions

For additional information surrounding our offered benefits, visit our website.

COMPENSATION

Compensation is commensurate with experience and market. We encourage you to discuss your compensation requirements early in the process.

We look forward to reviewing your application! Thank you for your interest in opportunities with AOE.

NOTE: We encourage you to apply with a personal email and to take the appropriate steps to allow both The Art of Education (@theartofeducation.edu) and Paycom (@paycomonline.com) domains so that you receive all emails related to your application process. We also encourage you to check your spam folder as emails from The Art of Education and/or Paycom can be marked as spam. Applicants residing in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island, New York, Jersey City, Vermont, or Washington may reach out to teamandculture@theartofeducation.edu for compensation details. Do not send letters of interest to this inbox as they will be disregarded. The Art of Education is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. The Art of Education will not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of actual or perceived age, race, color, national origin/ethnicity, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related conditions), physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Art of Education is a participant of E-Verify.